Progesterone test results (Day 21 test)

[singsong10]

My first post - hello everyone.
Please can anyone help me?
Confused by my day 21 result (Doctor didn't really explain it to me) - my result said 75.1 - is that good or bad?
I have mooched around on the internet and find mixed info. On some sites this is a good result and on others it's not.
Please help if you can.
Been trying for a baby for 15 months - 1 miscarriage (last Dec) and a bit worried about my progesterone levels as a few years back I was told they were 'a bit low'.
Thanks

singsong, I think this depends on what measurement they were using. I got 23 nmol on my last test and was told anything above 30 nmol was conducive to ovulation having occurred.

So if your DR means nmol [which I think is standard for the UK], the 75 is very good.

Even at 23 nmol, my GP said that I might have ov'd and to just try to de-stress and try again. We're in month 10 so off back to GP if no BFP this month as I am over 35.

like Lychees says, a prog level of >30 or even >20 on day 21 indicates that ovulation took place on or around day 14. Different thresholds sometimes used for medicated and non-medicated cycles.
So it's good in that it shows that - at least this cycle - you ovulated.

Hi singsong. There are generally two different units of measurement used to assess progesterone levels, SI and conventional.

In the UK it's generally the conventional version that is used (in which case your results are very good!), but it's definitely worth asking for clarification if they haven't already confirmed that you've definitely ovulated.

So, if they measured your progesterone using the conventional method, you'd expect to have a result higher than 15 ng/ml to signify ovulation had occurred 7dpo. Obviously this is not day 21 for everyone! If they measure it too early, the result will be misleading.

I've recently been for a fertility appt where I was told they'd expect your levels to be between 30 and 40 ng/ml at this point. 15 is very much at the lower end of where they'd like it to be, but it still shows ovulation has taken place.

If they measured your progesterone using SI units, you'd expect your progesterone level to come back at between 140 - 520 pmol/L at the same point in your cycle, but the levels can be as low as 53 pmol/L if you are still in the follicular phase and have not definitely ovulated, so it's certainly worth asking the question.

As Lychees said, it's more than likely that they used the conventional method if you're in the UK, so I wouldn't be remotely concerned with that level. Mine came back at 6!!!!

Thank you ladies.
I will go back to my doctor and ask (she's a bit scary - and I don't normally get that scared by people).

I did notice the 2 different measuring methods, that's what confused me - thanks for explaining Brokenbits.
Fingers crossed my result was in the uk conventional unit.
(Although....can you have too much progesterone?)

Good luck Lychees - I'm 41, so if I don't get a result soon then I'm off to the IVF clinic.

True what they say isn't it? Time flies. One day I was 30 and still thinking I had all the time in the world for kids and then, in no time, ....40, no kids......

my doctor had sent me for these 2 and 21 day tests but didnt really say what they are for ..just that we need to get stuff done now with your age she said 0_o..im 41 and had 2 mcs..one last aug and one 8 weeks ago.

So they are looking for levels of progesterone are they?

she also wants hubby to give a sample..ahem..thats just for good swimmers etc n count right?
Hes never had children

Sorry jerzygurl I appear to be chasing you about on similar threads. Feel free to bend my ear if you are at all confused about the post I left on your thread and I'll do my best to clarify. I hope I haven't told you things you already know. These tests aren't anything to worry about. TBH it's great that they're doing them. Means you're on the road to fertility treatment if you need it. Oh and yes to the question about your DH. He'll need to provide a specimen so they can check his swimmers (motility, quality, quantity etc.) but, if you are able to get the sample to the hospital quickly, he should be able to do this in the comfort of his own home at this stage. You'll need to request a sterile specimen pot, but they should give you one anyway. Oh the joys!

singsong The main concern when trying to get pregnant is oestrogen dominance. Too much oestrogen causes progesterone levels to fall and since progesterone is dubbed the baby hormone and enables you to get and stay pregnant (it's responsible for thickening the endometrium to enable the baby to implant in the womb), you want more of that than the other! Abundant progesterone can cause issues such as tiredness and can interfere with or prevent periods if it is very high, though this is pretty unusual. If your cycles are normal and you aren't missing periods it's unlikely that this is a worry for you.

it's a very good progesterone reading but it can vary from month to month.

anyone around the age of 40 ttc is well served to go for the day 2 tests too - for FSH, LH, etc.

FSH is a good indication of your ovarian reserves.

Recurrent miscarriages may be tied to low progesterone but though this is accepted in most countries, many UK doctors will say it's a symptom not a cause.

My consultant disagreed and put me on progesterone suppositories in my third and only successful pregnancy.

@Brokenbits....noooo u didnt confuse me at all..youve helped me..i was abit worrid tbh now i know theyre looking to see whats goin on and that can only be good right?Shall get hubby and his ..specimen sorted smiles
thanx agen hun

@Chandellina..im 41 so its good docs sent me then ..i didnt even think theyd take me seriously being my age and offer any help or looking into

Brokenbits - Thank you. I could do with you here at home!
I am always VERY tired throughout the 2nd half of my cycle, have been since my periods started many years ago. Maybe I always get a high progesterone level?
Cycles are normal apart from that, never miss any.

Jerzygurl - day 21 test needs to be on a different day if your cycle is shorter or longer than 28 days. Mine varies but averages at 30/31 days - so we (me & my GP) did the test on day 23.
I did the early test on day 4, for the same reason.
I also went for an AMH (?) test which gave an indication of how many eggs I have left.

Thank you everyone for your time. This really helps.
It can be a lonely thing this, trying for a baby. It's not something people talk about much, fertility. Even good friends look at me like I'm a bit nutty when I mention it. They just want to know you're pregnant, not hear about your struggles.