Progesterone

caseyb · #1 August 18th, 2008, 11:01 AM

OK girls, let me have it. Tell me everything you know about progesterone in the TWW, specifically the test that Dr run at around 5 dpo.
What is normal? too High? too Low?
Should it be checked at any other time during the luteal phase, or is the test at 5 dpo sufficent to rule out a deficiency?
If you have anything that pertains to progesterone, tell me! Educate me, please!

*becky* · #2 August 18th, 2008, 12:29 PM

Ok - here it goes!!

The blood draw is supposed to be done on 7dpo - NOT CD 21 (if you O any day besides CD 14, the numbers will be off). I'm not aware of it being drawn a 2nd time. I know sometimes they will do a draw on CD 3 to get your pre-O level though.

Anything over 3-5 confirms ovulation - however for a non menopausal woman, they like to see it about 12 for the ovulation to be strong enough for conceiving.

My base line (w/o meds) was 10, so they put me on Femara to make my O stronger. The 2.5mg didn't do squat for me. The first month of 5mg, my progesterone was 15, the 2nd cycle was 25 and then the 3rd cycle was my BFP cycle - it was 23.

Let's see what else...there are many ways to increase your progesterone - supplements/cream and ovulating enhancing meds like clomid or femara.

Good luck girlie - I'm pulling for you!!

caseyb · #3 August 18th, 2008, 12:53 PM

My Dr has issues with people being competent enough to understand charting (although I've been doing it for 7 YEARS NOW) so she wanted my progesterone level 5 days past my positive OPK- not 5 DPO because she said I couldn't be sure if I was really getting my O day right (thanks for the vote of confidence)- anyhow, my progesterone draw was actually on 4 DPO becasue of her instructions, but I'm not going to split hairs. It came back as 17.3, so based on what you've told me, that should be sufficient right? I'm pretty shocked that it wasn't off, becasue I have an 11 (give or take a day) luteal phase.