Any advice please, PCOS and clearblue fertility monitor

[Jacko]

Hi girls,

Well I have 2 little boys my first was born after a cycle of injectables (can't remember what they were) my 2nd little boy totally natutal what a surprise 6 months after my first after having sex just twice!!!
Since then my periods have been like clockwork, apart from this cycle. I am 2 days late and negative pg!
I am now worried my PCOS which was diagnosed prior to my first is causing me infertility again.
I am with a new partner who has no children and we decided to ttc.

Anyway the long-winded question is does anyone recommend the fertility monitor??? It says it may not work for lady's with PCOS does anyone know why? And has anyone used it with PCOS?
Frustrating!!!! Xxxx

 

[snowbee]

All ovulation tests that rely on LH state that the may not be suitable for ladies with pcos. This is for a couple of reasons, first some pcos ladies have higher levels of LH than is usual which can give a constantly high result (you can get round this if you use the cheapies and order a low sensitivity, I use the 25 which is 'normal' but you can get 40s if you always show a line on the 25s). Secondly these tests only show the LH surge, this does not mean that you will ovulate, this is my problem, my body gears up to ovulate but then for some reason doesn't release the egg. It is still nice to know when you may be ovulating though!

 

[fairyprincess]

Hi, as snowbee said us ladies with PCOS have high levels of LH. I use ic's to track and I can get 10 days that show a line until I get a positive later in my cycle. My dr suggested a clear blue fertility monitor but they're a lot of money for something I feel a free app on my phone and ic do for me but guess it's personal choice x

 

[phonixgirl]

I agree with the others. I did use ovulation tests which seemed to work for me but I know they do give a lot of false readings for us PCOS ladies. As the fertility monitors are quite expensive, I wouldn't bother. I use a free app like fairyprincess instead and check my cervical mucus, as that seems to say a lot. Xxx

 

[Jacko]

Thank you girls. I think I worry that I will have a surge and not actually ovulate. Do you know how I can tell if I have actually ovulated? My periods are like clockwork. I thought Har because I am regular I assumed I ovulate however not sure that is the case. Because I have 2 children drs aren't that interested. It's a shame for my new partner. We so want a child together xxxx any PCOS advice is very welcome xxx

 

[fairyprincess]

The only way I know I've definitely ov'd is by tracking my cycle e.g. AF arrived this Thursday and I got a positive opk on the 6th so my AF arrived 13dpo. That's correct as AF should arrive 12-14dpo. You have to work backwards. Hope that makes sense x

 

[Clare80]

I bought one, used it one month only. It gave me false peak days. I use ic now which I get a very strong positive on at the correct time.

 

[phonixgirl]

Thank you girls. I think I worry that I will have a surge and not actually ovulate. Do you know how I can tell if I have actually ovulated? My periods are like clockwork. I thought Har because I am regular I assumed I ovulate however not sure that is the case. Because I have 2 children drs aren't that interested. It's a shame for my new partner. We so want a child together xxxx any PCOS advice is very welcome xxx

I had periods like clockwork every 24 days (so rather short), spotting beforehand for up to 2 weeks (yes, I know) and heavy bleeding during my period as well as bad cramps at the start. It was shrugged off many times because I am not overweight. Eventually I was referred to the fertility clinic and scans showed I had polycystic ovaries. I also had no CM even though tests apparently showed I was ovulating. I think I got the surge but the egg got stuck or something, and the period was just my lining.

I read that chromium and cinnamon were like natural metformin so I tried it. Pretty much straight away I started getting EWCM for the first time ever. The spotting also ceased. I finally got a proper diagnosis in June this year and started metformin in October. The scan in November just before I started IVF showed my ovaries to be 'normal', so I guess something has made me ovulate.

What is your CM like? Xxx

 

[fairyprincess]

That happened to me to Phonix, I'd get a surge but wouldn't actually ov and then my period would be very light and only last a day as it was just the lining. I do seem to be ov'ing last few cycles though x

 

[fairyprincess]

Grr is it national spam forums day or something?

 

[lisa1985]

I have pcos and used CB fertility monitor, it showed apparent rise in LH every month etc, but I did not get pregnant on any of the cycles I used it so potential waste of money and time, the month I got pregnant I used 2 cheapy OPKs

Good luck xx

 

[snowbee]

Temping or bloods are the only way to confirm ov (and temping doesn't always work for pcos ladies either) so that sort of narrows it down to not knowing!

You will still be able to have blood tests and possibly a scan on the nhs if you have been trying for a while with a new partner (he will also be able to get his sperm checked). If they find an issue they won't do treatment though as you already have children. But at least you would know if there was an issue (and if it was an ovulation problem with your pcos then I'm told going private for clomid isn't that expensive).

Do you take anything for your pcos? Most ladies can get metformin (apart from me it seems) and that may help you.

 

[Jacko]

This is going to be our first month properly trying so I will get some opk and keep track of dates and CM.
If nothing by next Xmas off to the GP.
It feels good to be back in TTC. It always starts very exciting.
Thank you for all your i advice!

Praying for our BFP x

 

[phonixgirl]

Good luck xx

As I said, you can tell a lot by your cervical mucus so hopefully once you start tracking it you may see patterns. When I tried mine, I had to reach up and it was always creamy and/or sticky, plus barely there! But things have changed No wonder I didn't get pregnant all those years, ha xxx

 

[Jacko]

Yes I will be getting right up there lol!
You mentioned cinnamon and chromium how would you take these?? I will Defo give anything a go! I am slightly overweight tbh so back to slimming world and tbe gym x

 

[jadeb]

I found because of higher levels of LH in women with PCOS- that I was getting a positive but wasn't actually ovulating so I used to take my BBT like clockwork along side it so I knew if the positive I was getting was infect a true positive- obvs we would make sure we covered the positive as temp doesn't confirm until after ovulation which by that point is too late. I would get multiple positives within a cycle yet only one was a true positive. I also used to track cm aswel. xx

 

[Jacko]

Thank you!! I have got some really helpful advice!! Here is to our BFP xxx

 

[phonixgirl]

Yes, good luck. I love seeing PCOS ladies get a BFP xx

 

[CheekyTWChick]

Hi ladies, I have PCOS, I've found that the LCHF diet with long walks works for me, I lost 2 stone in 4 months. I now find myself 11weeks pregnant. Hope you ladies get your BFP soon xx