Blood test when on mini pill

[Pointingwiththepointer]

I’m on Desogestrel 75 microgram which is a mini pill (progestogen-only pill). I don’t have a cycle or periods.

On spur of the moment, I recently paid for a private hormone blood test . Everything came back normal apart from my progestogen which was 0.09 Ng/ml

The nurse said this was very low and is probably responsible for my symptoms of tiredness, anxiety, irritability and loss of libido.

I’ve since read up on blood tests and progestogen can only really be assessed on day 21 of a typical cycle. A normal range is between 0.1-25 Ng/ml. So 0.09 Ng/ml isn’t that far off normal?

I can’t find any info about being tested while on the mini pill. Can anyone offer any insight please?

Can anyone help please?

I would ask the place you had the hormone test… it’s their expertise

I was told as I don’t have periods (because of the pill) that it didn’t matter when I had my blood tests (for checking hormone levels) done. I went on to HRT privately and my doctors have picked up the regular prescription. So that’s good. Blood tests for whether or not you’re in peri are notoriously unreliable, so I’d give HRT a go to be honest.

I'm in a similar situation, have taken Cerazette for more years than I can remember, so no idea if I am menapausal, but am getting more of the symptoms more often. I feel daft going to the GP though if they can't really help me!

The nurse said this was very low and is probably responsible for my symptoms of tiredness, anxiety, irritability and loss of libido.

It's the complete opposite.
It's low estrogen that gives those symptoms.

Sounds like she's not really up to speed.

Well having progesterone tested when you’re on hormonal contraception is largely useless, as desogestrel can suppress ovulation so serum progesterone testing is meaningless.

Generally speaking you’re not going to get terribly accurate results for any hormonal bloods unless you’ve been off systemic hormones for ideally 3 months.

Thank you for the replies. I’m not convinced the nurse really knows what she’s talking about.

I might come off the pill as @Sidge suggests and go to my doctors for testing.

How old are you? Hormonal blood tests are of little benefit if 45 or older. And you potentially need contraception until you’re 55 so don’t come off your pill without alternative contraception.