Day 21 blood test

[Rtuff]

Hi

Does anyone know what levels a day 21 bloodtest should show?

Mine was 14....

Thanks

[Rtuff]

Thanks Londonlottie

I have no idea when i did, i used opk and it had a faint line day 15 last month had no line at all and doc said i didn't ovulate. My cycles are really irregular so its really hard to pin point...

[ForeverOptimistic]

Mine was 1! What does that mean?

[TattyCatty]

Agree with LL, it's a minimum of 30 to indicate that ovulation took place. Sadly a level of 1 probably means that you are anovulatory - I know that I am and my last test confirmed this with a level of 3. With both of these levels, you should push for a referral to a fertility specialist, who will probably prescribe Clomid in the first instance, in the absence of any other known problems.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Rtuff

A day 21 test should ideally show a level of 30 or over.

Would not be using OPK's at all in your particular circumstances; they are particularly ill advised to use (and a waste of money too) if the menstrual cycle is irregular.

I would also have a blood test done around day 3 (as your cycles are irregular the test can be done according to calendar days) to compare your LH level against that of your FSH level. This will determine whether a condition called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is the cause of your irregular periods (it is a common cause). With this the level of LH is higher than that of FSH. LH and FSH are two very important hormones as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these two hormone levels are awry then you have a possible answer as to why your periods are irregular.

Another possible cause of irregular periods is thyroid problems (this should also be checked for via blood tests).

You should in any event be referred onto a gynae at a subfertility unit for further evaluation. These problems are often outside a GPs remit.

[blondieminx]

Rtuff to add to Attila's advice, when you ask for the thyroid blood test ask them specifically to test your thyroid AND your thyroid antibodies and to compare the 2 levels together.

I spent all of 2008 having very irregular periods and it was only once I got diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and got given tablets for it that I then started to have regular cycles! And the only reason I pushed for a thyroid test was because someone kindly replied to me on MN to tell me to ask about it! Thank heavens for MN!

Good luck and I hope you get some answers (and a BFP!) soon.

[Rtuff]

Thanks everyone...

I am getting very frustrated with the doctor she just keeps telling me to keep doing day "21" (which actually she means 7 days before the start of my next cycle) but when my cycle is between 26 - 36 days and completely irregular how am i supposed to know when to do this! Very frustrating!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

The best way I found was to have the blood tests done just according to calendar days (so I had tests done on the 3rd, 10th and 21st of each month).

Day 21 is only part of the story; hormone levels should be tested earlier on as well.

LH and FSH are important as they kickstart the ovulation process. You should also be having a day 3 test done to compare your LH level against that of your FSH level.

I would also start asking for a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit (and do not take no for an answer!). These problems are often outside a GPs remit of understanding.