Progesterone levels (21 day bloods)

[Aila1994]

Hi Ladies, wondering if anyone can help me understand my day 21 blood test results.

I technically didn’t get my bloods drawn at day 21 because I ovulate around day 17/18 of a 29/30 day cycle, so I got them drawn at either 6 or 7 DPO depending on when I ovulated.

I got my results back today and my levels are ‘low’.

8.4nmol to be exact.

Can anyone give me any advice? From what I have read online, this either indicates I had a really weak ovulation or didn’t ovulate at all.

Anyone who has had a similar experience, I would really appreciate some clarity on the next steps and if this will take a long time to resolve or should be a relatively simple fix in the grand scheme of things?

Really appreciate any advice in advance!

Anyone?

Hi, has your period arrived yet? When it does, work out how many days before it you had the bloods taken. I have had many progesterone results less than 1. So I'm wondering if your level of 8 means the test was badly timed and your progesterone had only just started rising. You are aiming for at least a level of 30 seven days after ovulation.

Unfortunately, when ttc it is cruel that often you have to go through many months of tests to get a true picture of what's going on. For one cycle, I had repeated bloods taken at day 21 and day 28 to see what my levels were doing. But my cycles were always over 35 days.

Good luck.

Hi lovely!

so mine were 44.1nmol, on day 21! Sounds to me like you either didn’t ovulate, or the wrong day!! Did you get your period on time? That may help to know too.

Did the Dr say to repeat the test? NHS guidelines is 30nmol to confirm ovulation, privately I was told 40 is better x

Oh and in terms of next steps, I'd say a gynaecologist will possibly look at prescribing you Clomid to regulate your ovulation.

Thanks @Whyisitdarkalready @Izzie94x !

My period arrived yesterday like clockwork on 11dpo, I got the test drawn at 6dpo (most likely judging by my ovulation tests). I feel like I have a short luteal phase which is probably not the best sign either.

Fingers crossed I can get an appointment for day 3 bloods tomorrow so I can be given a better picture of where I stand!

Hi @Aila1994 this is almost identical to my situation.

I had day 21 bloods done in April and my progesterone was 11 something, I hadn’t got the hang of ovulation testing at this point so I didn’t realise I ovulated on days 17/18.

I had an appointment with the fertility clinic at the end of July and a scan on day 17 showed a promising follicle but my bloods the week after were still only 13.

I was prescribed 2.5 mg of Letrozole, I have just had my first cycle and it did massively improve my progesterone levels which were 24 but thats still not enough so I am taking 5mg for this cycle and I’m currently on CD9.

This is my 7th cycle since my original bloods but this was due to it taking nearly 4 months for the fertility appointment to come through and a missed cycle because it wasn’t prescribed at my original appointment because of the scan.

Do you have an appointment to discuss the results of your bloods?

Thanks @Pixiedusted,

I have only just got my day 2 bloods drawn today, so will ring up for an appointment to discuss all results together next week!

I’m hoping I will be prescribed Letrozole/Clomid to aid in ovulation/progesterone. Fingers crossed it works out soon for both of us 🤞!

Hey, not sure if you're still looking for responses, but I've had a tricky time with progesterone, but I'm hoping what I say might offer some reassurance.

I did two day 21 tests which were considered low (about 18), my partner and I were referred for fertility treatment as he also has sperm issues. Anyway, the fertility consultants weren't at all concerned about my progesterone results; in fact, they don't even do it as part of hormone testing there as its such an unreliable measure. It has to be timed perfectly, and even then it can fluctuate throughout the day. They took the Day 3 tests much more seriously.

Also, it's very early days, but I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant, so clearly I do ovulate sometimes!