For women withpolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), ovulation test kits can help pinpoint your fertile times for conception. Unfortunately, they might not be reliable due to your PCOS.
The most popular types of ovulation test kits measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the urine or use saliva to assess changes in estrogen levels. These hormones spike right before ovulation when pregnancy is most likely to occur. But when you have PCOS, you may have a constantly high level or multiple peaks of these hormones, so the results may falsely reflect ovulation.
This article explains how PCOS affects ovulation and how these two common ovulation testing methods work. Other, more traditional fertility testing methods are worth considering, too.
You’re Not AlonePCOS can feel like a lonely, isolating condition. But many women can relate to the frustrations you feel: Between 6% and 10% of females of childbearing age have PCOS.
You’re Not Alone
PCOS can feel like a lonely, isolating condition. But many women can relate to the frustrations you feel: Between 6% and 10% of females of childbearing age have PCOS.
How Long Will It Take Me to Get Pregnant If I Have PCOS?
How PCOS Affects Hormones and Ovulation
Understanding ovulation and the normal hormonal patterns during the menstrual cycle can help you better understand why PCOS can change the results of ovulation tests.
Normal Hormone Changes During the Menstrual Cycle
During a normal menstrual cycle:
Hormones in PCOS
Hormonal imbalances are common in women with PCOS, meaning that eggs don’t always mature or get released as usual.Instead, they can collect on the ovaries as small, immature follicles referred to ascysts.
These irregularities mean that a woman with PCOS may have a sporadic menstrual cycle, a long one, or not even have one at all. Further complicating the issue, some women who have PCOS have persistently high levels of LH or multiple hormonal peaks.
Unfortunately, there are few choices among home ovulation tests.
Verywell / Lara Antal
Hormonal Ovulation Testing Kits
Ovulation tests that rely on detecting changes in hormones are less likely to be accurate in PCOS.
Urine Dipstick Tests
Urine dipstick hormonal ovulation test kits might work for some people who have PCOS, but not all. There are several variables that can influence their accuracy.
For example:
Tread CarefullyOvulation tests do not actually test for ovulation—they only tell you that your body is trying to ovulate.Any test kit that relies on a urine dipstick to predict ovulation may not be accurate if you have PCOS.
Tread Carefully
Ovulation tests do not actually test for ovulation—they only tell you that your body is trying to ovulate.Any test kit that relies on a urine dipstick to predict ovulation may not be accurate if you have PCOS.
You may be able to count on an ovulation kit if you adjust the timing based on your menstrual cycle.
Typically, ovulation occurs 14 days before your next period. If you have a 30-day cycle, ovulation will occur around day 16. So it is usually best to start testing several days before—around day 12.
If your result tells you that you will ovulate soon, it’s time to take the cue and begin having sexual intercourse every day for two or three days to improve your chance of conceiving before ovulation.
Saliva Ferning Tests
Some ovulation test kits are saliva tests. They rely on a phenomenon in which dried saliva may form a fern-shaped pattern when your estrogen level is high, as can happen around the time of ovulation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions that saliva tests may produce inaccurate results for many reasons, even in individuals without PCOS.If you have aconsistently high level of estrogen due to PCOS, this test may be even less accurate than a urine dipstick test.
Other Options
You may wish to use more traditional means of predicting ovulation:
Tests are available that include a basal body temperature thermometer and tracking mechanism. The most sophisticated among them include a Bluetooth thermometer and app that allow for easier tracking.
Simply using the thermometer you have at home and an ovulation-predicting app may be a solution as well. Some well-known apps include Kindara, Fertility Friend, Ovia, Glow, Flo, and Clue.
Using both of these types of methods could be more helpful than just using one alone.
How to Know If You Are Ovulating Regularly With PCOS
Summary
PCOS can make it hard to become pregnant. And ovulation tests might not be reliable because the hormones they measure might not be consistent and predictive of fertile times or ovulation when you have PCOS. Urine dipstick kits and saliva fern kits dominate the market, though they’re not known for producing wholly accurate results. The more irregular your periods are, the less reliable the results of these tests will be. Along with these tests, you can also consider using family planning techniques that have been around for decades, like measuring your basal body temperature, to track your ovulation.
A Word From Verywell
The potential inaccuracy of ovulation testing kits may be particularly distressing if PCOS is already making it difficult for you to get pregnant. In fact, PCOS is one of the most common causes of fertility struggles in females.It’s easy to get frustrated, but don’t give up. Your healthcare provider can discuss your options with you.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.American Pregnancy Association.Ovulation tests.Center of Reproductive Medicine.Ovulation induction: What you need to know.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ovulation (saliva test).Additional ReadingCunningham, F. Gary., and John Whitridge Williams. Williams Obstetrics. New York: McGraw-Hill Education Medical. Print.Kuang H, Hin S, Hansen K, et al.Identification and replication of prediction models for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Human Reproduction. 2015;30(9):2222-33. doi:10.1093/humrep/dev182
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.American Pregnancy Association.Ovulation tests.Center of Reproductive Medicine.Ovulation induction: What you need to know.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ovulation (saliva test).Additional ReadingCunningham, F. Gary., and John Whitridge Williams. Williams Obstetrics. New York: McGraw-Hill Education Medical. Print.Kuang H, Hin S, Hansen K, et al.Identification and replication of prediction models for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Human Reproduction. 2015;30(9):2222-33. doi:10.1093/humrep/dev182
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.American Pregnancy Association.Ovulation tests.Center of Reproductive Medicine.Ovulation induction: What you need to know.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ovulation (saliva test).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and diabetes.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
American Pregnancy Association.Ovulation tests.
Center of Reproductive Medicine.Ovulation induction: What you need to know.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ovulation (saliva test).
Cunningham, F. Gary., and John Whitridge Williams. Williams Obstetrics. New York: McGraw-Hill Education Medical. Print.Kuang H, Hin S, Hansen K, et al.Identification and replication of prediction models for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Human Reproduction. 2015;30(9):2222-33. doi:10.1093/humrep/dev182
Cunningham, F. Gary., and John Whitridge Williams. Williams Obstetrics. New York: McGraw-Hill Education Medical. Print.
Kuang H, Hin S, Hansen K, et al.Identification and replication of prediction models for ovulation, pregnancy and live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Human Reproduction. 2015;30(9):2222-33. doi:10.1093/humrep/dev182
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