getting my progesterone levels checked

[littleLS]

seen my gp today as weve been trying for 4 months (actively looking at dates etc) although been off the pill for 2 years, scanty periods making it very difficult for my to figure out if and when im ovulating.

she suggested getting full bloods done and weekly progesterone levels checked as they cant do it on 21 days as i dont know when my next period will be!!

hubby is getting his stuff checked too.

bit anxious as although i want to know if there is a problem on the other hand i dont want to know!!

trying hard not to get neurotic and start temping etc, as dont want to take all the fun out of it and make it a chore, but starting to feel as if its going to get like that.

feeling confused

My best advice is not to get sucked into obsessing about it although very difficult not to. I had progesterone tests for 6 months each time (I was fairly regular so just had to got on quite a few days on my first cycle following referral) and then on Day 21 each month. Its just to get an indication of whether (and when) you are ovulating. Try not to worry too much. 4 months of actively trying is no time at all really!

It is however, certainly in your interests to know if there are fertility problems. You cannot bury your head in the sand. Physical problems cause conception issues and conditions like PCOS are actually very common and can be treated.

Blood tests can be done according to calendar days if the menstrual cycle is irregular. If periods are irregular in nature generally speaking the chances are you are not ovulating regularly.

You need a day 2 and day 21 test done monthly. It is pointless having progesterone levels checked weekly.

A day 2 test should be done to check and compare your LH level against that of your FSH level; those two levels are important as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these levels are awry then ovulation will be affected. Excess LH compared to that of FSH could be indicative of polycystic ovarian syndrome; this can also cause irregularity of periods.

Given that your periods are irregular anyway a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit should now be sought by yourself. I would be asking the GP to now refer you. Also GPs are not always up to speed when it comes to such issues.