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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Blood tests - LH/FSH?

3 replies

joycep · 30/03/2011 11:23

i went to my GP as we have been trying for a while now and I wanted to discuss my short luteal phase . And she is testing me for everything under the sun it seems (thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, iron, prolactin and about 10 other random things). I am being tested for LH/FSH but she didn't say I needed to be tested for that on day 3 - in fact it will be day 13. I prompted her to test me for progesterone on 7 DPO. But surely LH/FSH needs to be tested on day 3? She is sending me for a pelvic scan as well to see if anything is obvious although after a scan after my m/c last year it seemed fine.
Does this seem odd or is it best to start ruling out other things before getting in to the nitty gritty of follicle size etc??

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/03/2011 15:17

Hi,

LH/FSH levels are tested and compared against each other (that is important) and usually around day 3. LH and FSH are important as these two hormones kickstart the ovulation process. If these two levels are awry then ovulation can be affected.

An internal ultrasound scan is useful to have done as this will show the state of the uterine cavity and ovaries to see if the ovaries are polycystic.

Sassy2131 · 02/04/2011 16:35

I am 22yrs old and have been told since age 13 I am "highly unlikely to conceive naturally"
at age 15 ish - (cant really remember being so young at the time and not fully understanding the importance of these tests)
I went for scans and blood tests to see if I could have my eggs frozen on the NHS! - eventually I was told my FSH levels were too high for them to try getting any eggs out of me?
I have no idea what this means - does it mean I am not producing any eggs or does it mean it wasnt generally the right time to be trying to get eggs from me?
all my reports say are "unable to conceive naturally" - and do not explain anything about why they couldnt take eggs from me.

gardenpixie · 02/04/2011 17:43

Hi Joy yes you should have LH and FSH measured on CD2 or 3 (apparently 3 is best) as they need to know what your base levels are before your body starts to mature eggs.

The problem with having it done on CD13 is that one of the markers of PCOS is a high ratio of LH to FSH and if you're even close to ovulating on CD13, you'll having naturally higher levels of LH anyway as it will be surging ready to help the eggs mature and pop. So it won't be helpful to your Dr at all ....

HTH

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