Estradiol Test/Clomid

mom48040 · September 2015

I just finished my first round of Clomid. 50 mg on days 5-9.
A week after I finished, my doctor sent me for an Estradiol test. (I did this yesterday) In another week I have my progesterone tested.

My doctor hasn't called but I accessed my results from yesterday through a hospital portal.

It was 82.9 pg/ml. Does anyone know if this is in the normal range? This would have been cd 16.

bsckgb7 · September 2015

That's pretty low. Did you have an ultrasound? Each mature follicle should be producing 200. Is this an RE or an OB?

mom48040 · September 2015

An OB. I cannot afford an RE.
She did the Estradiol yesterday, then after 7 days wants to do my progesterone. A week after THAT she wants to do an ultrasound..
What does it mean that it's low? It would have been 3 DPO. She hasn't explained this to me...and it would probably take her days to call me back.

mom48040 · September 2015

I'm on Metformin too.

riveridgional · September 2015

I'm not a doctor, so I don't know for sure, but I think estrogen can drop right after O, but i beleven it ris essential wothat progesterone (again, not sure). So, this can mean you ovulated, OR it could also mean you didn't respond to Clomid and aren't producing mature follicles. The progesterone test in 7 days should be able to tell you if you ovulated (but not when). I don't understand why she would be doing an u/s 7 days after your progesterone test unless she is assuming you won't be pregnant and she wants to ensure you don't have any cysts before prescribing you clomid again.

This is the problem with going through an OB without proper monitoring. You are now spending money on some monitoring that really isn't telling you much or anything about your response to Clomid. An RE will be able to know exactly if Clomid is working for you, hurting you (which happened to me), or is working too well for you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the costs. You may actually be paying more or about the same for sporadic/unreliable monitoring with your OB. Most REs have discounted packages for out of pocket patients that cover all ultrasounds and bloodwork from CD1 to ovulation, including an US to confirm ovulation. I can't remember the exact price I paid with my monitored Clomid cycle but I want to say it was 375, maybe 475. I can look when I get home and update.

mom48040 · September 2015

I'm not sure what the purpose is for the late ultrasound is. She has an HCG test scheduled a week after the progesterone...

riveridgional · September 2015

Okay, so my estimate was definitely off. It's 795 for all monitoring with my doctor. That definitely is steeper. I went with my OB 2 rounds and regret it so much. And, sorry for the crazy autocorrects above. I hate my new phone update. I do not understand how and why it changes my words to jibberish! I meant to say, I think estradiol will drop after O but will rise again after. Were you temping too to confirm that you did ovulate and the day on which you ovulated?

mom48040 · September 2015

No temping. I did OPK tests throughout the week last week..each day the test line got darker and darker. I ran out of tests on Thursday though. Friday I had TONS of CM and cramping, so I'm guessing I O'd. I've never had that much CM...and by Saturday it dried up.
Last night I laid in bed just dying. The hotflashes were horrific.

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2015

Just so im clear, ur saying ur estradiol was tested at 3dpo? Im wondering why ur estradiol was tested after ovulation? It begins to drop off immediately after ovulation. Doctors usually test ur estradiol leading up to ovulation (along w ur LH), not after it because all it really tells u (in terms of fertility testing) is how many mature eggs u have. That info Is irrelevant after ovulation.
If I misunderstood and ur estradiol was tested prior to ovulation, then that means u did not respond to the clomid :-(

bsckgb7 · September 2015

I missed that the estradoil was tested after ovulation (which is silly). However, how do you know it was after ovulation? If you aren't temping, you can't confirm ovulation? So if you haven't ovulated and they continue with a Progesterone check, your progesterone will look low and they will send into a panic too. OR it could mean you didn't respond to the Clomid and your didn't produce mature follicles if it was tested prior to O.

Have you reach out to an RE to see whats covered? My insurance doesn't cover IF, but they have covered all the monitoring. How long have you been trying?

babyexpress · September 2015

@bsckgb7 I was with you, I thought she was getting tested right at or before O day so doc can gauge how many mature follicles. Otherwise, what exactly is the point of b/w after you O?

@mom4840 You need to really think about switching to RE so you are with someone that knows what they are doing. Not that OB's are not nice people or good at finding infections, but when it comes to fertility treatments and monitoring - its best to get a specialist.

edit: to add tag

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2015

mom48040 said:

An OB. I cannot afford an RE. She did the Estradiol yesterday, then after 7 days wants to do my progesterone. A week after THAT she wants to do an ultrasound.. What does it mean that it's low? It would have been 3 DPO. She hasn't explained this to me...and it would probably take her days to call me back.

Here she says "it would have been 3dpo". It's a bit unclear though because there's quite a few different things mentioned (progesterone, ultrasound..) so I could be totally misunderstanding. Agreed with @babyexpress it would really be much better to see a specialist if possible.

bsckgb7 · September 2015

But OP can't confirm O either. So who knows where she was in the cycle.

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2015

Yah it all sounds pretty confusing, definitely the upside of seeing a specialist...takes all the guesswork out of the equation!

mom48040 · September 2015

I'm sorry I haven't been on all day.
Yes, 7 days after Clomid was done - I took OPK's until Thursday and ran out. Friday - my indicator was a lot of cramping and a lot of CM. I did not temp this cycle.
I have been battling infertility for three years.
I understand an RE would be better but I am doing what I can afford at this time and I will be questioning my OB why she did this in this order.
I go on Sunday this weekend for my progesterone test. And October 6th for an ultrasound. Why? I don't know.

mom48040 · September 2015

My cycles have been 28 days for several years. Last year I did months and months of temping and OPK and usually showed O between days 13-15. Last September an HSG was done and they told me I had blocked tubes. THIS September another was done - tubes weren't blocked.

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2015

I'm still confused though-- was ur estradiol level check pre of post ovulation? It makes a huge difference if terms of what the number means. If u don't know for sure if it was pre or post ovulation there is no way to speculate on what it means.

mom48040 · September 2015

She has done prior tests, yes, at different stages of my cycles. Just not this particular cycle. Maybe that's the method to her ways. I'm not sure. I'll have to pull up old test results.

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2015

I'm totally not trying to make u feel bad or anything, I know fertility testing can be an extremely confusing process. All I'm saying is if you don't know whether ur numbers are pre or post ovulation there is no way of interpreting them. To give u an example- if ur estradiol was 82.9 PRE ovulation, it means the clomid was non-effective. And if it was POST ov, it doesn't tell much because estradiol drops rapidly after ovulation, that's why estradiol isn't usually tested after ovulation occurs. My suggestion is to get with ur OB, and ask her to tell u which cycle day she is doing these tests on. Also, try to get her to pinpoint tour ovulation for u, or u need to take charge of that by temping. Estradiol and lh should be tested in the 5 or so days leading up to ovulation. Progesterone should be tested 7 days post ovulation. Hcg should be tested 7 days past the progesterone test. Is she is testing ur FSH and AMH, these should be done on cycle day 3. I hope this helps! Good luck!

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