Please can someone help? Panicking here :-(

[RaRaZ]

Had my Day 21 bloods taken (actually on Day 22), and I've just called for the results and they said my progesterone was 17. I've asked for a GP to ring me later, cos my understanding is that this means I didn't ovulate . ...but yet, I had three days of High Fertility and two of Peak of CB digital, I had a good cycle of CM - didn't get perfect EWCM, but certainly changed from watery to EW, cervix went SHOW, got pains in my lower back, felt dizzy and tired for the days after ovulation... WTF is going on??? Been thrown into such a panic here because I was sure I would hear that everything was ok - my GP said she didn't really need to do the test and was just doing it for my peace of mind, and my fertility accupuncturist was sure I was ovulating ok too, and so was I.... I'm just really scared now cos if I'm not ovulating I'm never gonna get pg .

I'm even more gutted cos I thought I might have conceived this month: swollen, darker nipples, itchy nipples, blue veins appearing in breasts, breasts bigger than normal, weird pains which I got with first pg, dry itchy skin in places, which again I got with first pg, constipated and gassy, cervix very tightly closed (unusual for me)....

Somebody please help; I'm panicking like mad and I dunno whether to cry or just give up!! Melodramatic probably, but that's how I feel and it's sent me crashing right down. GP ringing me at about 1600 and I don't feel like I can concentrate on anything till then.

Hello, I can't tell you what's going on, but there is no point panicking about it until you speak to the GP. I know it's hard but getting yourself wound up isn't going to help with TTC either. I understand how horrible it is (I have PCOS), but just take some deep breaths and try and relax. Have they done a reference test to know what your level normally is? I'm sure they aren't the same for everyone so it could be that this is the right level for you. I know I do ovulate (as I have DS) but I have never got a +ve opk so it could just be something like that.

Ra I can't be any help as I haven't got to the stage of test progesterone levels yet, but couldn't read and run. You have 3 more hours, have a cup of tea, do something else, go for a walk........ You are prob better getting advice from your GP.

Also, don't be all stiff upper lip - if this is upsetting you, tell your GP directly. She may be able to offer you a face to face chat, more advice, whatever is necessary.

Good luck x

You can have all of the signs of ovulation (including high and peak readings on an OPK or monitor) without actually ovulating. This is because the hormones that cause ovulation start to rise, causes the symptoms, but then, for whatever reason you don't release an egg.
Don't panic. It is totally normal for women to have cycles where they don't ovulate occasionally. Simply repeat the test next month, but try not to get too stressed as stress can affect ovulation.

Also final point, was your test definitely done on the right day? It should be a set number of days after ovulation which is not the same day for everyone

Ra - just saw this. first of all, don't panic. The 21 days tests are hard to get accurate as you might well have varying cycles which means you ovulate sooner or later than you think you do. The 21 day tests are only really accurate for people who have regular cycles, particularly for people who have the average 28 day cycle.

I've just had my first lot of tests taken, and have to wait 3 weeks for my 21 day bloods.

However, if it turns out that you didn't ovulate, then don't panic just yet either. They may want to run further tests to check for PCOS, or endometriosis, or they most likely will get you a scan to check that there is nothing blocking the tubes to prevent ovulation ocurring. It is most likely a hormonal thing, especially if you are getting periods, so the gp may recommend putting you on a course of Clomid, which has actually proven to give really good results in conceiving.

Wait to see what the doc says, but please don't panic, at least if you aren't ovulating then you know this as fact from the doc and can start treatment to get things moving again, so many people ttc have no idea when their bits and bobs aren't working properly and end up getting so tired and stressed with the ttc process as a result.

Good luck

I definitely don't have PCOS or endometriosis or problems with my tubes as they were all checked during my numerous scans after a D&C earlier this year. If I didn't ovulate this month, I doubt I did last month either as my cycle and symptoms were exactly the same. I'm just worried that they won't put me on Clomid or anything, Sundance - I'm only 24 and I'm expecting to be told to go away and see what happens and I'm not sure I can cope with that after the mc this year as well.

Ok don't panic. How long are your cycles? Was day 21 7 days after you think you ovulated?

Fwiw my first progesterone test came back at 15 but the timing was wrong and later tests at the right time were fine.

Not 100% sure. Last one was 34/35 days and this one is set to be 31 days. My luteal phase is a set 14 days - so I thought that meant I couldn't have a luteal phase defect?

I ovulated on the 24th and had my bloods done on the 31st. AF due 7th.

How long have you been ttc? I had a mc in March this year, but had started ttc in October last year. Getting pg technically meant that I should have been sent home and told to wait until March again next year (as they count back from when you mc, not from when you first start ttc). However....I basically got really direct with my doc and insisted that they do some tests - I'm only 31 but these things can take an age.

It does sound to me like you'll be fine in the long run though, and that this might just be an inacurate test. At least you know you can get pg, and for that you must have been ovulating at some point.
At the very least, you could insist that they do the 21 day tests again for a second opinion.

I dont have any wise words to add but didn't want to read and run.. Hope all goes ok with your call, and you find a way to distract your mind the next few hours

Is it possible that I DID ovulate despite the low progesterone? Can that happen, does anyone now?

And if I didn't, any idea why not? Obviously things geared up to it given all of my other symptoms and the tests etc, so why would it not happen? Merkin, I'm looking at you here!

There are a whole host of reasons why you may not have ovulated, but as I stated this simply indicates you didn't ovulate for 1 cycle, not that you have a chronic problem. It is normal to not ovulate in 100% cycles.
On a side note the only way at home to confirm ovulation to a degree of accuracy is by taking bbt. Nothing you are doing will confirm O, only indicate O (which is different).
You are panicking and I'd suggest there's no need. This test will be repeated and only then will you know if you have an issue or not. And I promise if you are diagnosed with a problem your GP will refer you and not leave you to get on with it just because of your age

Also I think (having googled) that a level of 17 suggests possible ovulation but progesterone too low to sustain a pregnancy which is a different thing to address

It could just be bad timing. Progesterone rises, peaks and then drops towards your period. My GP said most women have at least one or two anovulatory cycles in a year. When I charted I think I had a couple of them and I found they were a bit longer than my normal cycles.

What did your doc say OP? Hope you're ok?

She said that I might have ovulated or I might not, it's impossible to tell from that result, but that it's lower than they'd like to see so they're testing me again next month. I've seen my fertility accupuncturist today too and she calmed me down a lot: she said not to pay too much attention to the progesterone result as a lot of things could affect it, and that as I had the EWCM, the temp dip and then rise, and the positive OPK, it's more than likely that I did ovulate. I've done some research on the internet and found that people have conceived with much lower progesterone that I've got (accupuncturist confirmed it's possible), but needed progesterone tablets or suppositries to prevent them mc-ing, so I'll have to be vigilant if I get pg.

Hi, I had to have 3 lots of day 21 tests before they showed something. Getting the right day is tricky!

Thanks for your help everyone

Can I test your brains a bit more? AF is due on Wednesday (well, Tues-Thurs, not sure exactly which day she'll show!), and my bbt has been steadily rising for the last three days so it's now higher than at ovulation. I thought it should be staying roughly constant or coming down? Really confused as to what's going on

Day before O: 35.9
Day of O: 36.3
1 DPO: 36.2
2 DPO: 36.2
3 DPO: 36.5 (discounted as took at a funny time)
4 DPO: 36.0
5 DPO: 36.1
6 DPO: 36.1
7 DPO: 36.0
8 DPO: 36.2
9 DPO: 36.5
10 DPO: 36.7

Nothing to worry about, the first month of temping is hard as you don't know your usual pattern (and nor does anyone else)! The drop in temps is likely to be quite abrupt if it happens, 1 to 2 days pre AF (as opposed to temps getting gradually lower)

Ok. So it doesn't matter that it's suddenly started rising again? AF is due Wed, so should see a drop tomorrow or Tues?

I posted in other thread. See hat your temp does in the next few days. Perhaps ov happened on 9 dpo as it was late for some reason, which would alo explain a lower progesterone level?

When you get AF, some see a temp rise just before, some on day of AF and some a few days after.

I agree with previous poster, I think that you have only just ovulated on day that you labeled as 9 dpo. This would very much tie in with you progesterone test not coming back positive.

Since you don't have enough temps before the day you think you ovulated, you definitely cannot say based on temps that you are post ov.

in addition: cannot rely on CM or ov pains or even opk's as indicating ovulation as you body can gear up to ovulate and the not do so.

I think that you should try to distract yourself for a few days. If your temps stay at above 36.6 then you might need to reconsider that you might have ovulated later than you originally thought, you could even consider requesting a repeat "day 21" progesterone test at 7 days after the day you have described as 9dpo.

In answer to another of your questions, temps might go down before or after af has started. Most women find that their temps are a little irratic during their period too.