[kiwigirl]

Hey Ladies,

Just wanted to ask everyone's opinion on when I should start takign the progesterone cream? I'm ovulating sometime today or tomorrow according to my chart and ovulation monitor. My doctor has asked me to go and do another progesterone test on cd 21, 23 and 25. Should I start taking it this week right after O or should I wait until after my blood tests? I really need more progesterone so I'm kind of wanting to start right away. What do you think?

[ShawnaCAN]

1. Start your progesterone after you have confirmed ovulation, so wait until you have your thermal shift (3DPO).

2. Make sure your your doctor is aware that you are taking progesterone! He may want your blood tests to be an accurate reflection of what your actual progesterone is, without supplementing it.

3. Progesterone tests on days 21, 23, and 25 *assume* that ovulation has occurred on day 14 because the best time to accurately check progesterone is 7DPO, 9DPO, and 11DPO. If you ovulate later than day 14, the tests need to be done later as well or they won't be accurate.

[slpliz]

Don't start until confirmed O at 3DPO. Also, tell your OB when you have the test. When you are on progesterone, your levels should come back at at least 15.

[Admin-pattyandthemoos]

Originally Posted by ShawnaCAN

1. Start your progesterone after you have confirmed ovulation, so wait until you have your thermal shift (3DPO).

2. Make sure your your doctor is aware that you are taking progesterone! He may want your blood tests to be an accurate reflection of what your actual progesterone is, without supplementing it.

3. Progesterone tests on days 21, 23, and 25 *assume* that ovulation has occurred on day 14 because the best time to accurately check progesterone is 7DPO, 9DPO, and 11DPO. If you ovulate later than day 14, the tests need to be done later as well or they won't be accurate.

I am glad Shawna answered this. I was going to say to start on three days past ovulation because that is what most doctors say. I asked my doctor about this and he said the progesterone treatment isn't an exact science so if you don't start it exactly on the right day it isn't a big deal. I would try to make sure you ovulated first though.

[kiwigirl]

Thanks girls. My doctor who I just started seeing won't give me anything yet for progesterone cause she doesn't think I'm O'ing at all. I was thinking about waiting as I don't want to mess up any of the test results. My lp is stupidly short (3 days sometimes) so I never make it to 7dpo. Do you think i should wait another month. I'm just scared to waste another cycle. The doctor already has me on 150mg of Clomid-this is my third cycle.

[ShawnaCAN]

I would wait, so she can see your results accurately.

She may not think you're ovulating because progesterone draws from previous cycles were done too early (assuming ovulation on day 14!)

[Admin-pattyandthemoos]

Originally Posted by ShawnaCAN

I would wait, so she can see your results accurately.

She may not think you're ovulating because progesterone draws from previous cycles were done too early (assuming ovulation on day 14!)

I agree. As much as you want to get started with this I think you should wait so your test results are accurate.

(((HUGS)))

[jenine]

I would call your doctor now and ask them because if they want to do your post-O blood tests on 7DPO and you can't make it to that point, maybe they cannot do the tests? On the other hand, as the other ladies pointed out, having the supplement may make their tests less meaningful.