Just about to TTC - Dr has ordered hormone blood tests - advice appreciated

[KerryGold]

Hi ladies,

I hope you don't mind me popping in here as I'm looking for some advice and I don't want to offend anybody.

I'm 32 and DH is 35. We're just about to start TTC. My cycles have never been exactly regular but did fall into a 30+/-2 zone. However, in July my cycle went 34 days and then last month 38 days. The weird thing is that even in the cycles that were longer I have EWCM at a normal kind of time (and therefore have had apparent luteal phases of 20+ days). I went to the Drs today just to see whether I should be concerned. I ended up seeing a newly qualified guy and he had to speak to his supervisor. She advised (due to my age I guess) that I should have a bunch of blood tests done to see whether I am ovulating and what's going on.

So I'm having FSH, and progesterone plus some others (including prolactin I think), but the Dr has booked me in for them all on CD19. I think they are most interested in the progesterone levels, but I'm wondering whether I should be having some of them at the start of my cycle? What will they do if I'm not ovulating? I'm already on CD10 so CD19 will be here before CD3. I'm just a bit

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer!
xXx

 

[JaniceT]

I had very similar cycle days as you do, sometimes a little longer or shorter. I always ovulated every month. However, my FS still took bloods for hormone levels to check if I had pcos or if all hormones were as it should be. It was when I found out I had pcos. You may not have it. Taking bloods is a standard procedure.

 

[foxyloxy28]

For your proegesterone level, you need to have your blood taken at 7dpo. I would say CD19 is going to be too early to get a decent progesterone level.

Have you used OPK's or BBT charting to get a more accurate idea of when you most likely ovulate? I'd suggest trying OPKs this cycle just to see if you get a +ve to count 7 days from.


FSH, prolactin etc is usually tested between CD2-5.

 

[KerryGold]

Thanks Foxy - that's not very helpful (of the doctor) is it?

I did OPKs last month but did not get a +ve. I had lines get darker in line with EWCM and then fade out again as CM dried up. I guestimated ov at around CD15 based on this but then my cycle went 38 days.

I've started on the OPKs again - waiting to see if anything more obvious happens this month. My CD21 will be a Sunday - do you think it would be better to have the bloods pushed back until the week after?

WRT the others, I figure I can ask when I go at approx day 21 as the whether it would be better to wait until next cycle for them?

Silly n00b doctor!

 

[foxyloxy28]

I never get a +ve opk either, but I record the darkest I get (which are never very dark) and this is usually followed by a temp rise to cofirm I ov'd a day or 2 later. If I were you, I'd make a note of the darkest OPK and your cm and assume you ov 24-36 hours later. I'd then count + 7 days from that. At a guess, I'd say you're looking around CD24.

If your results come back to suggest you haven't ovulated or low, I'd ask to try again on the next cycle.

Best of luck