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FSH & Progesterone Tests - I need some info please.......

19 replies

looneytune · 19/09/2007 15:10

I had several tests done on day 8 of my cycle which included test for FSH levels. Dr said this should be done between day ? and day 7 although as it was day 8 the day I saw her, she said it should be ok. That test result was 4.2 which I know is fine but someone recently told me that hormone levels drop later in cycle so if it was done on say day 3, the levels could have been much higher. Anyone know how important this date is? Shall I leave it or question Dr?

Also, progesterone test was done on day 23. Should be day 21 (based on 28 day cycle) but coz my last cycle was 32 days (and this one only 2nd since coming off the pill so don't know what natural cycles are yet), test was done on day 23 instead. And guess what, AF turned up on day 26 so if anything, I THINK I should have had it earlier than day 21, NOT later.

Any thoughts/advice etc??

TIA

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sweetbean · 19/09/2007 15:21

Hope someone comes along soon to help you looneytune xx

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 15:25

Cheers mate Got Dr phoning me back and would be good to have the right info

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 15:35

Anyone?

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 17:24

oh well

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Chocolatedays · 19/09/2007 18:00

Do you know what your progesterone level was?

Is it is over 30 then the timing was nott great but I think it will indicate you had a gigher level on the correct day. If is was under 30 this would have indicated a problem ... and needs re testing on the correct day.

My understanding is FSH & LH needs to be done day 2 or 3 ... so not sure this result is valid either.

Not sure if this helps????

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 18:32

That's GREAT, thanks

Still waiting for the Dr to call (she did try but I was on the phone) but it's great to have some info up front

Not sure the result of my prog test, just that it was 'ok'

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Chocolatedays · 19/09/2007 18:38

Good luck
Please excuse my poor typing - I have to ve detailed at work so can't be a**d on here!!!!

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Chocolatedays · 19/09/2007 18:39

ve = be

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 18:43

don't worry, i'm just glad to have some sense out of these tests. It's the FSH I'm more concerned is right as I have POF in my family and that's why Dr straight away said she'd test me for everything. Don't think she's calling me tonight, probably p'd off I was on the phone earlier

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Chocolatedays · 19/09/2007 18:51

In IVF you use FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the first half of the cycle... so if anything I would expect your FSH result to be higher than day 2/3.. so from my non-expert pov 4.2 sounds low and it is high FSH they are concerned about with prem menopoause etc.
However FSH needs to be looked at with LH results too. Were you tested for this??

I'm surprised Atillathemeerkat hasn't popped in - she's the one to give you the more expert info. Maybe she is on holiday?

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 18:56

Oh...I was told the other day that FSH lowers as the cycle goes on and that if I didn't test on the right day, it could have been higher and then low now iyswim i.e. I need to know if it was high around day 3????

As for LH, I'm not sure what I was tested for? Dr told me all the stuff and it went over my head so I planned to chat to her about it all when she calls. I just know that on day 8 the tests included FSH and that on Day 23, it incl the prog test - is this the same as LH?

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whomovedmychocolate · 19/09/2007 19:04

Nope. Luteinising hormone is the surge you get just prior to ovulation - it's a specific hormone.

The problem is with these tests is that what is normal for you may not be within the specified normal range for the docs. I was told I had a subnormal FSH, LH and progesterone reading and that there was no way I was ovulating. Then had a laporoscopy and guess what - a corpus luteum (egg sac) showed up.

Here are some links FSH tests explained

Luteinising hormone test

Progesterone tests

NB the latter site has some good info generally.

HTH

BTW all these tests are unrealiable as you can't measure nature! I have an 11 month old DD to prove this! Good luck!

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 19:58

Oh, I was told that the first test would test me if I'd reached menopause now but couldn't predict if I was near it and that a few months later it could just happen. The other test I didn't think was linked but she was doing it anyway. Only had the 2 tests, nothing around ovulation so nothing to do with LH although I'm am using persona and last month I got no egg but hoping this month I will.

Thanks so much for the links, will have a look at those

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looneytune · 19/09/2007 19:59

Meant to say well done on 11 month old, hopefully I'll be fine too, I never though at 31 I would be handed a leaflet called dealing with menopause!

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whomovedmychocolate · 20/09/2007 09:12

Glad to be of help. Honestly whatever these tests say, it's not necessarily bad news - I used acupuncture and got pregnant on day nine of my cycle - which was obviously not a date they'd been testing at all

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/09/2007 09:17

Have only just seen this message.

This is a good website re hormone levels:-
www.fertilityplus.com/faq/hormonelevels.html

I used to ahve day 3 and day 10 tests done for both LH and FSH so to test FSH on day 8 is okay I think. However, if they are testing FSH they should be looking at LH levels as well to compare.

Day 23 for progesterone is okay; it won't make much if any difference to the overall result.

If your cycles continue to go along as they have (i.e day 32 then day 26) you are wise to be seeking hormonal analysis now.

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looneytune · 20/09/2007 10:32

Thanks ladies

I've phoned again this morning and waiting for the Dr to phone back. I will be asking why I haven't have a LH test (presuming I've not as day 8 and 23 wouldn't be the right time would they?!)

So, although I know I shouldn't worry too much about the tests, are my cycle lengths a problem then? I thought it was down to having just come off the pill and these being my only cycles so far? (both AF's only last a couple of days)

I went on the pill when I was 16 and have had 28 day cycles, with AF's lasting about 5/6 days. Only break was when I came off the pill before ds. Fell pg first month then MC'd, tried again 3 months later and fell pg again straight away and now have ds (4 and a half). I'm hoping these cycles are just funny because my body needs to settle after being on the pill so long??? (I'm 31 now so been on it almost half my life)???

Anyway, thanks for all the advise, hopefully the Dr calls me at a good time (i.e. at home rather than on my mobile whilst I'm at toddler group with baby mindee!)

On another note.....off to see my fab tarot reader tonight (she's always spot on) and will see if she says anything about me ttc and what the future holds

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looneytune · 20/09/2007 10:36

Actually, meant to ask........I'm using a persona monitor to see if it picks up ovulation. I started last month and admittedly missed one of the days I should have tested but I carried on when it asked me to test the rest of the time. On day 13 I had a 2nd line on the test stick but it wasn't as dark as the other line (which I believe it should be at some point) and after that test, the monitor never asked me to do any more tests so I presumed I'd reached my peak yet I didn't get the egg symbol I believe I should have got. The other odd thing is that I had a tiny bit of EWCM on day 9 and then nothing since. So...maybe I didn't ovulate last month???? I never knew about EWCM until I came to this section a couple of months ago, I believe this is one of the most important things to watch out for???

Gosh, I'm babbling on now....just after all the info I can get really as I like to know EVERYTHING

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whomovedmychocolate · 20/09/2007 20:48

Looney - I have no idea but doesn't the persona system have a helpline on the packet? I have called Boots helplines before and they are v good. Might be worth a try?

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