TTC - low progesterone levels

[michellelouise1982]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice please! My cycle length is usually 27 days and I am normally like clockwork. I had my period in April from 6th - 9th and then my oestrodial and progesterone levels checked on the 25th April (day 20). They came back at progesterone 29.5 and oestrodial 362. My next period was meant to be May 3rd however it was late and came on May 6th.

Apparently my progesterone levels are low (30 is the level it should be at according to the nurse) but I don't know if this has anything to do with my subsequent period being late. In addition, my LH was 4 and my FSH was 3.6.

I'm also not sure if this is related but I was found to have a hemorrhagic cyst on one of my ovaries. MY GP suspects endometriosis due to other clinical symptoms and has referred me to gynae however she disagrees that it is endo and wants to do a hysteroscopy. I'm not sure if that's relevant to the above but I'm just so overwhelmed with everything that's going on and really don't know what's what at the moment!

I have been reading up on it but I keep finding different info! I'm worried in case the low progesterone means that I'm going into perimenopause - I turned 37 last month. My partner and I are really keen to start a family and now I'm so worried that won't be possible :(

[Rspu1384]

I’m not entirely sure but my progesterone was 19.5 and my doctor said it was low I went to a gyn in hospital and they told me it was fine. Between 16 and 30 they said was normal I think.

[michellelouise1982]

Oh really, that's reassuring then. I've been googling but there is so much info out there that it's just confusing. Thanks 😊

[mouse1234567]

May I ask what your symptoms are endo wise? Could be worth investigating? I had a laparoscopy for endo and got it removed

[michellelouise1982]

Mouse, I've had really heavy, painful periods for years, I pass big clots and have to use double sanitary protection ie a tampon and pad together as it's that heavy. I've had anemia a few times due to how heavy my flow is. My pain also goes down my thighs and at times into my back. Pain upon sex. Stabbing pains when I need to poo. My GP said I have the most textbook case of endo he's ever seen however for a definitive diagnosis, I'd need a laporoscopy. However gynae disagrees as my pain is mainly during my period and she says that endo pain tends to come on a couple of weeks before your period and is relieved by the period coming on. I've got further testing coming up however she seems to have written off the possibility of endo even though so many of my symptoms match up.

[Newbie21]

I had my progesterone checked the other day and the ref range on the test results for luteal phase is 5.8 - 75.9 so yours seems to be fine.

[physicskate]

Yours is fine. It was taken on the wrong day and would likely be higher if it had been taken 7 days before the arrival of af.

[Newbie21]

Does anyone know what happens to progesterone the day before AF shows up? Would it have dropped considerably? Or does it only drop when AF starts?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

michellelouise

I had those symptoms too, it was endometriosis in my case. Also deep pain during sex can be a strong indicator of this also. My endo pain also started to ramp up in the days leading up to and including menses (it was only towards the end of the period that the pain tailed off).

I would ask the gynae why she feels a hysteroscopy is needed for you. More discussion is needed. A laparoscopy is the procedure normally performed for diagnosing endometriosis. You may also want to seek a second opinion.

[michellelouise1982]

Kate, this is what I was trying to work out; if the day 20 bloods I had taken were actually day 20 due to the unusual delay of my subsequent period. My normally like clockwork period being late completely messed up my cycle days!

Newbie, thanks, I keep reading different acceptable levels of progesterone, it is very confusing!

Attila I asked the gynae why a hysteroscopy over a laporoscopy. Her answer was that she didn't think that I had endometriosis because my pain is mainly during my period. She said that endo pain typically starts a couple of weeks before the period and is then relieved by the period coming on I've read differently but 🤷‍♀️. So because of the timing of my pain, she's ruled out endo, therefore won't do a laparoscopy. She said she's going to do the hysteroscopy as it may be something like fibroids or polyps that's causing my symptoms. My GP vehemently disagrees with her approach but it's her call at the end of the day as she is the consultant.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

My endo pain (and I have been officially diagnosed with this) happened in the days leading up to and also during menses.

I also had a polyp but that was not the main cause of my symptoms; endo was.

Has she actually stated what her next step will be if the hysteroscopy is not conclusive for either a polyp or fibroids?. I would still look into seeking a second opinion from another consultant gynae.

[Teddybear45]

I had those symptoms and it was severe pcos in my case (I wasn’t ovulating hence it was causing a thick lining). I also had low progesterone and high LH in relation to FSH.

[michellelouise1982]

Attila, no she hasn't said what her next step would be. I only asked a few questions at the appointment because I was going in with the mindset that my endo - or at least suspected endo by both me and my GP - was going to be addressed and dealt with. However her insistence that I don't have endo kind of threw me off and I wasn't prepared. I will be at the next appointment however!

I'm going to speak to my GP about how to seek a second opinion. Did you say to the consultant him/herself that you wanted a second opinion or did you go via the GP?