Low progesterone day 21 but I saw an egg?

[Sylva123]

Hi, I hope this is the right place to post. We've been TTC for 2 years and are due to start IVF at the end of the year. Before we do I am having an endometrial cyst removed from my ovary.

I still keep thinking it might happen naturally. All of our tests have come back ok apart from my day 21 progesterone, which was incredibly low both times I got tested. I've read that this means I didn't ovulate, but during my scan the other week there was an egg in the ovary, ready to be released. What happened to the egg if I didn't ovulate? I am so confused!

[RockPig]

Hi Sylvia,

What you saw in the scan would have been a follicle rather than an egg. (Eggs are so tiny they can’t be picked up on a scan.) Not all follicles release an egg, sometimes they’re empty so maybe that’s what happened to you this time? Don’t worry about it though as it doesn’t mean the next one will be empty and I think the fact that you’re producing good sized follicles on your own without any meds is a good sign. It absolutely can happen naturally. To improve the chances of that it might be worth working on your egg quality (if you’re not already). Good luck XX

[Sylva123 in reply to RockPig]

Thank you SO much for your reply. I really appreciate it. That makes a lot of sense about the follicle, but what a shame it wasn't an egg! We've been TTC for two years and I've really hit a wall and have lost a lot of hope. Am starting to feel really low. How can I increase my egg quality? I'm really healthy - don't drink, don't smoke, eat a healthy gluten free & vegetarian diet, do yoga etc.

[RockPig in reply to Sylva123]

Don’t lose hope. There’s lots you can do to improve egg quality. A good place to start is the book, “it starts with the egg”, it’s full of really practical and well researched advice. I thought I had a really healthy diet before getting this book but still found it really helpful. It also includes lots of info about supplements. One other thought, you mentioned you’re vegetarian - are you sure you’re getting enough iron?

[Sylva123 in reply to RockPig]

Thanks, I'll look into the book. Did it help you? Did you see a difference before / after?

I've been vegetarian for 20 years and I've had lots of blood tests that indicate iron levels are ok. I went mad on the supplements last year when I realised there was a problem but I've reached the point now where it feels like a bigger problem than diet / acupuncture / reflexology can fix? I'm still taking a good multi vitamin and still doing the reflexology. I had a nutritionist help with my diet last year and still eat to her recommendations.

I get to the point of thinking I'm doing everything I can - no alcohol for 5 years, no cigarettes, eating a balanced diet with the protein and the flax seeds and all of that stuff, regular yoga, keeping fit but it's never enough. I gave up gluten a year ago because I have an endometrial cyst. The next thing that's suggested is giving up dairy. My brain is so full up trying to play by all the rules!

[RockPig in reply to Sylva123]

Oh I know exactly how you feel, it’s so difficult trying to be good all the time but I do think feel the book helped. I made several changes after reading it, mostly adding in supplements, more green leafy veg and lots of walking and ended up getting pregnant three months later for the first time in about 5 years of trying. I lost it at six weeks then exactly the same thing happened 2 months later. So, it hasn’t worked for me, but it nearly did! It sounds like you’re already doing a lot of the right things already but I thought I was too before I read it so I’d say it’s still worth a shot. Having said that, I’ve really fallen off the wagon over the last few months, so I need to pull my self together and get back to it!

[Sylva123 in reply to RockPig]

Thanks so much. I'll go on Amazon and order it now. It does help to try new things, even if it's just the feeling that we're trying our absolute best. I am so, so sorry to hear about your losses. How utterly devastating to have that happen twice. You're an inspiration for keeping at it. Is yours egg/progesterone related too?

[RockPig in reply to Sylva123]

Oops, just noticed I typed Sylvia above rather than Sylva, that’s predictive text! I don’t know, I’ve never had a proper diagnosis. I’ve moved on to DE now though so egg quality shouldn’t be an issue anymore.

On the CM thing, have you tried oil of evening primrose? I took 3000mg/day and it made a huge difference.

[Sylva123 in reply to RockPig]

Ok thanks I'll try that and don't worry about autocorrect, it's a weird name!

[Hidden]

Hi there,

Ah the 2 year mark is really tough....I'm sorry.

if you don't mind me asking how low was your progesterone? If you had a scan after you ovulated you would see the corpus luteum but otherwise you probably saw the follicle as Rockpig said. Temperarure charting will confirm when you have ovulated if you have a rise in temps in the second half of your cycle, that might be worth a shot but if you find yourself getting stressed it's not worth it!

Good luck!! XX

[Sylva123 in reply to Hidden]

Laura - progesterone was 7.9 this time, 10 last time, so it's definitely too low. Ive just come on my period, which means this month was an 8 day luteal phase if I did actually ovulate on day 15 like the test indicated, but I may have not ovulated. I did do temping and charting last year but stopped after a year because it was getting a bit much but I did have a pattern of increased temperature after ovulation, but always had short luteal phases and cycles of around 23-26 days. Its either a luteal phase defect or a lack of ovulation. Is charting the only way to know?

[RockPig in reply to Sylva123]

Hi Sylva, sorry to butt in but this sounds just like me. Do you monitor CM as well as temperature? I found this much more reliable.

[Sylva123 in reply to RockPig]

I've tried with the CM but have never quite got the hang of it! I'll try that this month and will try a bit more seriously this time. I couldn't get the hang of it so just sort of gave up! I must admit, the confusing CM did make me wonder if I wasn't ovulating because I never saw a pattern

[Hidden in reply to Sylva123]

Yes that is low, but if you had an increased temps in second half of cycle that's positive at least, but that does sound like too short a leutal phases...has your fertility specialist recommended anything like Clomid or progesterone support before you moved onto IVF? X

[Sylva123 in reply to Hidden]

We live in an area where the CCG has cut fertility treatment so we've just had all the investigative tests done and are now deciding between going private or moving to a different area. We do have an nhs consultant here but he was so awful in our first meeting and there's nothing he can offer us, so it's all a bit pointless. We have a follow up with him at the end of October but am thinking of getting a private consultation sooner. Clomid & progesterone support is what I'd like to know more about - if Clomid thins the lining is it the wrong choice for us because I guess the lining is already thin if I have low progesterone? Or do they give clomid & progesterone together?

[Hidden in reply to Sylva123]

I was first referred to the Gyne fertility clinic at my hospital and it was an excruciating couple of appointments with an infuriating Dr, and they didn't do treatment there. My OH and I then saw a private reproductive endocrinologist because we were so pissed off that our consultant ignoring him and his health,and told me I wasn't ovulating which I was... So we got a few tests done and he advised us to get re-referred to another clinic which we had the option to . When i got re referred somewhere else and it was much better... there is so much variation with consultants it's a minefield ! So my advice is persevere you will find someone who will help you, have hope!

If Clomid and Progesterone support are what you indeed need or just Clomid then that's not expensive a drug, aside from the consultant appointments fees it might be an avenue to explore before an expensive move, plus I've heard you have to be somewhere new for a while before starting treatment?

I mean I don't recommend Clomid, but it was completely the wrong drug for me and many women on here have had success with it.

I think a scan in towards the end of your cycle would confirm if you have thin lining , do you have light periods? I don't know if low progesterone automatically means thin lining I've not got experience with this... I think it just means you shed your lining sooner but I'm not expert on that ....

Also another thought your thyroid is okay right?

X

[Sylva123 in reply to Hidden]

Gosh I have no idea about the thyroid. My periods last 6 days. Day one & two are crazy, crazy heavy and painful then the other 3 days are barely anything at all. Like less than a tea spoon.

I think you're right - we should try a private consultant before we move house. I was thinking if we move house right now we'd have 4 months til we were due to start IVF so hopefully that would be enough time to satisfy the CCG. I wish there were a helpline to call to help with all those questions about the rules etc when you move house. I'm SO grateful for finding this forum.

Your experience with your doc sounds so much like mine. I'm glad you found a good consultant in the end. What a minefield indeed!

Is there a specific thyroid test?

[Hidden in reply to Sylva123]

It's just a basic TSH thyroid test the gp should do - it think it needs to be under 2 to be good for fertility but search through this forum for posts on thyroid.

If you have a heavy period for a couple of days then it doesn't sound like you have thin lining but I'm not an expert at all!

You could try phoning the CCG up for those kinds of criteria question like number of months living in a new area, but you have to chase them a bit!

So you have been given a start date for IVF in your area that you would pay for ? Or have you booked into a new area you want to move to?

Good luck !! X