Confused about when to do 'day 21' blood test

[Juhannus]

I hope someone can help I'm a bit confused.

I am on cycle 6 of trying to conceive. I've been using ovulation tests for the last 2 months. Last month I got a positive on day 15 of my cycle but this month I got a very early positive on day 6 I used the clear blue digital test for the first time.

I'm wondering should I have continued testing. I just did what it said and stopped testing as I had a smiley face

My cycle length varies between 26 and 31 days, the average being 29 days

Because of my age I'm 42 I have booked the day 2/3 and day 21 blood tests. I didn't know whether to book the test on 'day 21' or 7 days post ovulation which would have been day 14.

I tried researching on here but was still confused. I spoke to the receptionist at my surgery who spoke to the nurse. Her advice was to ignore the opk and just book the test for the 21st.

Do you think I have done the right thing?

[Juhannus]

Just to add that I have booked the day 2/3 test on day 3 of my 'predicted' cycle for the 1st of July

I have booked the day 21 test for the 21st of June.

I presumed this would be ok as it's not the order of the tests that's important but where in your cycle you are..

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Sounds alright. OPKs can be misleading at the best of times anyway.

I'd be interested in what the day 2 reveals; they should compare your LH level against that of your FSH level. These two hormones are important as they kickstart the ovulation process, if these are awry then ovulation will be affected.

The day 21 tests progesterone and should ideally show a result of 30 or more.

Regardless of how these test results turn out have you actually been referred to a subfertility unit.

[Juhannus]

Thanks so much Attila :) I really appreciate and trust your posts.

I went to see my GP who is really good. I was a bit nervous but he was thorough and told me exactly what to do. I had seen another GP a lady doctor at the surgery who wasn't great at all. I had mistakenly thought it would be better with a lady doctor.

He says that he is going to first do these tests and also my other half is going for a sperm test.

Depending on the results or not (I'm not sure) he is going to refer me to the Southampton subfertility unit for an ultrasound and AMH test.

[Juhannus]

Should I insist on being referred?

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Juhannus!

My GP has just referred me for the same tests. He told me that the day 2/3 and 21 refer to days of your cycle - my AF is due tomorrow so that would be day 1, therefore I'd go for the test on Friday. However sod's law will mean that if AF starts on Friday I won't be able to go till next month as the clinic isn't open weekends! And yes, you can do them in any order as far as I know, you just need both of them for comparison.

I never got a result with the OPKs for the internet so bought the CBFM, first month of using it and I got low readings all the way till CD16 when it suddenly went to peak, you may find that more helpful than the tests you're currently using. Have you tried the Clearblue website? You can email them questions and they usually reply very quickly.

I would say definitely ask to be referred - my GP won't do it until we've been trying for 18 months, but you never know. If they won't and you can afford it, check where and how you can go private - the initial tests in my area were £200 - £300 but free if you get an NHS referral. I was worried about my age (I'm 36, OH is 41) but all my GP can do for now is refer me for the blood tests and told me to make sure we're both doing everything else that we can (keeping healthy, no smoking, don't drink much if at all etc).

Good luck and let us know how you get on with the tests!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would request, nay insist, on a referral. General consensus is that if you are over the age of 35, you should be referred after 6 months of ttc without success.

[Juhannus]

I was pleasantly surprised :) to get my referral letter today. I'm really happy that my GP has gone ahead and done everything. I've booked an appointment with the fertility unit in Southampton for the 1st of August.

I've been asked to have my day 2/3 test and the day 21 test done.

I've also been asked to get a chlamydia urine test result and a Rubella blood test result beforehand and a semen analysis for my partner. We've both been asked to come for the appointment

Hi RubySlippers77 thanks for replying, it's nice to share as not talking to anyone about this. It's stressful booking these tests isn't it. Hoping you've got the right day, hoping the test goes right....

Let us know how you get on too and good luck :)

Attila I've tried to be as proactive as possible because of my age. So I told my GP I have been actively trying for over a year. I have been planning that long cos of coming of medication for bipolar but only trying for 6 months. I just didn't want to be delayed as I had to spend 6 months coming of medication which had to be done very slowly

[Juhannus]

RubySlippers77

I had wanted to try the Clear Blue fertility monitor but it's expensive so I thought I'd try the CB digital opk first. I was lucky and got an early positive result on the 6th. But now worried that was too early so have started testing again on the 11th with cheap tests. If I get a strong result I will carry on testing with the CB digital test.

I haven't looked at the Clearblue website thanks for that.

Can't help getting quite obsessed with it all. It's a steep learning curve that's for sure. I never realised how stressful the whole process would be. I try to be relaxed but can't help wanting to do everything I can. I guess it's all normal. Thank god for mumsnet.

Noticed I have a couple of painful spots on my arm so now wondering if that's a symptom lol. I never get spots on my arms..

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Good luck to you re initial apt on the 1st August.

I would suggest that you write down any question you want answered well ahead of time and take this piece of paper with you. You do not want to leave there thinking, "oh I should have asked about xyz".

Make sure you are both fully conversant with the purpose of the tests and WHY they are doing them at such and such a time. Obvious I know but people do forget.

The initial apt can be a bit daunting so your man certainly needs to visit as well. It is vitally important that the staff there as well as yourselves can work as a team. Continuity of care is also important, you should be seeing the same people each time.

[Juhannus]

Thanks Attila for your insights, it's invaluable.

My referral letter says I have been referred for a Gynaecological Pelvic Ultrasound Transabdominal +/- Transvaginal USS Pelvis

I don't really know what to ask yet. I'll obviously be clearer once I've had my blood work done for FSH, LH, Estradiol and the progesterone test.

[Juhannus]

I was worried that my Clear Blue ovulation test was a false positive as it was so early 6 of June. So I started testing again and got a positive today 13 June. I had a positive CB ovulation test last month on the 15 May. I looked at the test stick too and there were 2 clear lines. On the false positive the test screen was partly flooded with one test line.

So I think I have ovulated this time. It's annoying that the CB test tells you to ignore the test sticks when clearly the false positive was just one line

[Juhannus]

Sorry last month was a normal ovulation test kit. Have only used the Clearblue this month

[Irishmammybread]

Have you though about charting your temperature? The ovulation tests will predict when ovulation is likely to occur but only way to confirm ovulation has actually taken place is a sustained temp rise for 3-5 days. There's lots of info on the Fertility Friend website.
I had my day 21 test on d 23 because I knew that was exactly 7 days since I'd ovulated. Luckily I had the option of going to a non appointment drop in blood testing session at the hospital as an alternative to prebooking at the GP surgery, which would have been very difficult to time!
Good luck with your referral!

[Juhannus]

I guess I should really :) I'm a bit nervous just started using the opks so that would be the next step. I will have a look the Fertility Friend website Thanks :)

[Juhannus]

RubySlippers77

I emailed the Clearblue website doctors about the 'false positive' result and they didn't know and suggested I talk to their technical team on 0845 607 6596

I don't feel up to talking. I have bipolar and get nervous on the phone.

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Juhannus

Sorry to hear the Clearblue people weren't very helpful via email, perhaps they needed to talk it through with you? Either way I would see how it goes next cycle of using the digital OPK and see if you still get false positives, it might have been a one off.

Good luck for your appointment on August 1st!! I'm off for more blood tests on July 4th, by which time I should have the results of the first lot back and be able to plan when I'm going for the last ones. Oh the joys of feeling like a pincushion.....

[Juhannus]

Yes it will be interesting to see if my ovulation results with Clearblue are confirmed by my upcoming bloodtest. I really hope my results show I'm ovulating.

Good luck with your appointments too. It's quite nerve wracking isn't it.

[Juhannus]

I got the results from the day 21 test and they came back normal

Progesterone 36.4
LH 6.1
FH 4.5
Estradiol 392

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Juhannus, just a quick note to say I'm glad the tests came back ok, that must be a load off your mind! I have the day 21 test on Thursday, then only need to have the CD2 test and there's not much more I can do for now, not on the NHS at least.

I've found the CBFM quite useful, it looks like at least I AM ovulating, which is the first step!

Good luck for your appointment on August 1st as well

[Juhannus]

Thanks for your good wishes RubySlippers77 :)

Your right it does help knowing things are ok. I'm a bit worried about my last test for CD2 as I've been asked to go in, they wouldn't give me results over the phone. I really hope it's going to be just standard procedure. Will update as soon as I know.

I wanted to try the CB fertility monitor but using the ovulation kits still :)

All the best to you for your tests :)

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Juhannus - any news from your GP yet? So annoying when they ask you to go in (and then if it's anything like my doctors, you can't get an appointment for ages anyway!!) as all you can do is sit and wait in the meantime.

AF arrived today for me, was due Thursday, so will go for blood tests Wednesday morning I think. They said I'd get the results after a week or so, so hopefully by the end of next week I'll be more enlightened as to whether everything's more or less ok or whether I have to ask for a follow up.....

[Juhannus]

Hey RubySlippers77 :)

Been a bit of an emotional day today but I did see my doctor so didn't have to wait too long. Of course I was trying to prepare myself for some bad news, just in case :/ My doctor mumbled on for ages about this and that not giving me a clear answer good or bad, bit annoying. I managed to get a printout of my results from the reception.

I was annoyed to find that they had tested for progesterone instead of estrogen for the day 2/3 test. This got me really mad because you need to compare FSH and LH against estrogen/estradiol so now I need another blood test grrr.

I didn't expect the nurse and doctor to be so useless. So make sure to request all three hormone levels specifically.

My results for day 2/3 test were:

FSH 8.8 iu/L
LH 4.1 iu/L

progesterone was 1.8 nmol/L which doesn't really have any relevance for day 2/3 :/ It was 36.4 nmol/L on day 21 which is over 30 so good I think.

All the best for your tests and hope it all comes back good.

[RubySlippers77]

How irritating, so you thought you'd come to the end of feeling like a pincushion only for the GP to have cocked it up!! How long till you can go for the correct test or will you have had your referral appointment by then anyway?

I'm going for my (hopefully last!) set of blood tests tomorrow on day 3, I have the request form in front of me which states: full blood count, FSH, glucose & thyroid function. I'm hoping that covers the lot!

Sorry to hear your GP was a bit useless on the communication front too. All I want at this stage is to hear "yes everything seems fine there" or "there may be an issue but this is what we're going to do about it." Anything else is very frustrating

[Juhannus]

That's exactly how I felt RubySlippers77 I kind of wish these tests were left for the specialists rather than GPs. I think this is really not their area, it's very sensitive and stressful.

Really hope you get all the right tests done. I've booked another day 3 test for the end of July. My referral is for the first of August so hopefully it will go to plan and I will have the results in time.

I think my doctor is trying to keep my hopes down in case I get bad news with the referral. Like you I just want to hear that everything is alright not that it may not be. Just tell me its good unless its bad, you know :)

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Juhannus - I've had my test results back and all was well I don't have the exact results, just an 'all satisfactory' from the GP, but I can get the specifics if I want. Now all I need is OH to come back from his weekend away.....!

It must be your day 3 blood test soon and your appointment not long after so I hope all goes well. I know my GP said the blood test results would take about a week to come through but I'm not sure if that's how long they take, because I had the tests done at the hospital rather than the surgery or because my local health authority isn't particularly speedy! So hopefully they will let you know that beforehand.

I'm finding the CBFM monitor quite useful by the way, usually it starts with High readings from around CD9 but I'm now up to CD13 and still Low; I think because I've been so busy over the last week or so that my body's been too stressed to OV!