Blood tests

[CrazyLottie]

Hi, I was recently referred for 21 day blood tests and picked up the results yesterday. I'm not due to see my doctor to discuss until the middle of next week, with my DH, when his sperm test will be back. Results attached.

My progesterone I think is fine but I am worried about the other results! From looking online (couldn't help myself), a lot of them seem off the scale. Either I am reading them wrong or I have a serious infection/illness. Can anyone provide any input?!

When the doctors left me the voicemail to pick the results up they said I needed to re-test on day 16. No idea what this is about and neither does my friend who is a GP. When I went in the receptionists couldn't find any reference to a re-test so I guess I should just ask my GP about this next week when I see her - if she doesn't tell me I have lupus/rheumatoid arthritis/something worse :-~

Thanks in advance.

Obviously it depends on what it was that showed up as "too high", did you get a copy of the bloodtest result or just given the numbers?

Hi there, I got a copy of my results which I attached to my post ... Thanks for your help :-)

Sorry was on phone so could not see the picture previously, but looking at the picture that does not look like results, but the order for tests! The codes and the bottles to be used for testing.

So you need to ring to get a copy of the test results next. Hope this helps.

Oh - thanks!! The doctors did say I needed to come in to get a form to re-test on day 16. But no idea why day 16. I guess this was the form for it.

I may be misinterpreting your question, but are you sure those numbers are your actual results? Did the Dr actually do all of those tests? I only ask because some of those "results" don't make any sense given the tests they are next to! - I work in a medical laboratory as a clinical immunologist/ biochemist, so see a lot of these tests and results on a daily basis! That looks to me like a request form for the laboratory - which isn't how the Dr would get your results, they would get them in a lab report, which I don't think is generally given out to the patient, especially without interpretive input from the medic first. Those numbers look more like test codes for the laboratory's use to me!

Ah, should have RTFT!! Agree with willitbe!

Thanks so much for your answers. I managed to speak to my GP on the phone today, and she confirmed the form was for me to re-take my blood tests. However I am still a bit confused! She said my results were consistent with not ovulating, and that I had low progesterone. The reason she had asked for a re-test on day 16 was because that was the day I had said to her I ovulated - although I don't understand what she expected testing on this day to show/how it would have helped her?

Also, she was insistent I should be testing 7 days before the start of my next period - I always thought it was 7 days after ovulation? I only have a 9-10 day luteal phase so this discrepancy would make a difference. I asked her if I needed to re-test if she thought I had got the date wrong but she said no, just keep BDing every 2 days and make an appointment with her when my DH's sperm test is back.

So now I'm a) confused about when the 21 blood tests should have been done/if I did it on the right date b) confused about why my GP wanted me to have a blood test on the day I ovulated and c) worried I am not ovulating/have low progesterone and wondering why my GP decided against re-testing in the end!!

I did have a weird cycle last month, I am normally like clockwork, 26 day period and ovulate on day 16. However last month it was 22 days, I ovulated around day 12 (and I went for my blood tests on day 20 because my GP was insistent on day 21 (a Saturday, hospital was closed)). This was only 1 day late if I was meant to go 7 days after ovulation, but 5 days late if I should have gone 7 days before the start of my period. Could going too late have messed up the results - does progesterone fall as your period gets nearer?

Sorry for the long post!

Yes progesterone levels do fall as you approach your period, unless you are pregnant. It rises to a peak at around 7 dpo. You need to test between 6 and 9 dpo with a normal LP.

Doctors are all trained to say 7 days before your next period because the don't trust ovulation testing, and many women would not know when they ovulate.

How do you determine your ov day?

Going on day 20 of a 22 day cycles will give incorrect results.

Thanks ... When do you think I should test then - 7dpo even though I only have a 9/10 day luteal phase?

I determine ov by using a fertility monitor, charting and the FF app - they all give pretty much the same day.

Sorry away for a few days, I think if I were in your situation, where from charting you are fairly clear about ov day, I would try to get test done on 6dpo.

Part of the reason a short lp is an issue is said to be that the progesterone levels are not high enough to support a pregnancy, low progesterone often leads to spotting days before the start of af too. Are you seeing a clear thermal shift in your bbt each month? It may be worth asking about progesterone support during the lp, and see if this helps, but most gp's would think you crazy! Or try one of the natural remedies people suggest for lengthening LP, if you haven't already.