Late 30s, previous PCOS diagnosis, cycles 29 - 39 days. How do I work out if I am even ovulating?

[laidir]

I'm 37 and DP is older. I had / have a diagnosis of PCOS in my mid 20s but after I'd already had children very young.

My periods are actually more regular now than they were when I was younger (frequently used to miss a month or more), but they are still irregular, with the past 6 months being between 29 - 39 days, so I've no idea when / if I ovulate.

I do have signs of (mild?) PCOS like facial hair. I had a transvaginal ultrasound in August 2022 which was 'normal' and said I had recently ovulated, but that was a while ago, and I'm aware of my age.

This month I've started Clearblue digital advanced ovulation tests. Started CD9, and now at CD14 and still a blank circle every morning, not even a flashing smiley ): ): .. wondering if it's going to be another longer cycle, and maybe I am only ovulating on the shorter cycles?? I am also trying cheapie OPKs but getting very light test lines cause I drink a lot of water and these have to be done middle of the day.

I am thinking about starting temperature monitoring, to hopefully 'confirm' ovulation. Has anyone tried this with PCOS and did you have success? My wake up times are variable as well cause I work in shifts, so earliest would be 6.30 am, latest 10 am - would temping still be accurate?

Yes track temperature - as long as you do it first thing you'll be fine. Read about cervical mucus so you can try to identify that too. If your cycle can be 39 days you wouldn't have ovulated by 14d though.

Temp checking would help if you feel like you can do that.
I personally am not diagnosed with anything but my cycles vary like yours do and I also drink alloooott of water and because of this I actually do my opks in the morning and then when I'm closer to day 14 and through to 20 odd I do evening as well until I see the peak and it dropping.
Just because they recommend the afternoon doesn't mean it has to be x

OPKs are not necessarily reliable with PCOS because the hormone that they detect can stay elevated for longer in PCOS women (i am one too) or you can get a double surge. I found tracking EWCM to be more reliable.

Given your age it might also be worth mentioning TTC with the GP? At our trust, i could be put on the fertility clinic waiting list straight away due to the PCOS and keep ttc naturally whilst we waited for the appointment. Not sure if that's the case everywhere. If you already have DC, you won't be able to have IVF on NHS, but you would be eligible for ovulation induction drugs. I needed letrozole for DD1 but DD2 was a natural conception with an ovulation on CD29!

Hi, my cycle is 31 days and I don't get a positive until day 19. So you're probably just too early, keep testing :) I can barely see a line on mine until about cd17/18 and even then it's very faint, doesn't get dark until cd19.

I started taking OPKs every time I went to the loo and it helped a lot

I'm in a similar situation. I have PCOS diagnosed in my 20s. Had two kids nowing trying for a third but no idea how to track things.

Please can I ask you a personal question. What is your discharge like? I had a day of white eggy colour then week of the clear stretch stuff with non stop cramping.

I've heard with PCOS you get different discharge compared to other people.

I've got no idea what day of my cycle I am on this month. Stopped the pill in Dec and no period in Jan. And I think I ovulated on 17th Jan based on clear stretchy discharge.

I have two kids and both didn't show up until I was a few days later after my period.

Also with PCOS your symptoms in the two week wait can feel like you are pregnant more due to too much estrogen. This month my boobs kill, stabbing nipples had cramps for a week now that's stopped. Do you have similar pmt symptoms? When I tried a few years ago for 6 months I thought I was pregnant every month due to nausea, painful boobs etc but was just PCOS symptoms.

Thanks everyone for responses and experiences.

I think I'm going to need to try temperature tracking, hopefully to give me that piece of mind that I have ovulated. I'm glad to hear I don't need to wake up at the exact same time every morning.

The OPKs are driving me mad with differing results. On Clearblue Advanced, I had blank circles CD 9,10,11,12,13, then jumped straight to a static smiley CD14 (sorry miscounted days prev post), but my Easy at Home strips are still very faint lines not even a third as dark as control the whole time and I've been doing them twice a day! Even with the same urine sample as clearblue static smiley one! and why skip past the flashing smileys. I'm completely confused!

@Littleonek My discharge is all over the place as well, sometimes quite dry, sometimes white and in knickers only a little, right now seems watery which it can be. But I do use vaginal probiotics and acid gel (not when dtd), so that probably changes it. The only thing I can say that might be the key for me, is that once a month I get a big 'glob' of thick egg white discharge. Sorry if TMI, but I can actually feel it coming out, it's like a mucus plug. Then I usually have a period a couple of weeks later, so I think this may be my version of EWCM haha.
Yes to the weird symptoms. I usually feel fine at the end of my period, then start getting cramping around CD14, which is then on and off until period, which makes me wonder about endo. I seem to get random progesterone 'spikes' as well when I am extremely angry/moody for a day or two and it feels hormonal. Last month it felt like my body 'tried' to ovulate around CD14 but I don't think I actually did until around CD24. I also get horrendous bloating in the tww, do you get this? What length are your cycles off when not on the pill? I've read that people with PCOS are more fertile in the first few months off the pill so good luck for you xx

I know what you mean about the big egg white. Sometimes I get this too then nothing.

Yes I've got the two week bloat now and when period ends it goes.

Mine are around 28-30 days. On the pill my period was 7 days and mega heavy.

Thanks I didn't know that about the first few months! Good to know.

I've also lost some weight as just wanted to eat healthy and had the flu virus so didn't eat much for two weeks. A Dr also told me weight loss helps with pcos even it's a few grams it apparently can reset hormones they don't know why. So when my period shows hopefully this week I will focus on eating low gi food and lots of fruit.

I'm also on vitamin b12 as that's supposed to help regulate hormones for people with pcos.

When I was first diagnosed with pcos I had 3 periods in 12 months. Then had two kids. Tried again for a baby for 6 months had no luck and my periods were all over the place so I don't think having kids fixed my pcos. Now trying again 3 years later to see if it will work this time.

@Littleonek Yeah I don't really seem to get any other EWCM apart from the big plug bit .
I hate the two week bloat, it's probably my worst pms symptom, it goes around day 2 of period.
28-30 days is good! Hopefully that is a good sign for you.
Thanks for the suggestion re vit B12, I had a blood test and levels are ok but may try it.
My weight is ok BMI 24 so higher side of healthy. Have been trying to shift a little weight and that's good to know that even a little can make a difference.
Yeah I'm not sure what changed my PCOS. Since my periods started they were always irregular, I'd frequently miss whole months and at one point it was 7 months without. When I was about 30 (I had kids at 18 and 21) they seemed to become more regular and last 6 months have been 29-33 with last month being 39 days. I'm not sure why - happy with regular but I did read that women with PCOS can regulate with age because we naturally put out less follicles, so hopefully it's not a sign of perimeno for me ): ): . I have been eating better since about age 30. What age are you? I'm 37 and DP is older so not sure if this will work. These OPKs are so confusing too and for various reasons we cannot just dtd every other day.

I'm 34.

Are you UK based? I was told if I miss periods for 3 months in a row I need to speak to a Dr to give me something to help start them as it can be dangerous if you don't have one for more than 3 months..this was told to me after I didn't have any for 9 months.

Ive definitely noticed a change in my tiredness since stopping the pill. I didn't realise how badly hormones affect pcos people as been on the pill for 5 years.

I was also told if at 6 months I can't get pregnant to call a GP to get a referral as I've already been diagnosed with pcos. I'm not sure if GPS in the UK give chlomid or you need a referall for it. If we don't make a baby in 12 months we will stop as I don't want this to takeover my life.

My cycles were 22-40 days long, average around 35 days, the wee sticks didn’t work well for me - though in retrospect I think I was ovulating day 21 or later so might not have been doing it at the right time.

I did temperature checking and eventually invested in an ‘ovusense’ (google it if interested - I can see its now marketed for pcos) but of course got pregnant the first month I was using it.

@Littleonek Yeah I'm in UK. The GP when I went about PCOS years ago was really dismissive, said I couldn't possibly have it because I'd had kids and am not overweight, and that going months without periods was 'normal'. I pushed for blood tests and then got a sheepish phonecall saying I do have it. Thanks for reminding me about the risks, if I have no period for 3 months again I will get help, I'd forgotten about that, hopefully I will stay somewhat regular-ish.

I hadn't realised that I could get any help since we already have DC together, but I read I think upthread that I may be eligible for ovulation induction like clomid, so that's something to explore. I fear I may be too old by then with waiting lists etc, but could explore it. I was your age when I decided I wanted another, so 3 years ago. DP was back and forth until last month! So we may have missed our chance. I understand what you mean about not wanting it to take over, I hope you will get success soon, no reason why not I think chances sound good

@pjani Did you have PCOS? I'm grateful to be having cycles even if they are varying, but I really want to confirm if I am ovulating regularly or not. Is ovusense the device you wear in vagina? Sounds interesting thanks. I'm glad you got your BFP xx

You defo can get help as I had a hospital appointment and they said if I wanted help with a third baby to get in contact with them.

I'm looking forward to starting a period hopefully this week. Had no normal period symptoms. My boobs are crazy crazy painful all day and night. Like stabbing pains constantly..not sure if it means pregnancy or just a pcos PMT symptom.

No I don’t have PCOS, just irregular periods. I was 37 or 38 at the time and I never got confirmation of ovulation from peeing on the sticks so was throwing everything at it. Yes it’s something you stick up your vagina at night.

@Littleonek Oh that's great to know thank you. I had assumed all help on the NHS was out since we have DC already even though they are older, one adult and one teen. I'm thinking Letrozole or Clomid could maybe wake my ovaries up a bit, if nothing happens soon!
I completely understand, re crazy symptoms, last month was our first month trying and I had the worst ever cramps from 1 day after dtd on day 13, that we couldn't even dtd again,. and I do get the boob pains and stabbing pains as well, in the tww, usually a couple of days before a period. Apparently the boob pains are a sign that we have ovulated, so this is good. It is very strange that I got really bad cramps last month from 24 hours after dtd. When I have used the withdrawal method for many years, the first time we don't use that method, and I got horrendous cramps for over a week after.

@pjani Yes I am peeing on multiple sticks a day and absolutely nothing so far. Clearblue Advanced negative until CD14 then static smiley positive that morning but a bad dye run, and multiple completely negative OPK strips!!

I wish I could just DTD every other day or so, but I suffer with being prone to UTI if we do it too much in a row, and also DP and I work shifts, and also teenagers and elderly parent in the house. It would be really helpful to pinpoint ovulation!! We managed to dtd today because of the clearblue (probably false) positive, but it took lots of arranging and almost turned into an argument due to lack of spontaniaiety!!