OPKs and their meaning

[ApplePie86]

Morning!

I wonder if any experts out there can shed a light on what this means.

So, I've kind of self-diagnosed myself with PCOS. (Irregular periods maybe once every 3-6 months, extremely overweight, excess facial hair). Currently trying to lose some weight before seeing a doctor.

I bought a whole load of OPKs a while ago but due to having such lengthy cycles I only ever showed up with the control line. Absolutely no test line at all.

Yesterday I had a little ache on my right side and after a little google thought it may be ovulation pain.

I took an OPK and there's a very faint line. I know this is negative but I wonder - does having a faint line mean I've possibly already ovulated or at least I'm closer to ovulation?

Or do "normal" people get a faint line all the time no matter when they test?

Another test this morning and I'd say the line is fainter but that was fmu and I'm sure I read that wasn't the best?

Help!

I would get a faint line for the majority of the month, it would get darker and darker until it turned positive then it would fade out again until it was almost gone.

Try doing an OPK every day at the same time (not FMU) for a full cycle, that should help you see the progression.

I would also book to see your DR ASAP - if you do have PCOS you may find it hard to loose weight, be better to get seen and diagnosed and then get treatment than waiting to see them?

I normally see a faint line for pretty much the entire month, with a darker line for a few days before getting a positive.

I'd second the advice to go to the doctor - they may well agree that weight loss would be helpful, but they may also be able to get the ball rolling on a formal diagnosis and start thinking about next steps.

Good luck!

You need medical advice sooner rather than later if your periods are this irregular. Often these problems are caused by hormonal imbalance and sometimes PCOS is the root cause. Given your symptoms PCOS cannot as yet be ruled out here.

Blood tests can be done to see what your hormone levels are like. As your periods are so irregular these tests can be done according to calendar days so the 3rd and 21st of the month.

OPKs are a waste of money if PCOS is at all suspected and are generally not worth using at all if the menstrual cycle is irregular in nature. I would refrain from further using thesel because they are really not helping you here.