OPK and PCOS.. Whats your experience?

SamanthaLaura16 · January 2014

This is my first TTC since our loss and I am a little confused by my OPKs. I am fairly new to PCOS and this is my second month on metformin. When we first started TTC in December of 2012 I started with OPK but due to rarely ever having a period (2 in 6 months) it was hard to know what day in my cycle I really was on. In the 5 months or so that I used them I think I got maybe 1 positive OPK, they were very negative all the time. Since starting metformin last month I got my first AF without provera and it was a great 30 day cycle. This month I have temping and using OPK and I am not really sure what to think about what I am seeing. This month I had a very abnormal temp drop on day 7 and I started using OPK that day. The 1st and second day they were negative just like they always were, no second line at all. Then starting on day 9 I started to see the second line and got my positive on the morning of day 13. I am not on day 15 and I am still seeing a second line, some darker than others but still always a second line. When I look at my chart it does not look like I have O yet. I have been researching this and reading previous posts and have found that many people with PCOS have problems with OPK but I am just confused as to why the change for me. Why did I go from never getting a second line to having them for going on 6 days now. Do any of you ladies have cycles like these? When this is happening do you find you actually ovulate? Did Metformin effect your results with OPKs at all?

pcrumley · January 2014

It's going to be hard to track temps this month with nothing to compare it to, since you said it's your first month of natural without provera, the problem with opks and pcos is that they can give you false positives. When I first started I would get multiple positives in a month, then RE said it's a waste of time with pcos. Temping is my best chance to tell myself, but everyone is different. I'm newly pcos as well, so I'm hoping other ladies will pipe in and let u know more. Goodluck

amyelise25 · January 2014

I never played around with OPK's because I kept seeing so much information about how they don't work well with PCOS and you get a lot of false negatives (or false positives). Either way, I got the picture that they aren't a reliable source for someone with PCOS.

Most women with PCOS aren't ovulating and need the meds to get that going. Metformin can help with some, but not all. I've seen a lot of women on the boards let down by Metformin. I'm happy that I've been on it for the past few years. I know that it is helping to regulate my insulin levels to make things smoother for the IUI drugs. But Metformin didn't regulate my cycle (even after loosing 70 lbs). It didn't help me loose weight (daily workouts and good food did that).

If you aren't working with a RE, I would definitely go to one. You can start with your OB/GYN, but the best for PCOS is the RE, in my opinion.

SamanthaLaura16 · January 2014

Thanks ladies I am still seeing my OB who I love but I am thinking that I need to just bite the bullet and see an RE. My Doctors PA is who I have been talking with and it seems like every time we hit a milestone like my 3 months or AF arrives they just keep telling me to keep waiting and see how things go and I know that is not the way that I want to go.

pauljl · January 2014

I lurk but haven't posted on this board before. I hope you font mind! I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2009. I usually have a fade in pattern (the lines get slowly darker) followed by two to three days of positives before my temp spikes. However before I was temping I tested once at the end of my cycle and got a positive just before CD1 when I obviously wasn't ovulating. With temping to help me see the big picture the OPKs have helped me with timing. But without extra data they really just confused me big time! Good luck to you!

pcrumley · January 2014

yeah switch to the RE, i had 3 TV ultrasounds at my obgyn clinic, and when i asked her if pcos was possible, she said no, not really,...

then.. BAM first RE appt, go in for the TV ultrasound and shes like "yep -you are 'textbook' pcos" so yeahhhhh.

RE's rule. OBGYNS drool. . . lol @samanthalaura16

hope2bmom83 · January 2014

The only experience I have was 1 false positive. I remember being so excited that I finally O'd and then when my OB/GYN did blood work they confirmed I did not. I was so let down. I have recently (2 months ago) started getting my cycle back on my own after years on Metformin and a 30 pound weight loss last year. I am just now starting to chart my temps and stuff again too. I have been thinking about using OPKs, but like you I am worried i'm wasting my time and money. I did buy a 7 day Clear Blue O test kit to use up the last $15 I had on my flex card for last month. I guess we will see if it works.
Also, please go to an RE! You will not regret it. My only regret is that I didn't go sooner!

Kam10 · January 2014

My experience with OPKs was worthless. I used them for several months in the beginning, but I apparently gear up to ovulate multiple times in a cycle, so I was never able to pinpoint it. If I had used them in conjunction with temping it might have been beneficial, but I had a really hard time with it as I almost never get 4 straight house of sleep.

DharmaChick · January 2014

I have PCOS and I think I've definitely gotten some false positive OPKs.

My OB/GYN had told me not to bother with temping, as she was worried about the extra stress of that process, but I have be using the ClearBlue OPKs as she suggested. I have gotten only about 4 positive tests ever (not surprising), and at least 3 of them were streaky and didn't seem to be at the right time. The RE confirmed that one of them wasn't possible at my hormone levels at that time.

I started Clomid this cycle: Day 5-9 at 50mg, which didn't grow big enough follies, so then went to 100mg for 5 days. After Clomid, there seem to be dark lines every day, but not a positive. Yesterday I got one of those streaky tests that came up positive, but I had my doubts so I tested again and it was negative. I have an u/s tomorrow (was supposed to be today) so I hope I didn't miss it!

brittneyandadam · January 2014

**siggy warning**

I'm PCOS as well and I never O'd on my own. I kept getting false positives on the OPK's and temping was really unreliable for me; this all held true even on Metformin. Some cycles I'd get a positive for one day, others would show pos OPK's for 3-4 days in a row. The RE confirmed that my body was pumping out hormones, but my ovaries just weren't responding.

TheCalhoons · January 2014

I got all negatives on my OPKs. Then I went to the DR and they confirmed that I did in fact O. So I am not planning on using them again.

Rinn1983 · January 2014

We tried for more than a year. We went to countless doctors and spent alot of money. I finally got my BFP!! I have PCOS also and this is exactly what we did to get pregnant. I went on Metformin and I was on it for avout two months. 1000 mg a day. On day 3 through 7 of my cycle I took 50mg of clomid. On day 10 I started taking three tea spoons of robitussin a day. ( makes your cm more fertile) Also on day 10 I started using OPKs. Once the OPK became dark we Bd that same night using preseed lube. Bd the next two nights with keeping my hips up afterwards. I have been so shocked when our test came out positive. I actually didn't believe it. It can happen ladies. Trust me I never thought I could get pregnant. But I did.. and you can too. Try what I did if you have PCOS but still get AF normal.

Rinn1983 · January 2014

Oh and I forgot prenatal vitamins also. Good luck!!

JadziaDax · January 2014

I have PCOS and OPKs give me false positives all the time. It really drives me crazy. I'm using them for the first time in about 8 months since I'm on a RE break cycle and I almost forgot how useless they are.

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