Day 21 Test. Advice please!

[AFreudianSlip]

Hi all

I've been to the doctors this afternoon and she's suggested day 2/3 test and a day 21 test. But I am a little confused.

I came off the pill just over a year ago (I'm 25), I had really long cycles initially but they've settled down to 33 days(ish) since August/September. Which is when I started taking Agnus Castus. I got diagnosed with PCO in May (the dr was rubbish and very dismissive and told me to come back after 2 years of trying). I'm not overweight, hairy etc, not a typical PCOS sufferer. And I know I've ovulated at least once as I caught it on OPKs (But I'm not very good at remembering to do them everyday).

However I've been feeling a bit rubbish recently - tired, dry skin, thinning hair. And my family have a history of thyroid problems. So I've been to the dr and asked for bloods to test the usual things and hormones.

However she insisted that the day 21 test has to be that day despite me saying 'but my cycles are not 28 days'. Is this right? On the cycle I caught the positive OPK it was day 23 of a 33 day cycle.

If I OPK religiously this cycle should I book the test for 7 days after a positive? Argh!

Please help!

Hi Freud. Need to be quick but felt compelled to reply. Will have more time tomorrow.

Anyway, same thing happened to me. I had a 38 day cycle (or something like that can't remember the detail) and doc insisted I do 21 day test. I told her repeatedly it would NOT work and she told me they had to start to there. So, I booked in day 21 and at the same time booked appt for my day 28 (to do day 21 test iyswim?). Anyway, sure as day day 21 I showed no sign of ov. Day 28 all was fine!

I recommend that you speak to your doc about all this... If she doesn't listen, change docs. It's a long journey if there are issues and you donmt want to be messing around with silly docs! Btw, the nurse who actually did the blood test told me the doc was being ridiculous!

Good luck and really hope this helps!

It should really be 7 days after ov if you know when that is/7 days before you expect your period. Nod and smile at the GP and then get tested at the right time. Many GPs don't seem to be very well clued up about fertility.

Thank you so much for your replies...I'll book it 7 days after ov as I don't want to waste my time.

I also wondered does it matter if I have my 'day 21 test' on this cycle and then do my 'day 2 test' next cycle? Should they be from the same cycle iyswim?

No, they can be from different cycles - I had the same issue with bank holidays meaning I couldn't do them on the same cycle as the clinic was closed.

No, it is not 7 days after ov! The NHS actually tells you to do it midway between the day of ov and the day of your period. When you do your blood test is therefore dependent not only on when you ov but also how long your luteal phase is!

So say you usually ovulate on day 23 and have your period on day 33, you do the test 5 days after ov, on day 28.

The reason is, if your luteal phase is shorter than 14 days, and you get your progesterone measured 7 days after ov, it might come back low. If you had done it on day 5, it might have come back fine.

Also remember, you ovulate 12-48 hours after getting your positive OPK. It is difficult to tell when you ovulate. It's also even more difficult to book your test if you have irregular cycles.

Apparently opks can be unreliable with pcos.
If something specific is wrong you can be referred sooner, not sure if that is pcos or not.
Have they also done a SA.
Just as it seems the problem is you it may not be (we thought that due to pcos and also now hypothyroid but it wasn't it was a sperm issue)