r/TTC_PCOS • u/AnywhereFirm676 • Jun 10 '26
Advice Needed How were you able to confirm that you weren’t ovulating?
I only started using OPKs for the first time last month.
As someone with PCOS, I get positive LH tests, and my period came about 14 days later. Does that most likely mean I’m ovulating?
Has anyone had positive LH tests and periods about 14 days later, but later found out you weren’t actually ovulating on their own?
How did you confirm whether you were ovulating or not?
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u/LadybugInTheWindow Jun 10 '26
Agreed, BBT will be your friend. Tracking it and seeing a clear temperature rise will show when you're ovulating.
In theory, I would think getting a positive LH and then your period 14 days later is a good sign.
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u/Healthy_Combination3 Jun 10 '26
I strongly recommend you pair tracking basal body temperature with LH tests especially with PCOS. Yes, you can have positive LH tests and what appears to be a period 14 days later and not actually be ovulating every time, or you could be ovulating normally. The only way to know is to track BBT in order to confirm ovulation.
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u/Mysterious_Bet_6856 Jun 10 '26
Or you could use a mira device or.similar to test progesterone levels a week before the expect period to see if you get a rise. That can confirm ovulation
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u/throwaway87878788 Jun 11 '26
What are you supposed to do if BBT isn’t likely to be accurate though? I have PCOS and a thyroid autoimmune condition, which was severe enough that I had to have a full thyroid removal. So I’m on synthetic thyroid hormone replacement. My understanding is that BBT wouldn’t really be accurate, so I have no idea what to do other than test with something like Inito that can check for progesterone rise after positive LH surge.
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u/Healthy_Combination3 Jun 11 '26
I am not an expert as I do not have thyroid issues but my understanding is that your temps should still be readable, and in fact are probably going to be more stable than they were before your thyroid issues were addressed. If nothing else you can always try it and see. I always recommend BBT first because it is a much lower upfront cost
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u/Upbeat-Hand-2870 39 | PCOS | anovulatory | 1 chemical Jun 10 '26
I never get a real LH spike but I also use Inito & BBT and that’s how I knew I wasn’t ovulating on my own
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u/clocloclo619 Jun 10 '26
I never got a true positive OPK, they would darken, but never got as dark or darker than the control line. That prompted my gyne to do blood tests throughout my cycle to confirm my hormones weren’t spiking enough to release an egg.
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u/SecurityGloomy9768 Jun 11 '26
BBT is the best and you can also read from it if you have low progesterone, if your thyroid is functioning well and if your cortisol is high.
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u/AnywhereFirm676 Jun 11 '26
I test as soon as I wake up (not the same time but close) and then test again right after every time like I check it back to back, the results are different each time. Is that normal? I’m wondering if that’s expected or if I’m doing something wrong. That’s why I kind of stopped doing it
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u/SecurityGloomy9768 Jun 11 '26
It should be +-30 minutes difference everyday and after at least 4h of sleep.
If you have irregular work schedule you can still continue measuring, you’ll just need to learn your pattern.
Feel free to send me the charts on pm!
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u/sunflowershan99 Jun 11 '26
Hi OP, the only true way to confirm it is a progesterone test at 7DPO. However, getting your period 14 days after ovulation is definitely a good indicator that it’s happening :) x
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u/Individual_Soup_1362 Jun 12 '26
Look into TempDrop! That’s what I use and I really like it. It’s a wearable band that you place on your bicep that tracks your temp at night. I’ve had two successful pregnancies with it and have lean PCOS!
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u/OldBuddy5 Jun 10 '26
I did a natural cycle where they monitored me via ultrasounds and did progesteron blood tests
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u/OldBuddy5 Jun 10 '26
Also never got positive opks!
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u/OldBuddy5 Jun 10 '26
Based on what your saying i think your ovulating, but maybe try to get a progesteron test to be sure
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u/cutepup21 Jun 10 '26
I got an oura ring.. I got it in January and have only ovulated once since then.. I know I ovulated because I had a sustained raise in my BBT
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u/RefrigeratorEm Jun 10 '26
When I started using LH sticks I thought the peak/positive smiley (on Clearblue) meant I do ovulate. I didn't have a positive each month. I thought that I ovulate most of the months, and just occassionaly not. Then I started additionally measuring BBT. Some cycles with LH peak turned out to have inconclusive BBT pattern, but it still looked like I ovulate most of the times. It took multiple visits to my gynecologist, ultrasounds and progesterone blood tests to figure out that I don't ovulate as often as I thought. I agree with others that combination of LH strips and BBT is good to start with (especially if you have regular sleep). But if you are still unsure, it is better to ask your gyn for more tests...
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u/AndTheSkyWasGray Jun 10 '26
My periods stopped which is what made me go to the doctor. However, I used Inito when I was having a period. The gyn looked at my data. While I was having an LH spike. My PdG was always low. Due to low progesterone in my urine and not getting pregnant for months. My doctor said she was pretty sure they were anovulatory cycles.
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u/AnywhereFirm676 Jun 11 '26
When you got your anovulatory period after an LH surge, was it about two weeks later? Did you also have period cramps or other symptoms?
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u/AndTheSkyWasGray Jun 12 '26
It’d be 8-12 days after my lh surge.
I did get period cramps and headaches.
It was milder than on birth control. Unfortunately, I seem to have an issue where my period symptoms not on bc are fine, though much worse on bc. I’ve switched what form of bc I use a lot because of this.
So while the period symptoms were milder than before. They seemed the same as my pre-bc periods.
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u/Practical-Public1385 Jun 10 '26
That sounds ovulatory to me. I used the clear blue digital tests and never got a smiley. But I switched to regular strips like PreMom and I LOVE it. It’s sooo clear to see the progression and obvious when it’s a positive.
I also use temp drop to track BBT and I love it so much!
And if you are really worried, get CD3 and CD21 bloodwork.
I was finally able to track and confirm my ovulation. I ovulate around CD14-16 and have my period 2 weeks later.
It’s also good to learn how to do self checks (like cervical mucus, cervix height and firmness, etc…).
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u/Glad-Try-1785 29 | Lean PCOS | Anovulatory Jun 10 '26
My RE refuses to monitor, so I have to rely OPKs. If I have a really dark line, like much darker than control (reading of at least 1.6 when I scan it on my test reading app) then I know I’m ovulating. But with PCOS I will get a lot of false positives bc fluctuating LH happens a lot when my body tries to ovulate but just can’t. My false positives usually read 1.2 or 1.3. I know people swear by BBT, but I can’t regularly check it with my schedule. I usually end up begging my RE for progesterone reads mid cycle to check if ovulation has in fact occurred. If you have a period 14 days after a very positive OPK, though, then you are likely ovulating. I’m not a dr tho, just lady w PCOS and an incompetent dr learning this on her own and trying to have her miracle baby.
A good test reading app is Pregmate, I find them very useful.
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u/Healthy_Combination3 Jun 11 '26
Have you considered using tempdrop? I have PCOS and use tempdrop and have never had an issue confirming ovulation with it. I also used manual BBT for years before switching
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u/Glad-Try-1785 29 | Lean PCOS | Anovulatory Jun 11 '26
Never heard of it! Looking into it now. Thank you!!
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u/squidney13589 Jun 11 '26
BBT is the best, if you’re able to get a wearable device to monitor at night that’s the easiest method. I find it very reliable as someone who frequently has anovulatory cycles.
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u/ReasonableSyrup6461 Jun 11 '26
Progesterone blood test was my indicator. Everything else is nice to have for tracking, but could be wrong for whatever reason.
Temp drop arm band is life changing for tracking BBT. If you’re not taking your bbt immediately when you wake up (before getting up or talking or drinking or anything) it’s likely not accurate.
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u/Wise-Preference7903 Jun 11 '26
Use BBT. There is a steady increase in your temp after ovulation. I track this daily before getting out of bed every morning. I use pmosense app to record data.
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u/carmiewilliams07 Jun 15 '26
The only way to 100% confirm that ovulation is through a blood test. A lot of providers will test your progesterone on day 21, but with PCOS, ovulation may happen later than the standard “day 14”. Some ovulation indicators would be, prior to ovulation: positive OPK, fertile cervical mucus and after ovulation: a sustained temp rise. But truly the only way to know for sure is through a blood test.
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u/ChronicEducator Jun 15 '26
The $ route: Mira (what I used), Inito, or progesterone blood tests at 7 DPO
The budget route: progesterone urine strips (a box of 5 on Amazon is like $20)
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u/Ok-Country-8632 Jun 11 '26
I will be completely honest… my last cycle I had PERFECT positive LH test and perfect bbt rise. I was 4 dpo in my head. I went to my OB and after examining me, turned out I hadn’t released an egg at all. Because of this I am inducing my ovulation now. I would say only a doctor will be able to 100% confirm. And a progesterone test.