Positive OPKs?

[Chelsea524]

I am dealing with really long cycles, last cycle was 75 days and only had AF because of taking provera, I am now on CD 46 with no sign of AF in sight. I have taken tons of OPKs because I really don't want to chart and want to have some idea of when I O, but my question is out of the 30+ OPKs that I have taken almost all of them have had really dark test lines, several have been as dark or darker than the control line and the others have been just barely lighter, I think out of the 30 I can only think of 1 that was really light but the line was still there. Anyone have the same issues, does it have anything to do with the long cycles? Does it mean there is a problem?

I have an appt with my dr at the end of the month and I'll see what he says, I know I should chart especially with these long cycles but my DH is so against making TTC really technical, plus I wake up at different times every morning, some times I need to be up as early as 5, sometimes I don't have a chance to get to bed until 4am and sleep til 11 so charting really wouldn't work.

[flygirl]

High levels of Luteinizing Hormone (detected by OPKs; *usually* means Oing is imminent) is a possible side effect of PCOS, as are long cycles. Do a search in this forum for PCOS and you'll find all kinds of information, including common symptoms. I think this was suggested in another thread regarding your long cycles...? Can't remember... Anyway, it means ob/gyn time :).

And of course, I have to address the charting issues ;). Charting is NOT about TTC; that's only a nice side effect. Charting is first and foremost about your health and understanding your body. That your DH doesn't want to make TTCing technical should be a moot point, especially since your cycles are off. In fact, I'd say using OPKs is more technical than charting, and they won't help you identify problems with your health. Also, temping at a specific time isn't as important as it's made out to be (unless you're TTA). Your temps might be erratic, but if you're Oing, there's a 90+% chance you'll see a noticeable O-shift regardless of when you take your temp.

[Tracie]

In agreement about the time issue not being that much of a factor. That was something that held me back from charting, since I never wake up at the same time. Sometimes I've been awake (in bed) for a half hour before I remember to take my temp, and my son often wakes me up early and I go back to sleep for about an hour, and then I take my temp. However, I still see the temp shift every month!