Progesterone Levels - help required

[Laidles]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction, as I have just started trying to conceive and I am confused by what my dr has told me. Ahead of ttc I visited my GP for a once over, she did various tests including progesterone. The tests were done on day 28 of my cycle, however I currently have a cycle of between 42 and 46 days. So still 14+ days before my period. The results were 23.9 which the Dr said meant I was 'probably ovulating' - as you can imagine this seemed a bit uncertain for me so thought I would turn to you and see what your experiences are. I have just started charting and it suggested I would ovulate on day 31. Any help appreciated.

I have terribly irregular cycles and can never tell when I am ovulating. Get those pee on a stick ovulation tests, and get them on line rather than in Boots as they are much cheaper. I used these
www.amazon.co.uk/One-Step-Sensitive-Ovulation-Fertility/dp/B001G7P62S/ref=pd_sim_d_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=13AEPRFDX7698CZQWKBR
If your GP suspects low progesterone levels he should refer you to a fertility clinic, I attended one on the NHS both times when ttc DS1 and DC1 (currently 36 weeks) and they can talk to you about progesterone supplements such as cyclogest. Good luck.

Day 21 progesterone tests are a waste of time, unless you know for certain you ovulate on day 14.

I had the tests 3 months running, results of 2, 8 and 10.

Doctor said I hadn't ovulated.

Now 21+5

A "normal" cycle is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days or with less that 4 days of variation from month to month. With such cycle lengths you are likely not to be ovulating regularly. With such long cycles I would also not use any OPKs.

With day 21 tests they like to see a level of 30 or over to confirm ovulation. GP should look into referring you onto a subfertility dept at hospital.

What you really need here is a day 2 test done to check and compare your LH level against that of your FSH level. These two levels should be about the same. A wide discrepancy particularly if LH is higher than FSH could well be indicative of hormonal imbalances affecting ovulation. In this respect a condition called polycystic ovaries is a common culprit.

It is not correct to assume that ovulation occurs around 14 days before the start of the next period. Ovulation is not an exact science and it can occur earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. It is quite possible also to have periods without ovulating.

Thanks for your help. My GP didn't seem concerned at all, I only got nervous when I started to try and find out more. It was probably about three days after ovulation, rather than the recommended seven? What is a normal progesterone level at this stage of the cycle?