Ovulation tests and PCO

[redxlondon]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with PCO, not full blown PCOS. I’ve started using Clear Blue digital ovulation tests and had my first Peak smiley face. Yay! But I wondered if there’s a chance that my egg won’t actually be released (it just stays put / underdeveloped) because of the PCO? Or if I have a peak fertility symbol is this a good sign?

I was also curious why there’s lots of discussion on taking BBT. It’s scientifically not as accurate as ovulation tests. So if people are trying to measure their ovulation point, is there a reason they’re not using the clear blue (or other) tests?

I never heard that bbt isn't as accurate as ovulation tests. On the contrary, while opk show you that your body is gearing up for ovulation, bbt will tell you if you actually ovulated or not.
As far as I know it's not easy with unregular cycles to use the clear blue digital ovulation tests, as the cycles can't be longer than XY days for it to work out, that's why many women in that situation either use the cheap tests that you can order digitally, or use bbt.

Thanks - that makes sense for irregular cycles. Clearblue comment on unreliable nature of BBT, obviously there’s a bias there but I googled and lots of articles on different studies that show it’s less reliable than measuring for hormones.

I have PCOS and wasted loads of money using OPKs without realising they are inaccurate for PCOS. Once i started ovulation induction (letrozole), it was clear how rubbish they were because i was getting peaks but the internal scans and blood tests were showing that i didn't ovulate. So they might be helpful as a guide but i wouldn't rely on them.

It depends what you were looking into I suppose? The hormones can only give you a heads up that you're about to ovulate - which BBT can't help you with and hence is rubbish if used for contraceptive reasons like in Natural Cycles. BBT can only tell you retrospectively if you have ovulated. The temp rise is due to progesterone surging, which is the hormone they test for at the GP to confirm you've ovulated.

The CB static smiley only tells you your LH hormone is surging, which if you have PCO/S it can do multiple times and/or remain falsely elevated giving you continuous peaks without ovulation.

You need to ideally be combining OPKs with BBT if you have long or irregular cycles as part of PCO. OPKs so you can DTD in advance of ovulation and BBT to confirm it happened so you don't let your guard down and then miss your actual ovulation a week later or whatever.

I will say though that CB is pricey especially if you have long cycles. I'd personally get a 50 pack of femometer strips from Amazon instead for much cheaper.

From what I understand the ovulation tests help you know 12-36 hours in advance your ovulation is coming up, but you won't know if you actually ovulated unless your temperature rises afterwards.

BBT never worked for me! So I agree, not the best method. Snd I'm pregnant!
I used those opks too, I also have mild pco's, I'm sure you're ovulating if you got the peak x

Thanks for all the replies!

Beansprout55 - do you mind me asking how many months you used the kits before getting pregnant?

6 cycles - but on the 6th cycle I took letrozole! So not sure if they did anything or it was just a coincidence.
Do you have long cycles?

Does it not make a different that the CB tests track 2 hormones….

“It's the only ovulation test to accurately track not only luteinising hormone, but also estrogen to identify your wider fertility window.”

I used to but they settled down over last few years to 33 days. I have the odd blip of longer but very rarely. I’m hoping that’s a good sign…

My god op, you're basically my double. 33 days but v occasional longer.
How long have you been TTC?
I'll tell you what I did, because of my long cycles and my pre-menstrual spotting (I start 6/7DPO) I went to the GP to get referred to ARU the same month that I started TTC, not 1 year, as I just felt it would be hard because of that.
He did tests confirming I ovulate then sent me to ARU.

The whole process took 5 months for me to be seen (I obviously TTC during) The fertility specialist put me letrozole and didn't check me out or anything, he said it would make my ovulation stronger and bring my cycles closer together.

Bam, pregnant first month.

I do have very mild PCO

You are my twin!! :-) so I’m feeling positive!
I’ve only been TTC for 2 months, so no time at all really, but might do as you suggest if this month hasn’t worked just to get ball rolling with referrals. It’s funny because we started TTC and were totally like “if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen” and totally okay with waiting years or never. But now I’ve got more focused on it, I feel I’m going to be sad if it doesn’t happen this month! Crazy…

Just checked my calendar and cycle…have been having unprotected sex since June but always seemed to be doing it after ovulation. It’s just been last two months I’ve been actively looking at timing, and upping the frequency much to husband’s delight haha

When I went to the dr I did say that we had been having unprotected sex for almost a year but not really trying, which helped with my referral. I don't like lying, so it wasn't a complete lie, but we were using the family planning method which I left out and deliberately trying to not get pregnant. Up to you to say whatever, my GP was great with getting the ball rolling. You might get one that sends you away for another few months so choose your words wisely if you catch my drift 😂 I'm glad I said what I did as I believe letrozole helped me conceive, stats say I should have sooner as only just 30.

Go to your GP - who knows, you may and likely will fall pregnant before you're even seen by ARU.

I was the same. I have been obsessive TTC - opks, tests, symptom spotting, DTD every other day for a month - you name it 😂