When should I have blood tests??

[lucieloos]

I went to see my gp this evening as we have been trying to conceive for some time with no luck. She has ordered some blood tests for me - fsh, lh, progesterone, thyroid and prolactin. The problem is she has said its ok to have them all done the same time as my progesterone test around cd20. I though fsh and LH needed to be measured on day 2/3? I'm not sure whether thyroid and prolactin need to be on a certain day as well?

Yes, pretty sure it's Fsh and Lh on Day 2/3 (it's a baseline measure before your follicles hopefully get going) and then progesterone 7 days after you ovulate - so Day 20/21.

Some GPs aren't that great with fertility issues and PCOS. I've learnt much more on MN than from my GP!

Oops, ignore the PCOS bit - I thought I read that in your OP. Not 100% sure about thyroid - my thyroid test might have been on Day 2/3 but I'm not sure it matters. Someone more knowledgeable may well correct me!

Yes day 3 for lh/fsh as that tests for pcos.
Thyroid can be anytime, or either. 3/20 if you are already doing tests
Be aware that thyroid for fertility may need to be lower so say under 2.5 rather than 4.

Yes, I'll second that. My thyroid is 3.1 - the GP completely dismissed it and my fertility specialist says it should be ok. Been TTC#1 for nearly 2 years so a bit fed up really! Going to try and moan a bit more when I see her next ...

Its difficult because you dont want to start meds for thyroid if you dont have to. (Taking it 30min -hr before food) plus monitoring it every 4-8w in pg and upping dose as soon as positive result all a bit worrying.
But if you look at suggested levels in pg i think its like max 2.99 maybe so youre already going in with thyroid working harder than other people.
Do you have any symptoms you could complain about- constipation, cold etc. or thyroid issues in family (dsis also being treated)
My only failed ivf after bfn tested tsh and it had risen to 4 (since test 6m before under 2.5) the spotting started on 12dpo so didnt make it to test day. The embryos were only grade b rather than a/b like on successful cycles.

Ah, I guess I'm only just over the recommended level so the specialist is probably thinking along the same lines. I am always cold though! She'll be seeing me in a few months after 2 more cycles of Clomid and so I'll probably be eager to chat through things. Sorry to hear about your IVF. I'm pretty much resigned to me heading down that route ...

Supposedly your waking body temp can tell you how your thyroid is doing. If its really cold in the house, mine would go really low.
I think although they said 2.5 for ivf if you look about some sites say about 1 is best for fertility.
Think mine was about 1.9 just before 3rd ivf which worked.
Oh and thyroid can give you short LP and irregular periods

Hmm, thanks Naty, that's really useful! My temperature seems quite low (doesnâ??t really go above 36.5c) and I do have irregular periods - although that could be PCOS (blood test suggestive but I do seem to ovulate each month).

Lucie, I hope you get the GP to reconsider those blood tests days and best of luck!