Another progesterone post « Hellobee Boards

Another progesterone post

By Ash Feb 28, 2013

I've been seeing a lot of progesterone posts floating around here the past few days so it's got my brain thinking...

I know that since our miscarriage in September that my body has been kind of crazy.... my normal 28 day cycles have turned into 31-36 days... I O around cd20... So I looked up low progesterone symptoms and related to quite a few of them (low sex drive, cold hands and feet, fatigue, headaches). I've been feeling a lot better/different this month. I don't know if my body is finally getting back into whack or what... I'm just worried low pro could be causing my uterus to be less baby friendly.

So my question for everyone is.... how do I go about getting tested for low progesterone? I'm guessing if I call and ask for it, I'll be told no. Anything I can do on my own? Any tips on what to say if I do call to get tested?

Thanks!

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31 comments

blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Feb 28, 2013

For me, they tested me on day 21 of my cycle to see where my progesterone levels were. Mine were like 9 or 11...and my doctor likes to see them at 15. So she put me on supplements.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@blackbird: did you just ask to be tested? We've only been trying since November so I don't know how they'll feel about me bringing it up. I'd also have to explain not to test on cd21 if I don't O until cd20ish.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

anyone else have a suggestion?
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@Ash: I haven't asked for this, but I would call and ask for a progesterone test. Are you charting? That's often good data for these types of concerns.
Pepper
pomelo / 5820 posts

Feb 28, 2013

I asked to be tested because my cycles were so odd. I was spotting for awhile before and after AF, and my temps were kind of all over the place. They tested me, and said my levels were fine. I continued to have problems for almost a year after my test, and I got a new OB who decided that I probably had a luteal phase defect. That's how I was put on Progesterone.
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Feb 28, 2013

And a note of encouragement: don't worry about what your doctor might say. (I worry about this, too, so I'm also pep-talking myself here!) I don't know why, but I worried they'll turn me away and tell me to try longer, or view me as a high-maintenance person/worrywart/etc. I realized that I'm sitting in my house, pouring over "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," yet I'm afraid to reach out to a doctor b/c I'm worried how they will perceive me. So not taking charge! A few threads here on HB about when people decided to see a specialist have solidified our decision to go to a RE if this cycle is not the one for us.
ladybee
grapefruit / 4079 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@ash: I wasn't tested till our next BFP however I was concerned about it after our mc. I asked at my annual and was told they didn't think it was an issue and they dropped.
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Feb 28, 2013

no, my doctor brought it up. I was getting ambiguous tests on my OPKS.
JessiBee
kiwi / 733 posts

Feb 28, 2013

I agree: showing your chart and knowing your cycle/body is the way to go. I got tested after only a couple of months of TTC, because my cycles were SO short (about 22 days), so they were willing to look into why. I was put on a progesterone supplement shortly thereafter. BFP a few cycles after that. Baby arrived 20 days ago!

If you don't ask, they can't help you!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@Happygal: I don't chart. But your response is how I am feeling 100%! Thank you!!

@JessiBee: I'm just not sure if timing is off but I know my body and I know it isn't back to normal. I don't want to wait a year for something as simple as progesterone. P.S. Congrats!! :))
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@ladybee: exactly what I'm afraid of.
ladybee
grapefruit / 4079 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@ash: I think you should say that with your history of mc, you'd like to have your progesterone checked. I think it's a reasonable request! I know it's not awkward easy. Like @happygal, I'm always afraid of looking like I'm high strung or crazy even. Once we decided to move to an RE I decided I had nothing to lose. Maybe mc and 9 months of trying made me crazy or less worried about it but I didn't care anymore.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

I called and the receptionist wanted to know what I was calling about. So I told her I wanted a progesterone test done and she said "um, a test?" Oh boy. I explained to her my reasoning so the nurse is going to be calling me back. Thanks for the support everyone!!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

The nurse was super nice! My midwife is out of the office until next Thursday so she got some info from me and will talk to her when she gets back. She seemed positive. Fingers crossed.
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@Ash: that's great news. Keep us updated.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Feb 28, 2013

@Happygal: will do! Thanks again for the motivation!
Mrs. J
pomelo / 5132 posts

Mar 2, 2013

@Ash: fingers crossed for good news/answers!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Mrs. J: Thanks!
MrsH
honeydew / 7667 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Ash: hopefully they will test you based on your odd cycles. Keep us updated!
Shutterbug
grapefruit / 4703 posts

Mar 3, 2013

Other big signs of a progesterone deficiency are temps dropping prematurely (like, 8-9 DPO) or a short luteal phase (less than 10 days). So temping would probably tell you if you had an issue. Although it seems like you're going to be able to get tested, so that's good! Make sure they do it 7 DPO, not CD 21, since for you that would be 1 DPO. Good luck!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Shutterbug: Thanks! I'm hoping to o within the next couple of days so I'll be able to give them a dpo when they call Thursday. I was having a short luteal phase but started taking bcomplex and it lengthened it by a couple days. Temping would probably give me a lot of answers but I just can't get myself to do it yet.

@MrsH: Thanks lady! I hope so. If they don't test, I hope I get a bfp... Then I'll still happier!
Mrs. J
pomelo / 5132 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Ash: Have you tried taking Vitex? I took that with b-6 and b-12 in addition to my usual prenatals, and that worked for us this time!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Mrs. J: if this isn't our month, I'll give it a try!
Mrs. J
pomelo / 5132 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Ash: Fingers crossed and prayers that it is, and you don't have to worry about an arsenal of vitamins!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Mrs. J: Thanks so much! Cheri22 says march is a month of significance so I have my fingers crossed too!
Mrs. J
pomelo / 5132 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Ash: Ooooh! That's exciting!! From what I've read around here, she seems to be pretty accurate?
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 3, 2013

@Mrs. J: that's what I've seen too. But march could be birth month or conceive/bfp month. Hoping for the latter!
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 22, 2013

It looks like I forgot to update this thread! I got the call from the nurse and she said my midwife wasn't willing to check my levels... *wah-wah* buuuuuut I got a BFP on Monday! So I went in to the office to confirm today and hoped she would check it this time... still no luck!
Any idea who I can get to check my progesterone? Now I'd hate to miscarry again over something so easy to fix.
Mrs.Someone
pomelo / 5228 posts

Mar 22, 2013

@Ash: I'd suggest a naturopath, or insisting to your midwife, telling her that you're worried about it. When I got my BFP my doc wasn't willing to check it even though the pee test at their office was negative. I talked her into it for the second beta, but I m/c'd before that. She said she wasn't willing to do anything about it regardless of the results. (Switched doctors!)

You could also try this place: http://www.anylabtestnow.com/, though you'd still have to find someone willing to give you a prescription if you need one.
Ash
honeydew / 7909 posts

Mar 22, 2013

@Mrs.Someone: She wouldn't check my betas either. She did offer me an early u/s though. I left feeling pretty good but my mom had a chiropractor appt today and her chiro suggested I get my progesterone checked... yet have nobody to check it.

How does that website work??
Mrs.Someone
pomelo / 5228 posts

Mar 22, 2013

@Ash: Sorry, but that sounds neglectful considering your past m/c I'm sure everything is fine, but I imagine you'd like some peace of mind! The website I posted is a group of private labs that you can walk into and get blood tests from, no insurance I think. Maybe call around a few OBs and explain your situation and see if they are willing to help? Worst case scenario is they say no, and then you never see/talk to them again. Or maybe call the chiro and see if he/she has a recommendation?

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