Q: I have PCOS. Can I still use ovulation predictor kits (OPKs)?
A: One of the commercial fertility monitor manufacturers notes that their product is unreliable for women with PCOS. Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) test the LH rise just prior to ovulation, but some women with PCOS always have high LH levels, not just shortly before ovulation. So, a woman whose LH is always elevated may consistently get positive tests or get erratic readings.
Most women with PCOS and elevated LH always show some kind of line in the result window of an OPK test because LH is always present — and this may not be related to impending ovulation. You may want to check with your doctor for suggestions on home monitoring.