Help! BFP but low progesterone and PCOS

[Umadi]

Hi,
I'm hoping people might have some experiences that may help me.
My husband and I have been TTC our 2nd. I have PCOS and it took years to have our first so we started again Jan this year.
I have always had low progesterone and anovulatory cycles.

This time around, we started the process of investigation again and I went for my "day 21" blood test for progesterone 2 weeks ago on the 9th Oct. I do BBT charting and apparently have actually ovulated a few cycles this year, but appears I have luteal phase defect. This month my chart was all over the place and looked like I hadn't O'd but I timed the blood test for 7 days after I usually ovulate (which is cycle day 17/18). Anyway, my result came back 18.5 nmol (the range is below 20 = no ovulation, 20-30 = equivocal, 30 or more = ovulation). So the doctor called and said he'd refer me back to the fertility clinic.

So this week I was 5 days late and was frustrated as just wanted AF to show up and start a new cycle. After much nagging from my husband I took a test, and low and behold I got a BFP!!! Didn't think it was possible! Fancy digital test says 2-3 weeks pregnant.

Now I'm worried I won't be able to sustain the pregnancy. I'm waiting for the GP to call me back re progesterone supplements, I'd happily pay privately if possible. My BBT is still raised a bit, but lower than my last pregnancy. And I still don't understand how I got pregnant with progesterone that low.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I haven't had miscarriages so don't know if they'll prescribe Progesterone. Does anyone know if you can approach private clinics and try to buy it?

Much thanks in advance from an elated but stressed and anxious me!

Bump!

The day 21 really is only over 30 if taken on exactly the right day - you could have caught it on 'day 18' for your cycle, ifyswim. As you know the test needs to be taken 7 days before af/7 days after ov (depends who you ask for their interpretation of when), and so you could have still been on the 'upswing' of progesterone.

Those tests literally are only meant to confirm ov, NOT the sustainability of any possible subsequent pregnancy.

Honestly, there's nothing to do anyway.

Congrats on the bfp.

@physicskate Thanks :-) and thanks for your reply.

This is what I was wondering but wasn't sure - whether it was possible that I actually ovulated the day of the blood test? I really can't work out when I ovulated this cycle and we only BD'd 5 days this cycle but timed it for when I usually ovulate, and I obviously didn't ovulate then going by the blood test results - I must have ovulated late and had the sperm hanging around IYKWIM.

Your answer has reassured me. I think it just hasn't helped that my temps are on average lower before and after ovulation than they were when I got pregnant last, and I wondered whether I could privately buy a progesterone prescription so that I could feel I am doing all I can to maintain this pregnancy (fully knowing that this does not guarantee anything).

I've always had the symptoms of low progesterone as well as the blood test results and I think some superstitious part of me thinks I couldn't be lucky enough to have another successful pregnancy without some help.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Genuinely could have written something very similar myself 4 weeks ago!

I have polycystic ovaries (medics debate whether I have the syndrome though) and have a short luteal phase of 10 days. I have a son already, but when trying for #2 I ended up getting some bloods done as I suspected luteal phase defect might be related to low progesterone. Had day 21 bloods done twice in two separate cycles. I do BBT and OPKs, and due to long cycles I made sure my day 21 bloods were actually at 7DPO (despite that not being CD21 specifically).

1st cycle - progesterone was 17.5 nmol
2nd cycle - progesterone was 19.5 nmol

Despite the low result, I was certain I had in fact ovulated due to significant BBT rise, +OPK and ovulation pains. My period also arrived on 11DPO bang on with my first cycle.

The second cycle I was convinced would be a dud again due to the low progesterone result - even if I did ovulate, it was too low for sustaining a pregnancy I was told. Found myself very surprised at 10DPO when I got a + pregnancy test. I was worried due to the low progesterone levels so booked in privately for more progesterone checks (Medichecks do an at home one) and took that on 10DPO (when I got BFP)- my levels had risen to 42.5 nmol. I had another test done at 16DPO and my levels were in the 60's.

I'm now 8wks and things are going well so far. Had a private scan this weekend and saw a strong heartbeat. :-)

@MummyOfZog Congratulations!! That's lovely to hear

It's funny isn't it, you think you get a handle on what various test results actually mean, and our bodies still have a way of throwing us a curve ball - in the loveliest of ways in this case.

Thanks for replying and that's very interesting about Medichecks, I'll look into this. We've got a private scan booked for the 14th Nov so just hanging on for that now.