Tracking Ovulation With PCOS
One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is “can I get pregnant with PCOS”?
The answer is yes!
If you want to conceive the most important information you need to learn is how to track ovulation with PCOS.
About 70-80% of women with PCOS face infertility problems. The reason for this is because hyperandrogenism (elevated male hormone levels) and insulin resistance can lead to irregular periods and disturbed ovulation in women with PCOS.
Tracking ovulation with PCOS will help you learn when you are most fertile and likely to get pregnant.
PCOS and Ovulation
What is Ovulation?
To put it simply, ovulation is when the ovary releases a mature egg.
Each month the pituitary gland secretes follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which causes the growth of the egg follicle in the ovary. The egg undergoes maturation until another hormone, the Luteinizing Hormone (LH), triggers the release of the matured egg.
Women with PCOS often have an abnormal FSH to LH ratio. The ratio should be 1:1 but women with PCOS the LH to FSH ratio is often higher - for example 2:1, or even 3:1.
You are most fertile the time around ovulation.
Learn how to manage your PCOS on your own terms! All the resources you need to kick PCOS’ ass in one guide!!
When Does Ovulation Occur?
A woman's menstrual cycle should be about every 28 days. Although it is still considered normal for your period to be between 21-35 days.
If you have a regular cycle that is about every 28 days, in theory you should ovulate 14 days prior to your period. That would make the 12th, 13th, and 14th day before getting your period the days when you’re most fertile.
However, if the menstrual cycle lasts about 35 days, then ovulation will happen around day 21, and the 19th, 20th, and the 21st day will be the most fertile days.
How Long Does Ovulation Last?
The egg, when released, can survive for 12 to 24 hours.
If the egg is not fertilized in that time then it breaks down and your body will shed the lining of the uterus and your period will begin.
The Problem with PCOS and Ovulation
Do women with PCOS ovulate?
Yes, but ovulation isn’t as predictable because women with PCOS have irregular periods due to an imbalance of sex hormones.
Elevated androgen can impact ovulation from happening. This is why women with PCOS have a hard time getting pregnant.
Getting Pregnant with PCOS
If you have PCOS and you want to get pregnant, it is important for you to keep track of ovulation and know the vital signs so you can sync sexual intercourse with your partner. This will maximize your chance of conceiving.
Signs of Ovulation with PCOS
Cervical Mucus Changes
As you approach ovulation, your cervical secretions (cervical mucus) increase and will have a consistency like a raw egg-white. This cervical mucus change helps the sperm easily reach the female reproductive tract to get to the egg for fertilization.
The mucus in the non-fertile stage of the cycle is either too sticky or too dry and that makes it hard for the sperm to travel to reach the egg. As a result, conceiving is difficult during this time.
Note your cervical mucus changes depending on where you are in your cycle. The more you track your cervical mucus the better you will get at predicting ovulation.
Your Cervix Softens and Opens
The cervix, or the higher end of the vagina, goes under slight changes during the whole menstrual cycle.
The cervix moves higher, opens slightly, and gets softer to touch around ovulation. It gets lower, tighter, and harder in other phases.
Click the image to learn more.
Ovulation Tracking Methods
Some of the ovulation tracking methods include the following:
Basal Body Temperature
You can use a thermometer to track your basal body temperature as it rises just prior to ovulation.
For best results, it is important you note the temperature using a digital thermometer as it gives accurate results. You must check your body temperature when you wake up every day to help you identify when you are going through your ovulatory phase.
If you don’t do it every day, you can easily miss the slight rise in temperature. So to be successful with this method you must be consistent and take your temperature every day at the same time.
Checking your Cervical Mucus
As I mentioned above, your cervical mucus changes depending on where you are in your cycle. Cervical mucus consistency during the menstrual cycle goes like this – sticky, creamy, watery, egg-white-like, dry.
The different consistencies of your mucus will help you to differentiate and identify your ovulatory phase. When you are ovulating your cervical mucus will be slippery and egg-white-like.
Checking your Cervical Position
You can also check the position of your cervix to help you determine ovulation.
This can take practice and consistency to learn how the cervix feels at different times during your menstrual cycle.
During the beginning of your period your cervix will be low, firm and closed. As you get close to ovulation your cervix will start to soften and open slightly with the intention to let sperm in to reach the egg.
Fertility and Ovulation Monitor
Tracking ovulation with irregular periods can be difficult. But there are ways to help you understand your menstrual cycle and help you know when you are ovulating.
Fertility and ovulation monitors are excellent at helping you make sense of your unique cycle and pattern. They can help you detect hormonal and temperature changes which signal ovulation.
It is important to mention that not all fertility and ovulation monitors are created equal especially when it comes to women with PCOS. If you read the fine print on a lot of them they say that they will work for most women except women with PCOS.
However, there is one brand that is highly accurate for women with PCOS and that is OvuSense.
OvuSense is the most advanced home fertility monitor. It measures continuous Core Body Temperature using a specially designed vaginal sensor clinically proven in 2 trials and 6 clinical publications.
OvuSense is able to track your fluctuations in progesterone and can predict ovulation 24 hours in advance using the cycle data and can confirm the exact date of ovulation with 99% accuracy, and can discover your unique pattern each cycle. This is why this tracker is recommended for women with PCOS.
If your cycle is irregular, using OvuSense is probably one of the best ways to track ovulation with PCOS.
Interested in trying it?
Use codes to get a discount:
KELLY20 – 20% off standard OvuSense
KELLYPRO – 30% off OvuSense Pro
Final Verdict:
The key to getting pregnant with PCOS is to track your ovulation and to time sexual intercourse with your ovulatory phase. It will amplify your odds of getting pregnant.
The items listed above are accompanied by affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if a purchase is made through my links. This has no impact on the cost to the consumer. I link to products this way whenever possible, and it has no bearing on the products I choose to review or recommend.
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