IVF - blood tests - prolactin?

[Tara8]

Hi all,
After 3 years of trying we're about to embark on IVF so we've had all the blood tests over the years, semen analysis, scans, hycosy and history all covered. However, after chatting with a friend about it all we realised that I have never been tested for Prolactin levels which would seem quite basic? Surely they would check this before spending thousands of pounds on IVF treatment? My friend has had this tested on her very first blood test!?
Has anyone else had this tested? It seems that high levels of prolactin can cause some issues with getting pregnant, is it worth asking for a test at this point?

Are you sure it wasn't done as part of your original blood tests with the GP? I thought I'd never had mine done, but going through my notes I did find a prolactin blood test result that was done at the same time as my cd1-5 tests. You could ask your surgery to send you a copy of your results.

Thank you for replying. I have access to all my records online so will have another look. Perhaps it was done right at the very beginning of when we started having tests!

If not, there's no harm in asking for it to be done. Good luck 🤞

Mine has never been tested. All my gp requested was day 3 fsh and day 21 progesterone.

To be honest no one seemed that interested in solving why I couldn't get pregnant. It was more of a waiting game then straight to ivf.

@79andnotout you are so right, that's exactly how we felt. The last test I had was in March 2019 and then nothing until the last few weeks when we were referred for IVF. There's just nothing in between is there? Other than a really long wait! Have you started IVF?

Hi @Tara8 I should be starting this week. I had all my last tests July 2019 too. I asked if they were going to retest me but they said there's no point as I'm on max dose of everything anyway. You definitely get a more tailored treatment with private clinics but you certainly pay for it. I'm lucky that I'm exempt from NHS prescription fees due to my thyroid problems so I'm just treating this free cycle as diagnostic - if I get any eggs and they fertilise then that will give me enough hope to take my results to a private clinic and optimise things there. If it's really bad then I'm not going to waste my money on a private clinic, I'll spend my savings on something else instead.

I have topped up my go tests with finger prick tests from medichecks and thriva - have you tried any of those? I just checked back and canT find any prolactin ones but all my other sex hormones were ok, if a little on the menopause side (but I am 40).