Can anyone interpret these blood test results....

[Eleveld]

I haven't had the analysis from the consultant yet, just the numbers over the phone from the nurse.

I had blood taken on CD 23 and the results are as follows:

FSH - 9.3
LH - 19.3
Progesterone - 8

Can anyone interpret these? I've a feeling they're not good

Thanks

That's a non luteal cycle - ie. you haven't ovulated. Are your cycles long/ regular?

The last 3 have been - 34 days, 26 days and 35 days but the luteal phase (from when I got a positive OPK) has always been the same.

This month I only got a positive OPK on CD 21 and 22 and they only did the blood test on CD23 - is there a chance I ovulated AFTER the blood test?

thanks

OPKs detect the LH surge that occurs at ovulation. A luteal phase progesterone should be taken around a week after ovulation. So in that case a day 28 progesterone may reveal that you have ovulated. The progesterone level should be taken about a week before your period starts - which fits with your 30-something day cycle lengths. Does that make sense?

Eleveld

An LH/FSH imbalance is highly indicative of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is very common and is a common cause of anovulatory periods and irregular cycles.

A progesterone level of 8 would also be indicative of no ovulation. Not unfortunately surprised to see that either because the other hormones that play a huge role in ovulation are awry.

Your last three cycles would be irregular as there is more than 4 days of variation from month to month.

If the underlying cause is PCOS OPK's are of no benefit to use whatsoever. I would suggest that with bloodwork like this you stop using the kits forthwith as you are just wasting your cash. Also you can easily have more than one LH surge every month and such a surge is not automatically followed by ovulation. This is another reason why these kits fall down.

These kits read LH; with PCOS the kit reads the excess level of LH.

Have you had to date an ultrasound scan to see what your uterine cavity and ovaries are like?. My guess is that your ovaries are polycystic.

You need to talk with the cons asap re these results. You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

HTH

Attila x

I was wondering if your levels of LH and FSH have been measured at all earlier in the cycle (around day 3) as these should be looked at and compared as well.

Eleveld, try not to worry to much before you have a chance to talk to your doc. i know it is easy for me to say. from my past experience, it is always not so bad after i have a talk with my doc.

Would like to add to my original posting as I would not want to mislead or worry you unduly.

LH and FSH are not usually measured around day 23. I am wondering why these levels were measured then. Progesterone is usually measured on or after day 21 so I can see why that was measured at that time.

LH/FSH imbalance can indicate PCOS and I would certainly have cited this had those two levels been taken on Day 3. I see in your case they were not taken on day 3.

I hope you get to see the consultant soon; I don't think it is in a patient's best interests to receive such a result anyway without any real or detailed explanation.

HTH

Attila

It's true that OPKs can be misleading because you can have a surge - maybe even several times in a long cycle - without actually ovulating. On the other hand, the fact that the time between the surge and your period has been so consistent suggests to me that you are ovulating but that this test was mistimed. Are you charting your temperature at all? that would help to confirm if you're ovulating or not and might be useful info for the doctor. It would also help you to avoid having tests done at the wrong time. I hope the consultant is helpful.

Hi All

Thanks so much for your messages. They have helped but, unfortunately, confirmed what I thought - that there are problems.

I have endometriosis - get chocolate cysts. Have had laparoscopy and laparotomy in last 3 years. Last scan was clear of signs of endo (month ago).

Over the last 3 years I have had the above two ops, MRI scans, ultrasound scans and internal scans (where I went to have ultrasound but bladder wasn't full enough so they did an internal one). Have also had several blood tests. Atilla - if I had PCOS would one of the above ops/scans not picked it up?

Am thoroughly down and depressed but many thanks for all your replies

if your ovaries are polycystic, ultrasound scan would pick it up. ask your consultant about this. i have slight PCOS, ie, my ovary are slightly polycystic but i do not suffer from other symptoms like facial hair, irregular periods, etc. so i know that a scan can pick it up.

this is a hard time and i understand. good luck, things are usually not as bad as it initially seems.