[wishfulgal]

I'm just curious b/c I've seen references to "strong" or "weak" ovulation on JM several times, and I'm not positive what that means, exactly. Is is something you can see on a chart? Obviously it's better to have "strong" ovulation, but can you still get pregnant with a "weak" one?

Ha, I used to think just ovulating was the important thing.

[ShawnaCAN]

Basically a "weak" ovulation can mean a wide variety of things, but usually it implies that the follicle didn't fully mature before being released. An immature follicle will usually leave behind a wimpy corpus luteum, so less progesterone will be secreted during the Luteal Phase. This can show up on a chart by a short CM phase, a weak thermal shift, shorter than normal LP, and pre menstrual brown spotting. A weak thermal shift doesn't automatically mean the ovulation was weak though, it's just one of the possible signs of that. Progesterone is the hormone responsible for stabilizing the uterine lining in early pregnancy, so it's necessary to produce adequate amounts of that. It's production is directly related to the quality of the egg released.

A "strong" ovulation indicates a fully mature egg. A mature egg leaves behind a healthy corpus luteum, capable of producing all the progesterone necessary to support the pregnancy if conception has occurred. Evidence of that on a chart would be a long enough CM phase (this reflects follicular development), a strong thermal shift, healthy LP length, and no pre menstrual spotting.

Hope that helps!

[wishfulgal]

Thanks!

[slpliz]

When we were TTC #1, we had to get medical assistance because DH and I both had issues! I once got pregnant with a progesterone level of 0.1 at 7 DPO (yes, 0.1 as in less than 1)!! The doctor thought there was no way I could be pregnant when I called but sure enough, I was (I did miscarry because obviously that is not enough progesterone to sustain the fertilized egg). I always used my progesterone numbers to measure my ovulation. Anything over 10 (or 15 if you are on Clomid or something along those lines) at 7DPO would be considered a good or strong ovulation by progesterone counts.

[Servilia]

Interesting! Is there a way to measure progesterone other than at the doctor's office - or would you go by all those other signs - strong thermal shift, etc.

[Admin-pattyandthemoos]

Originally Posted by Servilia

Interesting! Is there a way to measure progesterone other than at the doctor's office - or would you go by all those other signs - strong thermal shift, etc.

The best way would probably a blood draw at your doctor's office but you can get an idea by looking at your chart. I would probably not want to use my chart by itself to diagnose something like this. I think if you are concerned about this, it would be something to bring to your doctor but I do think charting is a valuable tool and if you have a good doctor they may be able to see the problem just by looking at your charts.

[Coley]

a blood draw is the best way to go.

For a natural cycle, they look for a progesterone level of at least 10.

For a medicated cycle, they look for a progesterone level of at least 15.

[bev26]

Wow, learned something new today!

[ShawnaCAN]

Originally Posted by Servilia

Interesting! Is there a way to measure progesterone other than at the doctor's office - or would you go by all those other signs - strong thermal shift, etc.

You can use your chart as a jumping off point for further investigation. If everything looks healthy - CM phase longer than 3 days, obvious thermal shift, LP at least 11 days long - then there's no reason to worry about testing progesterone. If your chart shows signs of low progesterone, then it's best to have it confirmed with a blood draw.

Since you're newly off BCP though, your reproductive system is going through a transition of healing. A short CM phase, lack of fertile CM, and short LP's are common during BCP recovery. If you see that reflected in your chart don't worry too much until your body has had at least 6 cycles to heal.