Progesterone 27nmol at 5DPO. Is this low?

[canto3]

My progesterone result at 5DPO was 27.

This was on CD24. My chart shows that I ovulated on CD19, so was 5DPO at the time of the test.

My blood result print out says 'to discuss at OPA'. I am guessing OPA stands for Outpatient Appointment.

We are seeing the fertility consultant tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea what that progesterone level means, and what we might discuss tomorrow. Do I have low progesterone?

(I have 2 DC, both conceived very quickly. Started trying for DC3 in January 2013, had a MMC at 11.4 weeks. Been trying to get pregnant again since. Ultrasound and HSG have been normal).

TIA

Mine was 52 on CD21. I think yours is a little on the low side but it can vary cycle to cycle.

On a positive note, it is easy to treat... When I had IUIs i was given progesterone pessaries as standard to use from the day of insemination until BFP. When I got pregnant I continued to take them until 12 weeks.

Good luck at your appointment

Oh, CanISay, I really hope so!

I am feeling really nervous about tomorrow. I know I am bottom of the pile where NHS funding is concerned (and rightly so), and I am so, so hoping there is something else we can try.

I know it's not nice to think there could be anything wrong but if there is and it's something treatable then that is actually a good situation to be in, in a funny sort of way!

I would get anxious before appointments too. I used to write down all my questions and take a pen and pad to write down everything they said as I wouldn't take it all in!

I hope you come out of your appointment with a good clear plan of attack!

Got a bit carried away with the exclamation marks there

Thank you so much. I just know I will be devastated if this is the end of the road for us - I am hoping for a sympathetic consultant with an answer, or a plan of attack, or something else to try/test.

Seeing my acupuncture lady after the appointment, so she should be able to soothe my tortured qi post-appointment . Fingers crossed.

Oh well. As expected, we are at the end of the road as far as the NHS are concerned .

Consultant was a registrar down, so we had a 40 minute wait in a roomful of pregnant women. The Dr we saw was nice enough, but more or less said that the next step would be IVF.

When I queried the progesterone value, she said that as long as it is over 20, then ovulation is confirmed (despite the blood test printout saying that anything above 30 confirms ovulation?).

She did however, take blood for an AMH test, and give us an appointment for 2 weeks time

Hmmm, did they say why IVF? Why no option for IUI?

Are they testing your AMH to see how you will respond to drugs?

It sounds like you still have options. Are you able to go private?

Hope you are okay

Thanks CanISay. They didn't mention IUI. She did say we are doing everything right - non-smoker, not overweight, seeing a nutritionist, having acupuncture, learning mindfulness. She also said that stress can be a factor, with the usual 'I know it is hard, but try to relax'.

TTC in a relaxed state after more than 2.5 years Hhahahahaha.

We are very fortunate, in that we can afford private treatment, but I'm not sure whether DH will agree to it. And obviously, it is a gruelling process (I imagine) and not to be undertaken lightly. Lots to think about. Feeling a bit deflated (but trying not to stress!!).

Sorry I don't know anything about progesterone levels. But would it be worth repeating the test before you decide that's the issue? Also, has your husband had a semen analysis done, because that can change over time too.

IVF isn't a barrel of laughs and I personally wouldn't be keen to do it if I already had two children (and I think my IVF experience has been generally OK compared to many). As you know it's not guaranteed so there's a decent chance it won't work, or at least that it won't work first time.

But I'm not you, and clearly having another child is important for you. If you have the money, perhaps pay for fertility clinic specialist input to explore other options besides 'do not pass Go, proceed directly to IVF' ?

Thanks catnip

DH had an SA which was fine a couple of months ago. I understand what you are saying re IVF and I do agree. It's not something that I'd be keen to do - as you say, I'd rather pay for a private consultation just to see if there is anything else that can be checked (Vitamin D?, thyroid?).

I get the impression that the NHS has a tickbox approach of - bloods, SA, ultrasound, HSG, check - next stop IVF. Who knows, perhaps a different consultant would have a different approach?

Yes, you might find that someone suggests Clomid to be sure that you ovulate, or there may be some other tests that reveal a possible issue that could be fixed. If you do have low progesterone then you could perhaps get progesterone supplementation for the second half of your cycle. I don't know much about when IUI is useful but that's something I see suggested round here sometimes. I think there's probably a few things you could try before you consider the full monty IVF.

Two out of three IUIs resulted in a BFP for me. In our case it was unexplained infertility. We were given the option of trying IUI or IVF and we decided to try IUI first.

It's a lot cheaper if you're paying, there's no egg retrieval and also it gives you a chance to see how you respond to the stimulating drugs so is useful in some ways if you go on to IVF.
You're right though... The NHS operate on quite a strict methodical approach. You have to push (and pay) for anything outside of their normal offerings. You may get a more open conversation and more options with a private consultation.

Thanks

We'll see what happens when I go for the appointment for the AMH result. Perhaps a different doctor will have a different approach.

Hi my first progesterone reading was 27, my doctor said that she thought that i probably did ovulate , my second was 22, my fertility specialist seems to think that my progesterone is crashing due to weak ovulation , I have been prescribed Clomid, I would keep pushing with the progesterone being low, and hopefully they will prescribe you with Clomid, good luck