Hormone tests please help?

[Amyjake123]

Hi everyone. I would really really appreciate some help!
So I’m currently undergoing fertility testing and the doctors tested my FSH, LH and progesterone. The LH and the FSH came back normal but the progesterone was low. However my doctor said it didn’t matter that the progesterone was low because the FSH and LH levels are good so that shows my ovaries are working. So my question is is it possible to have normal LH and FSH levels but still not ovulate? Thank you any help is much appreciated x

I’ve just had these tests too so am also new to all of this but I believe progesterone is released after you ovulate.

So, as far as I’m aware, it can be possible to have good levels of LH and FSH and not ovulate. Though this is by no means what’s happening with your results.

As long as the progesterone levels are above 30 (some even say 20) on/around day 21 you should be ovulating.

If you’re worried you could either ask to speak to a different Dr for a second opinion or to have the progesterone test done again?

Best of luck.

Hello - it depends what day of your cycle the test was. That sounds like a day 2 or 3 test - in which case you pretty much ignore the progesterone as it would be low at that point. To do a progesterone test you should have it done 7-9 days after ovulation (commonly known as a day 21 test). That's when your progesterone should be at it's peak so would tell you if you ovulated or not.

Hi thank you for replying I had the fsh and lh on day 3 and I had the progesterone on day 21. The fsh and Lh were both fine but the progesterone was only 2.9 but my doctor said that my progesterone result didn’t matter because my fsh and lh were good so I must be ovulating x

Hi! It’s all so confusing isn’t it! My progesterone levels were done on day 21 but they were only 2.9 but doctor thinks this is ok as my fsh and lh levels were fine. I’m confused haha x

Hmm. Do you have a 28 day cycle? If you have longer/shorter cycles you may have needed the progesterone done on a different day.

Or it could just have been an anovulatory cycle (happens to most women at some point in their life) which may account for the low progesterone.

If I were you I’d definitely push for another test and/or speak to a different doctor because as far as I understand it a progesterone score of 2.9 would indicate that you didn’t ovulate on that particular cycle. x

Agreed with PP - either the progesterone test wasn't done on the correct day or you need to speak to a different GP as 2.9 would mean you haven't ovulated and they're full of sh**

I had progesterone test done one month it was 22 and it was borderline the second month I got it done it was 37 turns out I was a little early getting it done the first time. My GP said Progesterone definitely needs to be above 30 to confirm ovulation.

My cycles are different each month so I just went for the average length for the test day but I paid privately to have a progesterone testing done last year and I tested at day 21 and it was below 1 and I tested again at day 28 and it was 7 and then I came on my period exactly a week after so if I’m right that also showed that I didn’t ovulate that month? X

My cycles are different each month so I just went for the average length for the test day but I paid privately to have a progesterone testing done last year and I tested at day 21 and it was below 1 and I tested again at day 28 and it was 7 and then I came on my period exactly a week after so if I’m right that also showed that I didn’t ovulate that month? So is it definitely possible to have normal LH and FSH and not ovulate? X

Yes it doesn’t appear that you’ve ovulated on any of the progesterone tests you’ve had. Didn’t the private clinic tell you those levels were low?

As I say I’m no expert but I think it is possible to have normal levels of LH and FSH as they’re to do with getting the follicles (eggs) ready to mature. It’s the progesterone that shows if the egg has actually been released.

If you have no clear cycle pattern and low levels of progesterone it could possibly be an indicator of PCOS. I would ignore anything this doctor has said and speak to another one ASAP.

Hi thank you for replying! I had an ultrasound scan done and was cleared for PCOS x

Hiya, I’ve also recently had day 2 and day 21 tests done.

My progesterone came back at 67 and having spoken with the fertility clinic they’ve told me that above 30 is what they look for to confirm ovulation has taken place.

The FSH etc just give an indication that your body is gearing up to ovulate. But your low progesterone number definitely would indicate that ovulation isn’t happening.

I’d ask them to clarify why they are dismissing the low progesterone level.