QuestionHello doctor. I am 30 years old, no children and my LMP was Oct. 1st. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for a while now. I have noticed that my luteal phase is on the short side. 10-12 days. Last month it was only 8 days long. I called my doctor about this because I knew that I probably could not get pregnant with that short of a LP. She agreed and told me to call the office to get blood work done after I ovulated. She mentioned possibly putting me on progesterone supplements or Clomid but wanted to test my level first.
I got a positive OPK on 10/20 and 10/21. I called the office on 10/21 since it was right before the weekend, thinking I would set up an appointment for next week. The nurse told me to get my blood work done today, 10/22. I asked her if that was too soon because I was pretty sure I hadn't ovulated yet, but probably will this weekend. She said that my dr. had it in my chart to do a 21 day progesterone level test and yes, get my blood drawn on 10/22.
As of this morning, my temp did not go up. I got a neg. on the OPK today. So I am guessing that I ovulated today (I do not have a reg. 28 day cycle. Sometimes it is 28 days and sometimes it is 32 days). I had my blood drawn this morning. I won't know the results until Monday.
Do you think it was too soon to get my progesterone level checked? If there is a problem with it, would the blood work show that this soon? Also, if a woman with a normal 28 day cycle gets a CD 21 test done, then that would be a week after they ovulate. So, should I really get this test done later next week?
Thank you for any opinions and advice that you have. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.
AnswerThe time of the cycle that you get a progesterone level is not critical. If your progesterone levels are within normal limits, it will show no matter when in the cycle. If you have a short luteal phase, it can't hurt to start progesterone supplementation. I like progesterone suppositories, but some other practitioners like oral progesterone (Crinone or Prometrium). This should be taken continuously, every day until you become pregnant and until the 12th week of pregnancy. If you are ovulating, you do not need to take Clomid. If you are not ovulating, Clomid may help increase the probability of ovulation. Don't obscess as to when to take the progesterone level. Get a level and see what it is. You can always repeat it if it was at an inadequate time in your cycle.
