Progesterone level on transfer day

[Lianne32]

Hey all.

I’m 2dp5dt and I had my progesterone checked on transfer day it came back at 150. I am in Lubion and uterogestan.

Is this to high or is it just right! My clinic said nothing about it just it was ‘lovely’ anyone else have similar results? I had to fight to get the levels checked - It’s my 3rd transfer

X

@Lianne32 I don’t know if they are using the same units, but mine came back at 46.6 on 1 x lubion and 1 x cyclogest 400mg the day before my transfer, at this point I hadn’t taken my morning dose. I had insisted on the test as I bled early in my first cycle and I was certain my progesterone level was too low (I had been on less in that cycle just 1x lubion although it was a fresh cycle so the need for progesterone isn’t as important as a FET- in fresh cycles there are corpus luteum that produce progesterone and in frozen there is none).

Anyway my specialist said it’s debatable as to the level of progesterone that is appropriate, she said she uses above 50 as a cut off, so told me to increase the dose and other specialists might use 20 or 30.

It is suspected that when the progesterone gets over a certain level it triggers endometrial receptivity that allows implantation, but nobody really knows much about the most appropriate level. As far as I’m aware low is bad, I don’t think there is an issue with it being over a certain amount, but as I had the opposite issue I haven’t looked that much into it.

Thank you - there isn’t much about it around and I feel like it’s to high but no word to suggest it is

@Lianne32 I just spoke to a consultant about my level and he randomly in a fresh cycle the level is usually over 300 and that the level once above a certain level say 20 doesn’t impact on implantation, although if low it can cause miscarriages. So he seemed to be of an opinion, the higher the better and since they told you, your level is lovely. I think it’s fine

@Gardenlady543 thank you that makes sense - higher the better I see. I’m sure it’s ok just 3rd transfer in and a miscarriage it’s all a bit scary xx

I completely get you @Lianne32 I noticed when you said you had to fight to get the levels checked at all. I’ve had the same in my situation, in fact I’ve had to fight to get the test at all and now I’m 8dp5dt and having bad lower abdominal pains, as I did in my fresh cycle when I started bleeding. So I asked for another test tomorrow which I said I’d pay for and I’ve just dealt with the nastiest nurse who said they will only schedule it at a time when it couldn’t be interpreted at all, she previously seemed to love it when they scheduled my transfer outside the window they gave me and knew I had to cancel everything at work to have it. She then got a doctor who has had no involvement in my protocol to call me and question me on the pharmacodynamics of progesterone to justify why the test I’m asking for is needed. I think this journey is difficult enough without fighting constantly

Oh chick it’s so frustrating when clinics don’t listen to you isn’t it - I hope it all works out for you this cycle - I don’t know why clinics are so blasé about checking hormones id say it was so important - it’s like they just continually want us to Chuck money at them but won’t test or check anything - this is my final transfer with this clinic whatever happens I won’t be returning x

@Lianne32 wish I could say the same, I have a nice consultant but she works part time so isn’t there most of the time and it’s nurse led. I have 7 frosties and I’m with access fertility so I think I’m stuck there. My husband says these difficult people exist everywhere, I think it’s awful though the sad thing is clearly you’ve had a similar experience to me and these forums are full of others in the exact same situation, we really don’t need anyone making this situation worse. I have everything crossed for you too

@Gardenlady543 totally agree with you it’s such a hard journey why do they make it harder for us they’re meant to guide us to get the best outcome and it’s their job! I have one embryo left from round 1 and I really can’t afford another so it’s a scary situation to be in - enough to make me want to actually throw up with anxiety!

Thank you hun! I hope you get the situation sorted. X

@Lianne32 hey, how did this cycle work out for you?

Just in case anyone is interested in future. So progesterone level which peaks beyond 4 nmol/L before trigger injection is a problem as this creates an asynchronous uterine environment for the egg. Meaning the uterine lining won’t be receptive to the egg meaning implantation failure is likely. If levels exceed 4, embryos should be frozen to be used in a subsequent frozen cycle. At which you’re progesterone levels should still be monitored. My level prior to trigger was 2.93 nmol/L.

My progesterone level at the time of transfer was as stated above in my original post. At which point should be higher than 30. It can be in the hundreds as this apparently has no bearing on success rates. However, some doctors like this to be under 100 and within the “sweet spot” of around 70-90 nmol/L. I have read lots of stories with some levels of up to 300.

Hopefully this information is helpful to someone in future ☺️

My clinic wanted not less than 35 mol/L, but to all our shock I had only 7.7.
My Progesterone pessaries dosage has been increased from the same day and injectable Progesterone was added straight away, too.

@GingerFox2021 Was this at the time of your transfer?

@PeacockMonster yes, it was on my transfer day.

@GingerFox2021 Is this your first cycle? Was it a fresh of frozen transfer? 7.7 is incredibly low. Was the outcome of your cycle?

@PeacockMonster , it was my 3rd frozen transfer. I didn’t have a fresh one. Luckily, it stuck. I was very upset and thought it won’t be successful. The dr even checked with me if I was surely having the pessaries. I must admit they were leaking a lot and couldn’t properly absorb maybe.
Maybe those Progesterone injectable shots had an immediate effect (doctor told me the Progesterone level will go up immediately). The 1st transfer I didnt have Progesterone check up at all (it was a different clinic though) and 2nd transfer my levels were good - 47 nmol/L, but both were not successful.
I’m 32+3 weeks today.

@GingerFox2021 Congratulations. My goodness that must have been a relief!!!

Thank you, @PeacockMonster ! Was your cycle successful?

@GingerFox2021 Sorry, I hadn’t seen this until now. No, my cycle was unsuccessful. I am again in the 2ww period. This time my progesterone is 45.7 which my clinic say is lower than they would like. I’m not on rescue protocol with progesterone with 1 Lubion once a day instead of alternating days. Hopefully this cycles works out for us.