Ovulation Kits...Useful or Useless?

tai · 05-28-2008, 02:47 PM

Hi girls!

I am a newbie to this forum. Although i have not been "officially" dx with PCOS, my gyne put me on Met ER 500 twice daily to kick start my ovulation.

A brief background on me...I am 5'4'', 108 lbs and pretty fit. I got off of BCP in November '07 to start TTC in Feb '08. Well, never got my period (and still dont have one since Nov). This was really disturbing to me as i have ALWAYS been regular (even before i started BCP about 8 years ago). That being said, my gyne suggested using Metformin to ovulate. Now i was a little surprised she had me do that and didnt mention anything about PCOS. Me being a pharmacist, i had a feeling why she was doing it. When i asked her if she thought i had PCOS, she said she wasnt sure but that shes had good experience with Met in the past. Anyways, in short ive been mulling around about seeing a RE but am hoping that the Met works before i go do that.

However I wanted to know if anyone has had any experience using those expensive fertility monitors by ClearBlue Easy. The help desk said that women with PCOS shouldnt use ovulation kits/fertility monitors because their response to it can be unpredictable. Is that true? If so im returning the $200+ monitor i bought! Any good experiences with it?

You are all such an inspiration to me! i felt so distraught and lonely before finding this site!

c.l.a · 05-29-2008, 01:58 PM

Before being DX with PCOS, my DR was having me use an ovulation kit, as well as BBT's twice a day to check ovulation. Both showed I was ovulating. My hubby and I would try a few times a day for a few days. No pregnancy. When I did this for two years without a BFP, i changed DR's. This DR DX me with PCOS, and told me what I had already believed- that I hadn't likely ovulated in years. So the kit and BBT just were giving me positve ovulation after postive ovulation but they weren't acurate. I say talk with your DR, but for me they were pointless.

Good Luck

maddieb · 05-29-2008, 05:39 PM

My doctor says they are pointless for PCOS cysters, so I never spent the money. GL to you.

PBLayzod · 05-29-2008, 05:45 PM

The OPK strips in the box worked for me if I was O'ing. If it was an annovulatory cycle I just kept getting various shades of positives.

If you decide to try Met, I'd at least do some basic charting. It may not be fool-proof, but it's nice to have some indication of your success besides waiting for AF to show. If you keep the CBEFM, I know many women have said that it can take a cycle or two for the monitor to get to know you. It may not be completely accurate the first cycle, but give it some time. (Personally, I'd return it for now.)

farmgrrl · 05-29-2008, 07:14 PM

The only reason the OPKs would not work for you is if you have elevated LH. Your doctor can test you for that quite easily. The CBEFM has more of a chance of working because it tests both estrogen and LH to detect your surge. There is a CBEFM thread here and lots of women have gotten BFPs using it.

tai · 05-30-2008, 03:22 AM

THank you so much for your responses. Yes they did test my LH and it was elevated. I had been using the First Response ovul. sticks and it kept saying i was ovulation at the same time each month. However i never got a period. So frustrated.

farmgrrl · 05-30-2008, 10:35 AM

There's an easy way to see if you are ovulating -- have your doctor do a 12-day scan. They will be able to see if there are any eggs there. Don't invest in any more OPKs until you find out whether you are ovulating. BBT should still work because it relies on progesterone levels. But if you go to a reproductive endocrinologist or an OB that specializes in fertility, they will monitor to see if you ovulate, and it will take the guess-work out of it.

keohanel · 05-30-2008, 10:40 AM

your body may have been gearing up to O but never actually doing it. I also suggest charting. are you doing that? plus, you may want to see an RE just to get more answers. CBEFM, i believe, works better if you have a "regular" cycle of under 40 days so it may take a while for you to be able to use it. How long have you been on Met? I recommend the sticky about how long it can take for Met to work/treatment.

I've been of BC since September. wasn't charting but had a normal AF in Oct and Nov. Since then ... bleh. I'm on month two of Met and they say it should be at least another month before i am good to go (if it works).

I use saveontests.com OPKs because while my LH is high (and i always get a line) it's very rarely positive and then i know by charting that i haven't O'd.

GL!

keohanel · 05-30-2008, 10:42 AM

c.l.a - twice a day with a BBT? your dr recommended that? I've never heard to chart that way. everything i've read only says to take it in the morning on first waking before you even get out of bed. GL to you too

doolin · 05-30-2008, 11:07 AM

I use BBT, CBEFM, and OPKs. I do ovulate, but my cycles are typically 5-7 weeks. I have to say I am underwhelmed with CBEFM. It seems confused by my cycles. It's missed a few o's and has given me quite a lot of false highs. The OPK/BBT combo works best for me. Sometimes I get false positives with OPKs, but BBT always confirms or denies if I actually did O. I continue to use the CBEFM simply b/c I've already invested the money and I think I secretly enjoy scoffing at its erroneous ways ...

tai · 05-30-2008, 03:16 PM

So when you all say "charting", what does that exactly mean? Can u tell im new at this! =)

I just started Met 3 weeks ago. My OB said that two of her pts that were in the same situation got preggars within 2 months! It made me very hopeful. But now after reading all the threads here, im not so sure i will ovulate that quickly. Were any of you in the situation where you didnt get a period at all and then did with met? if so how long did u have to take the met?

I tried the whole BBT thing and i never got a temp spike, although the OPK kept indicating i was ovulating. Now i realize i probably did not O at all.

Well i still have the receipt for the CBE ovulation kit so back to walgreens it goes!

PBLayzod · 05-30-2008, 03:50 PM

The BBT thing is what we mean by chartings. Some women also keep track of cervical mucus and cervical position changes and any number of other things on their charts. As you've already discovered, a positive OPK doesn't necessarily mean you O'd. That's why the charting is nice.

farmgrrl · 05-30-2008, 05:21 PM

Yeah I don't think you will get a sustained temp rise without ovulating (because the temp rise is caused by the progesterone in your system). I guess you could have a really weak O and not have very high temps though. OPKs tell you that you are ABOUT to ovulate. Sometimes your body is all geared up but then it doesn't happen.

Doctors can do follicle scans and tell you whether you have nice-looking follicles, and then they can tell you after you ovulate if the follicles are empty.

keohanel · 05-30-2008, 08:20 PM

read "taking charge of your fertility" - it's for women with normal cycles but it will teach you about charting with a BBT. i also use fertilityfriend.com

TrishainAZ · 06-01-2008, 02:08 AM

Yes Taking Charge of your fertility is the BEST book ever. I read it before I was diagnosed and was able to go in knowing what was wrong with me. I've read it at least 4 times since. Its wonderful! OPK's do work for me, but I've never actually gotten pregnant while using them. I don't chart now that I have kids case I'm up all night so its not as reliable, but I do notice patterns in my cervical fluid and got pregnant that way with my 2nd. (although it only predicts possible ovulation and isn't a guarantee that you actually do) Good luck!