hormone levels

paper cut

My husband and i have been ttc for the last 7 months, we have been using the clear blue fertility monitor and no luck so far. we're both in our mid 30s so ddont really want to delay. I want to go to the doctor next month. We're presuming we can conceive as last year i got pregnant while i was on the pill but it ended in a mis carriage. what i am wondering is if i go to the doctor to see are my hormone levels normal am i best going in the first 2 weeks of my cycle or the last 2 weeks, typically i have a cycle of about 28 - 34 days.

DetectivFoxtrot

The first step is they take bloods. For a normal cycle like yours you'll probably ahve to get Day 21, Day 28 and Day 2/3, as there are different hormones at play at different times in your cycle. When the results come back your doc will take it from there.

good luck

Neyite

hi papercut,

when i went in, i did it on day 2 of my cycle, they will draw blood, and then you go back on day 21 of your cycle for the same blood draw.

my GP also has a gynae on duty so it was her that i saw. she is really on the ball which is great, as im also in my thirties. in my case, i had a small elevation in a hormone on the first blood test, and through the roof on the second, so she did a third (said it didnt matter which day of my cycle) which was still over double the normal range, so she has referred me to the gynae specialist, due to my age, and this is all in the space of six weeks. im going to go private with the specialist to speed it up.

good luck and baby dust to you:)

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies, im on day 25 of this cycle and just feel normal so presuming my period is on the way, normal as in im getting my usual cravings week before period and dont feel any different . Should i go to doctor when period starts or is going on say 28 waste of time.... really dont know much at all in this regard

Neyite

go on day two of your cycle

they are not going to give you an internal or anything at that stage, just draw some bloods, and ask a few questions. then you go back on day 21, and possibly day 28 - as another poster has suggested, - they didnt with me.

Queen of Sheebs

I've just completed the blood tests during my last cycle. I had a blood test taken on day 12 of my cycle and was told to come back for another test between day 24 and 27 to check hormone level to see if an egg had been released. I have a 32 day cycle. I should have said had, my cycle has been messed up since we started trying for a baby, ranging from 28 to 35 days. The 2 years previous, my cycle was between 32 and 33 days!
I would advise you to just ring your doctor and ask over the phone when she/he thinks you should call in for a test.
Best of luck

Skadi

My periods are irregular and I found the best way for the 21 day check was to work out when I had ovulated and go seven days after that. The month I did the test I didn't ovulate til day 22 so if I had of gone on day 21 it would have shown nothing but as I went instead on day 28 it showed that my hormone levels were high and I had ovulated.

If you are taking your BBT then you can go after seven days of high temperatures.

paper cut

Thanks for that, im on day 27 now so will give her a buzz now to see what she thinks. Just out of curiousity did the doc say any reaon why your cycle might have changed?? is it stress so you think although doesnt then make sense why it would be shorter.

Skadi

My periods have never been regular. Had a stillbirth some months ago and was surprised that my periods after seemed to be rather regular. Not this month though, didn't ovulate till day 37. Going to see the gynae in a few weeks so hopefully she might have more answers for me or at least tell me what the next steps to take are. I'm lucky that as well as dealing in maternity - her speciality is period problems.

My GP and others keep saying - you got pregnant once you'll get pregnant again. That is not much comfort as it took over 10 years of trying to get pregnant. But at least the gynae is taking it seriously and I am trying to remember everything I did last year before I got pregnant and started having periods every 1 to 2 months.

paper cut

God you poor thing , really sorry to hear that , it must have been awful for you. I hope things work out for you soon.

Queen of Sheebs

Just go off the phone from my GP and she told me that my progesterone level was a little on the low side. However she wants to redo my test again this month for another reading 7 days after ovulation. The last test I had taken looking back on my period tracker was 12 days after ovulation. I'm using the ovulation tests this month to definately get the 7 DPO ( I think I'm right....days past ovlation, sorry just getting used to all the terms) test. She said if it's still on the low side that she'd start me on clomid. Really pleased that my doctor is so proactive and understanding. We've only been TTC for 4 months but as I'm in my early 30's and husband is mid 30's I don't want to waste time when there's no need.

paper cut

yea your right why wait, we're they same. I actually rang my doc the other day and she told me to go in on day 3 of my cycle which is tomorrow to get bloods done. then to come back 7 days after ovulation. is having low progesterone a big deal os common enough, i have heard of people taking that clomid just wasnt sure what it was used for. how long did you have to wait for results from bloods?

paper cut

also how do you know exactly when you have ovulated? she told me to come in 7 days after ovulation b but how will i know? cycle varies between 30 - 33 days roughly

Queen of Sheebs

I had to wait over a week for results. I got some of them after 3 working days but it took 7 working days to get the progesterone level.
Not sure about the 7 DPO now that you mention it. Maybe someone else will be able to clarify. I had 2 positive ovulation tests last month and I assumed that I would just ring and make an appointment for 7 days later once I got a positive ovulatioin test this month, but thinking about it now......do those test just mean that I'm in my fertile window and therefore I should leave it and make the appointment for 7 days after I get a negative ovulation test after my 2 positive ones? Sorry hope that makes sense!

Queen of Sheebs

My doctor told me the following about calculating for fertile period and blood test....
I had a 31 to 34 day cycle. Then subtract 14 days from each and you get fertile period from day 17 to 20 of your period. She said to "be active" from day 15 to 22. She then said to come back for blood test between day 24 and 27.
I had a 28 day cycle last month and I had positive ovulation tests on day 14 and 15. As I said earlier my cycle keeps changing. Have to talk to my doctor in person when I get my next blood test. It's hard to try and discuss it over the phone when you're in work!!