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Day 21 Progesterone blood tests - Advice, please

3 replies

GruffaIo · 25/08/2017 20:02

I'm 38, TTC #1.

My GP wants to test my hormone balance to see if that might be behind my difficulties TTC. I had a MMC and intermenstrual bleeding, and an ultrasound revealed a fibroid. So, I had an open myomectomy to get it removed in May. Since then, my cycles have shortened (from 28 days to 25 days) and I'm still getting intermenstrual bleeding. I've also got some abnormalities in my LFT bloods (taken when I had to be admitted to A&E for complications following the surgery, and repeated - abnormal, but now as bad, a couple of weeks later), which could be related or completely unrelated (as I've never had to get liver function blood tests before!).

The consultant who did the ultrasound didn't investigate my progesterone, and didn't comment on the raised prolactin in the blood test he did do. So, my GP wants to retest the prolactin and test my Day 21 progesterone.

Now for the question: How exactly do you calculate Day 21? I thought Day 1 was the first day of bleeding, so you simply count forward from that, and then minus 3 - Day 18 - to accommodate for the shortened cycles? Today's CD1 (start of bleeding), so I'd say CD18 was 11 Sep. My GP started counting from the END of the bleeding, so estimated 18 (21-3) beyond that, and booked me on for bloods on 18 Sep. Is that right? Or do I need to call the GP surgery and rebook?

Other questions: Is there anything else I should chase up to get investigated? Is the shorter cycle itself now going to be a problem TTC?

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
clairettc · 25/08/2017 20:06

Average length of cycle minus 7 days gives you you're day 21 blood. Though my GP says out specialists don't even ask for this anymore and isn't doing it full stop!

I also have short cycles - not sure if it's a problem or not. I've concluded potentially yes but unlikely?

JoJoSM2 · 26/08/2017 23:55

It's about testing seven days after ovulation as that's when an embryo would try to implant. Also, you might get better advice in the infertility section or try Fertility Friends.

Schnapps00 · 27/08/2017 01:00

Hi Gruffalo, it will depend on when ovulation is & how long your luteal phase is - I decided best bet was halfway between ov & end of cycle, if in doubt go a bit later.

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