Low progesterone and ovulation

[EnnaMc]

Hello
My partner and I have been trying for over a year to conceive without any luck. He has been told his fertility tests are quite low (I don't know the exact detail). I have been told that my progesterone is very low (had a few tests and it's ranged from 3.4 to 1.6). I've always had irregular periods (I have in recent years had a slightly more stable cycle with occasional missed periods when stressed) and don't believe I'm entering menopause. I am 42 and have to children from a previous relationship.
The nurse suggested I may not be ovulating due to low progesterone. I use the first response ovulating sticks which indicate the days I am ovulating, with a smiley face. Surely these are responsive to my body and hormones and on the days the face appears I am indeed ovulating?
Does anyone have any experience of anything similar? Did you finally conceive. It's causing so much angst, worry and stress, which of course doesn't help the chances!
Thank you.

@EnnaMc hi, we have similar issues to you but my progesterone is more like 10. Not conceived though, we’re in the middle of ivf. I will say that the specialists I saw said progesterone under 5 suggests no ovulation. I would see a fertility doctor and talk to them about clomid or letrozole. It didn’t work for us, but if you’ve conceived before and ovulation is one of the issues it might be worth a shot.

Both of you need a diagnosis.

Ongoing irregular cycles are often caused by hormonal imbalances; in this respect a condition called polycystic ovaries could be responsible. There could also be potential problems with the thyroid gland; both of these can be detected via blood tests and these do cause periods to become irregular.

Progesterone is usually measured as a day 21 test, a result of 30 or more could indicate ovulation. Less than this could show no ovulation.

What you need apart from an actual diagnosis is a day 2 test done to compare your LH level against that of FSH. These two hormones start ovulation so if these are awry then ovulation is affected.

OPK's are pretty much next to useless if the cycle is irregular so I would stop using them now. These kits measure LH; if the level of this is excessive then the kit reads that. Multiple positive results are also seen in such cases so its giving you a misleading result. Your age could also play a part here.

Hi little bird

Just to clarify…
When I said both of you need a diagnosis I was referring to the original poster and her man. Tests on them too should be done in tandem.

@AttilaTheMeerkat

Both of you need a diagnosis.

Ongoing irregular cycles are often caused by hormonal imbalances; in this respect a condition called polycystic ovaries could be responsible. There could also be potential problems with the thyroid gland; both of these can be detected via blood tests and these do cause periods to become irregular.

Progesterone is usually measured as a day 21 test, a result of 30 or more could indicate ovulation. Less than this could show no ovulation.

What you need apart from an actual diagnosis is a day 2 test done to compare your LH level against that of FSH. These two hormones start ovulation so if these are awry then ovulation is affected.

OPK's are pretty much next to useless if the cycle is irregular so I would stop using them now. These kits measure LH; if the level of this is excessive then the kit reads that. Multiple positive results are also seen in such cases so its giving you a misleading result. Your age could also play a part here.

With the day 2 test, is this something that can be done privately or bought online? My drs are useless, I've had to fight them for a year to get the standard blood tests.

Thank you everyone

@AttilaTheMeerkat

Hi little bird

Just to clarify…
When I said both of you need a diagnosis I was referring to the original poster and her man. Tests on them too should be done in tandem.

Thanks for clarifying, I jumped the gun. I deleted after I posted because I realised you meant them when I re-read.

@EnnaMc your GP can do it. Mine never did because some of them aren’t especially thorough, I only had it done eventually when I changed GPs.

Yes you can get it done privately, that’s what I’ve done. My GP tested my progesterone on day 21 (even though my cycles are long and irregular) and then referred me on to the hospital on the basis it was too low. They have refused to re-test it mid luteal phase or to do the day 2/3 bloods. I just googled ‘private blood tests [city name]’ and several providers came up - I paid £95 for mid-luteal progesterone, £269 for day 3 (including AMH which I think can be done at any point in your cycle) and £130 for a transvaginal ultrasound a few weeks ago. If you have a private fertility clinic for possible future treatment in mind I would check with them first as the one I am thinking of gave me some good information about where they could accept blood tests from to avoid duplication later on.

Hey Everyone,

Is anyone still on the thread? I’ve been TTC around 15 months now after getting pregnant easily before. Since last July I started getting a week of brown spotting on the Lead up to my period from 7dpo. So I was thinking and knew ir was an issue. Anyway only managed to get clomid and progesterone support literally last month after it taking to long and ended up going private. Has anyone managed to concieve taking progesterone pessaries? My first month was unsuccessful.

Thank You.