Do tender b*****s mean you have definitely ovulated?

Question

I have PCOS and am taking metformin. I haven't had much luck with temping, but I have had positive OPK's. I've know that an OPK can be positive without ovulation occuring so without temping I don't know for certain I have ovulated. I recently read that it is the progesterone surge occuring after ovulation that causes tender b*****s, and I have tender b*****s for the whole of my luteal phase. I've read that you only get the progesterone surge if an egg is released, so my question is, if I get tender b*****s, did I definitely ovulate, or might there be another cause?

Answer 1

All I know is that I have the same breast tenderness and for months I assumed I was ovulating. Unfortunately, after blood work, it turns out that I barely ovulate and my progesterone was very low! So I wouldn't take that as a sure sign.

Answer 2

You're probably right. Progesterone is the main cause of tender b*****s in the luteal phase, and you only get raise progesterone levels after ovulation. I wouldn't use it as 'proof' of ovulation; the only thing that can do that is charting BBTs. But it's certainly a good sign if you're combining it with +OPKs.

Answer 3

According to my wife, when her b*****s were tender, she was ovulating.