Many turn to ovulation tests as a tool for predicting ovulation and planning pregnancies, but for those with PCOS these at-home tests may not work in the same way. Ovulation test kits OPKs are used to help pinpoint your fertile window and work by detecting hormone levels that signal impending ovulation.
However, if you have PCOS, hormonal imbalances mean ovulation may not always take place and estrogen and LH levels may not follow predictable patterns, making ovulation testing that much more challenging.
OPKs work by comparing hormone levels to thresholds, but if you have several peaks the results will be less than accurate. In terms of accuracy, it all depends on you and your cycle.
But given the hormonal variations that may be present in PCOS, there are a number of variables that can influence the accuracy and ovulation tests may not be the most reliable. Although PCOS is common, how it shows up can vary widely. Those with the condition experience everything from not having a period at all, to irregular periods, to egg quality issues and many things in between.
But a hallmark of PCOS although not an absolute requisite for diagnosis is the lack or absence of ovulation and is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. As part of a healthy menstrual cycle, in concert with the cascade of hormones that make this possible, the ovaries make the egg that is released each menstrual cycle. The hormonal imbalance associated with PCOS can create problems in the ovaries which means the egg may not develop as it should or may not be released during ovulation like it should.
In a typical menstrual cycle, the surge in luteinizing hormone LH is what signals the ovaries to release an egg. When LH levels are already high, there is no LH surge to signal ovulation and therefore it may not occur.
Due to these hormonal imbalances, women with PCOS often have irregular cycles and their ovulation is unlikely to be typical. OPKs measure your luteinizing hormone LH in urine to track ovulation. The surge in LH is an indication that ovulation is about to take place and you generally begin testing a couple of days before you expect to ovulate. If your cycles are regular and you can generally predict ovulation, OPKs are a great way to identify your fertile window and the best time to have sex if you are planning a pregnancy.
For some women, they are able to use OPKs to predict ovulation with minor adjustments to the timing, but for many with PCOS, abnormal hormone levels make them difficult to use and the results inaccurate. Irregular periods make it difficult to know when to start testing, and persistently high LH levels may skew any results you do get. When you have PCOS, it can be difficult to know when you are ovulating. Regular periods are only one sign of ovulation but there are other ways you can determine if you are ovulating or not too.
Signs and symptoms vary between women with some women knowing exactly when they ovulate while others experience no symptoms at all. When you have PCOS, it can be more challenging to determine if you are ovulating especially from hormone levels alone. OPKs may work for some women, but if your hormone levels are outside of average levels they will not be a reliable predictor of ovulation. Read more: Explainer: what is polycystic ovary syndrome?
As for all women, being in the best possible health before trying for a baby increases the chance of pregnancy and gives the baby the best start in life. To get the right kind of advice and support, women planning to get pregnant should have a preconception health check with their GP.
This is also an opportunity to discuss a plan of action in case the PCOS causes fertility difficulties. For women with PCOS who are overweight or obese, a modest weight loss sometimes results in more regular ovulation, which increases the chance of pregnancy. Read more: Women's fertility: does 'egg timer' testing work, and what are the other options?
Your GP is your first port of call, but she might refer you to a fertility specialist. If you have very irregular or only sporadic periods, this is an indication you are not ovulating and need medical help to have a baby.
Her cycles may be irregular or longer than normal. Or they may not occur at all. She may or may not ovulate in a given cycle. These irregular cycles make it difficult to know when ovulation is occurring, if at all.
This will affect a woman's ability to conceive. And in the United States, this is a common problem. Infertile is defined as being unable to conceive after a year of trying. This condition is called " impaired fecundity. Having regular periods is one sign of ovulation. You can find out if and when you are ovulating to maximize your chance of conceiving a baby by:. Using one or more of these techniques can help you know when to time sex properly if you are trying to conceive.
The "fertile window" typically begins two or three days before ovulation and lasts about a week,. Get to know your body each month and try these techniques. They can maximize your chance of conceiving. If you don't get clear signals that you're ovulating, see a doctor and get an evaluation. You may need help regulating your menstrual cycles or getting pregnant.
Typically, a fertility specialist or a reproductive endocrinologist will do a full hormonal workup, gather a detailed medical history, and possibly do an ultrasound. These steps can help determine if and when you are ovulating. Polycystic ovary syndrome causes hormonal changes that can make your menstrual cycle irregular and interfere with ovulation. This can make it hard to know if and when you are ovulating.
There are certain tests you can do yourself to try to predict ovulation, so you can time sex appropriately for the best chances at conception.
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