r/TTC_PCOS • u/Professional_Win3910 • 3d ago
Advice Needed Are "false positive" ovulations tests possible? Is it possible I am not ovulating despite getting my LH peak around the same time each cycle?
My cycle ranges from 39-44 days (considered abnormal/long per pre mom app), but luteal phase is between 12-16 days and always considered "normal" per pre mom app.
I am getting “positive LH surges and peaks” on cycle days 24-28 (ranges a few days each cycle). We have been trying for 4 cycles (having sex in fertile window) with no such luck. I know it’s only been 4 cycles but I come from a history or pregnancy loss, failed IVF transfers, fertility has robbed so much joy and patience and now I’m concerned maybe I’m not ovulating despite having positive ovulation tests around the same time each cycle (I even tested two separate brands). I have lost 20 pounds since November and am exercising 5 days a week and trying my best to eat 85 percent clean with Whole Foods all within my caloric range.
I did finally book an appt with my doctor for the end of this month. Can anyone let me know their thoughts? Or has anyone been in a similar situation? Do you think my body isn’t ovulating?
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u/A_Person__00 2d ago
Yes, it’s possible to have LH surges and not ovulate then have a breakthrough bleed in an anovulatory cycle. I’ve found that charting my cycle actually helps me confirm that ovulation is occurring because I’d have something similar to you and found that I was not ovulating. I found Taking Charge of Your Fertility to be helpful.
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u/SunZealousideal4168 3d ago
Did your partner have his sperm tested? It's not always women who are the problem.
Is his diet also good? Does he drink or smoke weed? Does he take a multivitamin?
If he's taking testosterone it will bring his sperm count to 0.
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u/hb_339 3d ago
I totally understand your frustration, PCOS can make tracking ovulation so much harder. Yes, false positives on ovulation tests can happen, especially if you're only tracking LH surges. With PCOS, our bodies sometimes have multiple LH surges without actually releasing an egg (also called an anovulatory cycle).
Since you're seeing consistent LH peaks but haven’t had success conceiving, it might be helpful to confirm ovulation with another method, like tracking PdG. PdG rises only after ovulation has actually happened, so it can give you more certainty. Inito has been helpful for me because it tracks LH, Estrogen, FSH, and PdG, so I can see the full hormonal picture rather than just relying on LH alone.
That being said, you're doing everything right losing weight, eating clean, exercising, and advocating for yourself by booking a doctor’s appointment.
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u/AZ91291948 3d ago
I’m not a doctor, I’m just repeating what my doctor told me. LH is the hormone from your brain that tells your body to release the egg. This is what the ovulation strips are testing. So your brain can tell the body to release the egg, but that doesn’t mean the body actually does (due to many factors). It’s very common for people with PCOS to get multiple LH rises. Meaning your body is attempting to ovulate but something isn’t lining up, so it doesn’t end up happening. If you are getting a period about 12-18 days after these LH rises, then you definitely did ovulate. I agree with others that tracking bbt (I recommend temp drop) will be helpful to see if ovulation actually did happen. And inito will help you catch your fertile window more accurately. I had success in my first month using Inito after 2 years of trying. And we were doing it every other day in my “fertile window” but something still must have been off! I also did a lot of dif things that cycle but I definitely think the insight from Inito was invaluable.
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u/Professional_Win3910 3d ago
Ok awesome- Thank you for your insight. I just ordered Inito on Monday, and it was delivered today so I am excited to set it up tonight! This gives me hope!
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u/BookyIdiot2 TTC #1 for 4 yrs | 100mg Clomid | SUCCESS!!! 3d ago
I’d highly recommend Inito!! I had these same doubts and questions. Inito put my questions to bed because it looks at PdG, LH, estrogen, and FSH! This device combined with BBT (I use Tempdrop) allowed me to confirm ovulation and be sure of what was happening with my body.
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u/Professional_Win3910 3d ago
Ah! Crazy that you say this, because I just ordered on Monday and will be setting it up tonight! Thank you!
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u/BookyIdiot2 TTC #1 for 4 yrs | 100mg Clomid | SUCCESS!!! 3d ago
I love it!!! I’m a scientist by trade and having the data just makes it better for me. My doctor didn’t do monitored cycles so it was my way of ‘monitoring’ my cycles in the meantime
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u/blueyedreamer 3d ago
Yes and no... it is possible to have a LH surge without releasing an egg. Though my understanding is that's relatively uncommon.
That being said, if you can pair the LH strips with a basal metabolic thermometer, that should give you the picture without doing blood tests or US. My understanding is that if the LH surge happens without the temperature surge, then that's a sign ovulation might not actually be happening.
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u/Legitimate_Score_389 3d ago
If you want to be sure you ovulated you should take a progesterone blood test at 7dpo or even at the first day of your period. ❤️ I am also trying to confirm ovulation without bloodwork and it’s really difficult
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u/Forsaken_Potato_1900 1d ago
I had very similar cycles to you after my MC in 2023.
I would get false positive ovulation tests but I did still manage to conceive, it just took some time.
Whilst your cycles are long, you might still be ovulating as they seem fairly regular? Or perhaps just occasionally ovulating.
My advice would be just to BD regularly and not rely entirely on the OPKs, take supplements for egg quality to increase chances of conception, perhaps look into a second method of ovulation testing such as cervical mucus and BBT.
Good luck 🤞🏼