DAY 21 Bloods - confused

[Ojt]

Hi,

We have been trying to conceive for over 12 months now (we're only young 24) - I went to see my GP and he recommended blood tests.

I spoke to my GP following this and he told me I have good levels but I was not ovulating? He said all my hormones were completely normal and he sounded concerned about this.

As it stands he has told me to do another blood test next month to tick the box to then be passed to the fertility specialist.

I am really confused about what this could be? It seems odd that I can have "good" levels but not ovulate?

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks

 

[Blueflower]

Apparently 30 is the threshold for ovulation, maybe you were just under at the time of testing? Mine was just under 30 but I was told that it was probably just on the way down again after ovulating before day 14. Maybe some months the levels aren't quite enough, but you have time. Have you tried using OPKs?

 

[Ojt]

Yes used cbfm in the past and it says I have ovulated - what I don't understand is if the doctor has said all my levels were "normal" to ovulate but I just haven't ovulated what it could be??

 

[Londongirl]

So in order to ovulate there's quite a complicated series of events triggered in turn by multiple different hormones. I forget which ones need to be released in which order, but basically it's possible for your body to release some but not quite enough or not to release the final one and the egg can kind of get a bit stuck and not pop out. Or it can be left too long before it pops out so that it's not good enoigh quality to be fertilised.

That's my understanding anyway - I am not a doctor though so worth asking your doctor to explain more what he/she thinks is happening in your particular case.

Good luck xx

 

[Blueflower]

So in order to ovulate there's quite a complicated series of events triggered in turn by multiple different hormones. I forget which ones need to be released in which order, but basically it's possible for your body to release some but not quite enough or not to release the final one and the egg can kind of get a bit stuck and not pop out. Or it can be left too long before it pops out so that it's not good enoigh quality to be fertilised.

That's my understanding anyway - I am not a doctor though so worth asking your doctor to explain more what he/she thinks is happening in your particular case.

Good luck xx

That's helpful! Think that could be my problem. Probably starting Clomid in September too, just to make sure I do ovulate properly and give us more of a chance!
Good luck with yours!

 

[Londongirl]

So in order to ovulate there's quite a complicated series of events triggered in turn by multiple different hormones. I forget which ones need to be released in which order, but basically it's possible for your body to release some but not quite enough or not to release the final one and the egg can kind of get a bit stuck and not pop out. Or it can be left too long before it pops out so that it's not good enoigh quality to be fertilised.

That's my understanding anyway - I am not a doctor though so worth asking your doctor to explain more what he/she thinks is happening in your particular case.

Good luck xx

That's helpful! Think that could be my problem. Probably starting Clomid in September too, just to make sure I do ovulate properly and give us more of a chance!
Good luck with yours!

Thanks hon! I think there's quite a few of us just starting clomid or starting it soon so will be nice to have some buddies

 

[Blueflower]

It would be so good if that's all we need to get pregnant!

 

[Ojt]

Hi guys thanks ever so much for your replies, this is all sooo confusing....

I went back to the doctors to talk properly as i sort of just froze on the phone when he told me so went with questions that i thought would help me...

So i found out, 2 hormones were fine but my progesterone was 'LOW', 'VERY LOW'. Now at the time I didnt think to ask, but my cycles are usually 28-29days, very occasionally 30days, if i tested on day 21 would my levels of progesterone be that low if it was say a 29day cycle for that month?????

My thinking is that if it was just 1 day early it shouldn't surely make that much difference with levels? Or is that completely wrong??

 

[Londongirl]

I think progesterone is the key hormone that should be present if you ovulated. So if it was very low you probably didn't that cycle.

Having one cycle where you didn't ovulate doesn't necessarily indicate a problem - it could just be a one-off. So I guess they'd want to repeat the test next cycle to check.

What has your doctor suggested to do next?

 

[Londongirl]

Ps I don't think one day would make that much difference

 

[Ojt]

I think progesterone is the key hormone that should be present if you ovulated. So if it was very low you probably didn't that cycle.

Having one cycle where you didn't ovulate doesn't necessarily indicate a problem - it could just be a one-off. So I guess they'd want to repeat the test next cycle to check.

What has your doctor suggested to do next?

Well just to repeat the test again & either way i'll be referred to the fertility clinic, which is annoying coz why can't they just refer me now & do the other blood test anyways while im waiting as i dnt think the fertility clinic is that fast.....

And that was my thought process even if its a 30day (which its looking likely to be) then surely they would be maybe a little low, or border line?? but i didnt ask that at the time as thats not something i thought about untill i got home, which is always the way....

 

[Jacq23]

Just popping in to say Clomid does work! Ok, so it took me 9 rounds of the stuff and only eventually worked when combined with Metformin (used for people with PCOS). Girls, just be sure to do your research before seeing docs and consultants, because if I hadn't asked my doc for both of the drugs together, then I wouldn't be pregnant now.

Good luck xx

 

[Londongirl]

Just popping in to say Clomid does work! Ok, so it took me 9 rounds of the stuff and only eventually worked when combined with Metformin (used for people with PCOS). Girls, just be sure to do your research before seeing docs and consultants, because if I hadn't asked my doc for both of the drugs together, then I wouldn't be pregnant now.

Good luck xx

That's interesting as the doctor who prescribed it to me said she'd only put me on it for a max of 6 months and didn't mention metformin. She said if the clomid doesn't work they'd try injections next. I find it amazing and quite ridiculous how many differences there are in the treatment and advice we all get from different doctors.

I am probably going to be changing hospitals (to one that doesn't charge for the tracking scans) so it will be interesting to see if they say the same thing or not.

 

[Jacq23]

I was only supposed to be on it 6 months, then we had the IVF, then I went back to the doc and said I just need to feel i am doing something, so he prescribe me 3 more months but there was a mix up at the chemist and I ended up with 6 months!

 

[Blueflower]

Just popping in to say Clomid does work! Ok, so it took me 9 rounds of the stuff and only eventually worked when combined with Metformin (used for people with PCOS). Girls, just be sure to do your research before seeing docs and consultants, because if I hadn't asked my doc for both of the drugs together, then I wouldn't be pregnant now.

Good luck xx

Interesting. Do you have PCOS then? It is so ridiculous how they all say different things! As my 21 day progesterone was borderline, 3 different doctors said different things about whether I was ovulating or not!

 

[Jacq23]

Yes I have PCOS, it didn't cause any problems with DS as he was conceived after 2 months but this one was a whole different story!

 

[Blueflower]

I know so many people who had no trouble with the 1st one but waited years for the next, or had loads of problems conceiving again, even thinking they might end up with only one child. Its a shame.