PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for August, 1999: Re: am I ovulating ?

Re: am I ovulating ?

From: Marshella

anonymous@obgyn.net

Thu, 12 Aug 1999 12:13:34 -0500 (CDT)

It sounds like your doctor was taking your day 21 progesterone levels. I beleive that if they are "low" then it indicates you didn't ovulate. Ovulation should take place on our about day 14 of your cycle. After ovulation your progesterone levels will gradually fall until your period starts. If you are pregnant, they will stay high and not drop. I believe that if you ovulated but didn't conceive, the level will still fall but will be higher than if you didn't ovulate. Oh, I remember now, after ovulation a "corpus luteum" will form on the ovary where the egg was released, and it is designed to release progesterone to support a pregnancy if conception occurs. Therefore, if your progesterone levels are very low, then that indicates that you didn't ovulate and thus no corpus luteum was formed to release additional progesterone. This corpus luteum will continue releasing the progesterone until the baby's placenta has developed and then the placenta takes over the releasing of the progesterone. If your cycles are not consistently 28 days, however, your readings of day 21 progesterone can vary. So what you want to hear from the doctor is that your progesterone hormone levels are UP! :-)

Don't ever be afraid to ask just what the heck the doctor is testing your blood for. Even if they tell you progesterone and you have no idea what it is, you can go look for further information or you can ask the doctor "why" and what the results mean.

I have found the easiest, best way of determining when and if you ovulate is to purchase and over the counter home Leutenizing Hormone kit, or "ovulation predictor kit". These kits normally have 5 tests in them, and you follow the directions and start using them on or about day 11 or 12 if you have a 28 day cycle. As you get closer to ovulation, the indicator line on the test will darken, indicating more hormone is present. Then it will quickly fade away, showing that you've ovulated. While its possible you could have the LH detected and not ovulate, I think its unlikely. The LH is a hormone that your body releases to ripen the follicle on your ovary that contains the egg being readied to be released, and it causes the egg to rupture through the ovary, and thereby creating the corpus luteum. It is present in the body for only a few days before and after ovulation, getting more concentrated (higher levels) closest to ovulation. I have found these tests to be wonderful, easy to use, and much better than charting my temperatures every single day of my cycle! The indication is clearer that you've ovulated and in my opinion more reliable because so many other factors influence our "basal body temperature". However, the draw back is they are expensive, especially if you use them cycle after cycle. They cost here in Baltimore about $25 to $35. Good luck! I hope I've done a good job explaining this to you. :-)

-- Marshella (edd #1 2/10/00 after 5.5 yrs infertility)

At Thu, 12 Aug 1999, MICHELLE wrote: > >Hi there >I am really hoping someone can help, > >I have not been ovulating (bleeding)for 19 months. I was on Depo >Pro, before this, however after having Clomid 100mg, my levels >where still very low, and I had'nt ovulated. However on the 19th >July I had a period and my blood test result showed this to be a >period from ovulating.(I had this blood test 7 days before I had this >period). Then on the 9th Aug, I had another blood test just to >check it was happening again this month, I spoke to the Nurse >today who said my levels where higher than last week, although it >did look as if I have ovulated this month. Based on a 28 day cycle, >I should be due a period on Sunday 15th Aug, I have been trying to >get pregnant for a long time now (or what seems to be a long time), >and I am very anxious to understand if this higher level means there >could be a chance I have'nt ovulated, or does ovulation take place >with lower levels. I am not really sure what levels the Nurse was >meaning. Please can anyone shed any light on this matter. I >am not to sure if higher levels is a bad level to ovulate, or if a lower >level would be better. (Also I have just very slight craming, no sore >chest, and I dont really feel as if I am going to have a period, but I >don't know if this is just wishful thinking). > >Thankyou in advance for any advice. >Michelle.

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