Low Progesterone result, can anyone help with clarification?

[cwtching]

DH and I have been TTC for well over a year now with no success. DH's SC came back a little on the low side and I've just had my blood test results back from the GP - my day 1 blood tests showed a low progesterone reading so it looks like I am not ovulating (although still having periods).

Since I left the GP I've been wondering whether this means I am not ovulating at all or whether it could just be that I didn't last month. Is it possible not to ovulate some cycles? Can anyone help? Thanks!

Day 1? Have they organised to do it around day 21? How long is your cycle?

Sorry Havingalittlefaith I wasn't very clear!

Since Christmas my cycle has been a little unpredictable alternating between 25 and 28 days so my day 21 tests (I've had 3) have never been on the right day (usefully).

Last month I had a blood test on day 18 of what turned out to be a 28 day cycle. On day 18 my progesterone level was only 0.5. Then by day 1 (although this was a spotting day so not full AF ... again useful!) it had risen to 19.5. According to the GP progesterone levels need to be more than 30 to indicate ovulation and they normally keep rising throughout your cycle so the fact that it was lower than 30 on day 1(ish) would indicate that I didn't ovulate.

I hope that makes sense!

That makes sense - I had a similar problem when I was tested. I was referred to a gynae endocrinology team who approached it by taking bloods 7 days before my shortest and longest cycles to try to 'catch' the progesterone peak. My best reading was 28 which they were happy with.

It is quite common to have odd cycles where you don't ovulate (my GP reckoned around one a year) but lots of them would be a concern. What did your GP say about further tests? I'd be pushing for a referral for more tests including a pelvic ultrasound personally...

Hi, I have had some erratic cycles but have worked out that I am ovulating every month but on totally different days! (CD10, CD12, CD16 etc) but my luteal phase is consistently 14 days. I worked this out by temping. The rise in temperature confirmed when I have ovulated and then I can predict when I will get my AF (if not my hoped for BFP ) 14 days later. Always a relief to note that I am ovulating even if it is difficult to predict when in advance (seems quite random!)

So when I went for my "day 21" test, I had ovulated on CD16 so went on day CD22 (7 days after ovulation and 7 days before AF was due). If I had ovulated on CD12 I would have gone on day CD19. My results were 38 which confirmed ovulation.

Sorry if that was a complicated explanation but if your cycles are different lengths I bet your are ovulating at different times which means it can be difficult to predict when to test and might explain the low progesterone.

They should also be done a day 2 test to check and compare your LH level against that of your FSH level. Usually these two levels should be about the same; a marked difference would possibly indicate some sort of hormonal imbalance. Such tests always should be repeated.

I would also second the suggestion for you to have an internal ultrasound scan done to see if your ovaries are infact polycystic.

Your man should be tested at the same time your tests are carried out; it is no point in just solely testing you only to possibly find out further down the line that there are male factor issues.

Spotting between periods should always be investigated to ascertain the cause.

GP should now be referring you instead of requesting more tests on his behest.

Thank you all for your advice. That's really helpful. I was referred to the gynaecologist at the fertility clinic in December and have been given an appointment at the end of May. My GP is not ordering any other tests until I have seen the gynaecologist which perhaps makes sense but waiting now for almost another three months for any information is very difficult. I am going to start temping as I think that might help the consultant to have a bit more information at her fingertips when I do see her. I'll also look into polycystic ovary syndrome to find out a little more about it. I mentioned to the GP about the spotting but she didn't pass any comment