day 21 progesterone levels

emilypratt

My husband and I have been TTC for over 12months. I will soon be 30, and I have a 9 year old son from my first marriage.  My son was conceived the first try, so this has been a long year of TTC. 

 Last week I went to the dr. and he had me to come back to do a Day 21 Progesterone blood test(Im not sure if that's what its called). I was told today that my progesterone level is a .6(which he said is very low).  He gave me a prescription for Clomid 50mg. I will be be taking my first round on my next cycle.  Has anyone else conceived after having this low level?  I am needing some encouragement!!

megemoney

If you weren't 7DPO at CD21 then the blood draw was useless and your progesterone would be low. 

Some other ladies will be able to give you some more insight on this topic, but I just wanted to let you know that you may have ovulated later (I am not sure since I don't see a chart link) and that you may have nothing to worry about yet.

btaylor19

Day 21 progesterone doesn't tell you anything unfortunately, except that you probably haven't ovulated yet.  What you need to do is start charting your temps and go in 7 days after a confirmed ovulation to have the level tested. 

Please do not take the clomid.  Ask for a referal to an RE who will do the proper tests before you start and monitor you while you are on it.  Clomid can have some serious side effects. 

btaylor19

Check out this link on 3T, it has a ton of great information for women who are at the early stages of testing.

clicky

btaylor19

LGLDVM:

I am so sorry that things have not gone as quickly as you had hoped. It can be really stressful, particularly when you didn't have any trouble conceiving before.

I have several comments and suggestions for you.  If you are seriously considering doing any sort of fertility treatment, you need to be seen by a fertility specialist. In the short paragraph you wrote, I can already see that your doctor is clueless about getting women pregnant. First, s/he had you come in for CD21 bloodwork right?  Well that makes sense, in theory, but it will only be accurate if you ovulate on CD14 and that isn't true for everyone. The bloodwork should be scheduled for 7dpo (days post ovulation).  If the test is done too early or too late, you will get falsely low readings. Second, s/he is telling you that you need clomid based on a single test. Have you had a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovaries? Have you had CD3 bloodwork done to check your FSH and other important hormones? Have you had an HSG to determine whether or not your tubes are open?  If you answered 'no' to any of these questions, RUN to an RE. 

OB/Gyns are great for pap smears and baby-catchin' they are not great at treating fertility issues. You need to see a specialist.  In the mean time, go on fertility friend and start tracking your basal body temperature. If your cycles are really messed up and you aren't ovulating, it will tell you, and it's free.

Good luck!!

well said, and also I am giggling at "baby catchin'"

megemoney

btaylor19:

LGLDVM:

I am so sorry that things have not gone as quickly as you had hoped. It can be really stressful, particularly when you didn't have any trouble conceiving before.

I have several comments and suggestions for you.  If you are seriously considering doing any sort of fertility treatment, you need to be seen by a fertility specialist. In the short paragraph you wrote, I can already see that your doctor is clueless about getting women pregnant. First, s/he had you come in for CD21 bloodwork right?  Well that makes sense, in theory, but it will only be accurate if you ovulate on CD14 and that isn't true for everyone. The bloodwork should be scheduled for 7dpo (days post ovulation).  If the test is done too early or too late, you will get falsely low readings. Second, s/he is telling you that you need clomid based on a single test. Have you had a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovaries? Have you had CD3 bloodwork done to check your FSH and other important hormones? Have you had an HSG to determine whether or not your tubes are open?  If you answered 'no' to any of these questions, RUN to an RE. 

OB/Gyns are great for pap smears and baby-catchin' they are not great at treating fertility issues. You need to see a specialist.  In the mean time, go on fertility friend and start tracking your basal body temperature. If your cycles are really messed up and you aren't ovulating, it will tell you, and it's free.

Good luck!!

well said, and also I am giggling at "baby catchin'"

Me too!

ksteeb611

I'm in your boat, but it started off worse.  Through strenuous exercise I had shut off my prog production.  I gained 3 lbs (might help a little...) and was put on Provera (to start a period I had not had on my own since age 15) and 50 mg Clomid.  My CD21 prog was 0.7.  After upping dosage to 100 mg, my CD21 was 3.29.  Of course I wasn't ovulating, so I did not respond to Clomid.  Recently switched to Letrozole and Ovidrel injection and I did have one 16mm follicle on CD13 (likely 18mm on CD14, which is when I triggered).  Letrozole 5mg is not much more than the Clomid 100mg, but it's something to do while we were waiting on tests and injectables to begin next week.

brookelynpaisley

ksteeb611:

I'm in your boat, but it started off worse.  Through strenuous exercise I had shut off my prog production.  I gained 3 lbs (might help a little...) and was put on Provera (to start a period I had not had on my own since age 15) and 50 mg Clomid.  My CD21 prog was 0.7.  After upping dosage to 100 mg, my CD21 was 3.29.  Of course I wasn't ovulating, so I did not respond to Clomid.  Recently switched to Letrozole and Ovidrel injection and I did have one 16mm follicle on CD13 (likely 18mm on CD14, which is when I triggered).  Letrozole 5mg is not much more than the Clomid 100mg, but it's something to do while we were waiting on tests and injectables to begin next week.

I wouldn't say you're in the same boat. You seem to know (hopefully, with the help of an RE) that you don't ovulate. OP doesn't know this.

And the fact that you're referring to it as CD21 and not 7DPO makes me worry a little. You should not be in any way, shape, or from recommend that OP take letrozole as "something to do while waiting on tests...."

brookelynpaisley

LGLDVM:

I am so sorry that things have not gone as quickly as you had hoped. It can be really stressful, particularly when you didn't have any trouble conceiving before.

I have several comments and suggestions for you.  If you are seriously considering doing any sort of fertility treatment, you need to be seen by a fertility specialist. In the short paragraph you wrote, I can already see that your doctor is clueless about getting women pregnant. First, s/he had you come in for CD21 bloodwork right?  Well that makes sense, in theory, but it will only be accurate if you ovulate on CD14 and that isn't true for everyone. The bloodwork should be scheduled for 7dpo (days post ovulation).  If the test is done too early or too late, you will get falsely low readings. Second, s/he is telling you that you need clomid based on a single test. Have you had a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovaries? Have you had CD3 bloodwork done to check your FSH and other important hormones? Have you had an HSG to determine whether or not your tubes are open?  If you answered 'no' to any of these questions, RUN to an RE. 

OB/Gyns are great for pap smears and baby-catchin' they are not great at treating fertility issues. You need to see a specialist.  In the mean time, go on fertility friend and start tracking your basal body temperature. If your cycles are really messed up and you aren't ovulating, it will tell you, and it's free.

Good luck!!

'No to mention, your husband should have a seemen analysis. You're only half the equation. Definitely start charting so you know when you ovulate (OPKs don't confirm) so that you can schedul this test for the right time. DO NOT take Clomid until you've met with an RE and have had this test (as well as the others recommended) re-done.

emilypratt

Thanks Ladies! You have really helped. I am just now starting out on this fertility issue, so I am new to all of this! He gave me a prescription for 5 pill for 3 months...and was told to come back if I don't get pregnant after that.  I have been hospitilized for ruptured ovarian cyst in the past, so I requested being checked for scar tissue and other problems, before taking this medication.  I even requested that my husband have a sperm count(he is 32 with no children). The dr said this was the easiest step, and that I should be pregnant within 3 months, and after 3 months we will explore other options.

I believe I will be taking my baby maker somewhere else! Thanks!!!!

ksteeb611

Actually, the RE wanted to see how I would respond to Letrozole.  She did not think it would work since Clomid did not work, but I was not under her supervision with Clomid...I was with a high-risk OBGYN.  She believes the injectables will do the trick.  CD21 is actually 7DPO for me (u/s).

emilypratt

I am new to all of this. For the last 12 months I have done "zero" research on this, because I was told to just "let it happen, and not to worry".  You ladies have helped me out completely, and I am so glad I found this site. Since I am still new to this pregnancy verbage, I am having to look up and research the info you all have given me. Thanks again for the help, and feel free to keep the comments coming. I need to be ready for my next visit!

emilypratt

I would rather get pregnant without medications, or at least have other fertility issues checked before going to this step. 

kellyrn9956

emilypratt:

Thanks Ladies! You have really helped. I am just now starting out on this fertility issue, so I am new to all of this! He gave me a prescription for 5 pill for 3 months...and was told to come back if I don't get pregnant after that.  I have been hospitilized for ruptured ovarian cyst in the past, so I requested being checked for scar tissue and other problems, before taking this medication.  I even requested that my husband have a sperm count(he is 32 with no children). The dr said this was the easiest step, and that I should be pregnant within 3 months, and after 3 months we will explore other options.

I believe I will be taking my baby maker somewhere else! Thanks!!!!

Yep - get that baby maker to someone who knows what they're doing.

** Edited to fix they're/their/there grammar mistake. Doh!