Blood tests

[Happilymarried155]

So, I was finally brave enough to go to the doctor, cried my eyes out and age booked me in for day21 blood tests. It says on the form that they need to check progesterone levels, lh, fsh and a thyroid check. I was just wondering what these things mean and what are the normal levels? All these random things are abit overwhelming! X

This is a very good start. See it as very positive.

You can google the tests, but these results can very often lay down the foundations for the solutions to any problems that you may be experiencing.

Dont know your history, are you having problems ttc?

A word of warning though, not everyone has a 28 day cycle, for this reason, they may be as accurate.

Been ttc for over a year now, been monitoring my cycle all this tOme and it varies from 29-32 days will the test still be accurate.

I do feel it's a step in the right direction, I hope we can get it sorted. AF arrived this morning and I think I've had some sort of breakdown, sat and cried all morning and then decided enough is enough I needed to take action. Thanks for replying I will google it :) x

I'd book for day 23 bloods given your cycle- the progesterone is to check if you ovulated and this peaks 7 days post ovulation

this page might help

As Dexi says, you should have the "day 21" tests done 7 days before when you expect your period to be, or 7 days after when you ovulated (if you know that).

So if you have an average 28 day cycle then test day would be on day 21. This is why it's called a day 21 test.

However if you have an average of 30-31 day cycle (like you) then the test day should be on day 23 or 24. Day 21 would be too early for you and could give a false result.

Progesterone should be above 30 I think to show ovulation (though some websites give different amounts, eg US websites, but basically high is good).

Thyroid will probably test for TSH, T3 and T4. Your TSH should be between 0.5 to 5 to be normal, but really it should be between 0.5-2 for conception purposes.

Thyroid, FSH and LH are usually tested on day 3 rather than day 21 AFAIK- perhaps something to query with your doctor?

Is your DH/DP also getting tested? he should get a sperm analysis done ideally.

The blood tests are definitely a big step in the right direction. I finally got a BFP last month, two months after blood tests showed thyroid problems and I started thyroid meds, so it can really help pinpoint the issue.

Very best of luck.

Day 21 is a good starting point.
I, like you, had a consistently irregular cycle (until acupuncture sorted it out pretty quickly) and my day 21 progesterone was good enough to indicate ovulation. My GP advised that if you are within 35 days each cycle it is a good indication that you may be ovulating each month, and that the bloods confirm this.
However, your LH & FSH should be assessed between CD1-5, ideally CD3, as this is the most optimum time to measure the levels (when they are as dormant as they can be in any one cycle).

The WHO guidelines for these hormones (as of 2010) are:

FSH - 13 Low Ovarian Reserve

LH - 0.5-14.5 Early follicular phase (EFP), 16-84 At ovulation

Oestradiol - 70-510 EFP, 390-1480 Pre-ovualtion peak,

Thank you all so so much for your replies, makes it much easier to understand! I will let you all know how I get on :) x

Good luck!

I do think it's worth giving your doctor a call to check whether you ought to be having LH, FSH and thyroid tests on day 3 (sounds like that will be coming up shortly for you?) rather than day 21...

Yes I will ring up in the morning, although she isn't the most helpful doctor, the first time I went she said she wouldn't see me until I'd been ttc for 2 years, I think she only gave in this time to get the blubbering wreck out of her office!! If she isn't helpful I will ask to see another doctor! Thank you, you guys have been really fab! X