I am due to have a FET on Tuesday I have already had 1 frozen that sadly ended in chemical and 3 fresh rounds which did not result on anything other than a bfn. I have never had my progesterone checked and see on here some of you do. I am gong to ring my hospital and ask if this is possible when would you recommend having some of you have had yours checked on transfer day and after I really don’t know how often it would be worth checking and presume this is just through a blood test? This is one of my last shots and want to ensure lack of progesterone isn’t the reason it fails. I am on x1 Lubion 25g in the morning and 1 cyclogest pessary 400mg in evening. Your help would be much appreciated thanks ladies, baby dust to everyone and hope you are all keeping ok. Xx
I had mine checked around transfer day (can’t remember whether it was the day before or the day of), and it was found to be a bit low (20 something), so they gave me extra progesterone. Like you, I worry low progesterone is a factor for me as I seem to need a lot to get up to decent levels. For my next transfer I will be asking for a test prior to transfer and a retest a few days later to check the effects of increased meds, but with Lubion I imagine any change they make to kick in very quickly. With regards to testing after a BFP, I don’t know how often they need to test - hopefully someone else will know the answer to this (sadly I haven’t got to this stage).
You’ll probably need to pay for these tests, but personally I think it’s worth it. The level that is ‘good’ for transfer is highly debated by a consultant told me they like it to be about 50 ideally (although some clinics happy at 30). Good luck with this transfer x
Thanks for your reply, sorry to hear you haven’t got a BFP but wishing you so much luck for your next cycle. Yes my clinic don’t do this routinely as said there is little evidence as to what the correct limit should be. They are looking into it though for the future which doesn’t help me now though 😡 Covid doesn’t help as could have had it locally but due to urgent blood tests only due to shortage of particular item of blood vial is the nationally they can’t do it but would have normally. This ivf is bloody hard work hey! X
Hi, What unit of measure is the 50 that your consultant said was ideal please? eg ng/mL or nmol/L? I’m getting a blood test tomorrow but I know clinics use various different units for results so I’m not sure what a good result is depending what they tell me x
I don’t know what mine were quoting to be honest. It’s really frustrating that they all use different units. Sorry not to be more help and good luck for tomorrow x
I would ask for this on the day before transfer but if they are trying to limit hospital visits then on the morning of transfer and hopefully you'll get the results a couple of hours later. That way if its low you can get on the case and up your dose asap. I feel that progesterone is really important and Im sure it helped me get my BFP this time and keep it ( although we did the ERA which also helped). Good luck.xx
Thank you, I can’t have a test due to shortage of stock of something needed for the blood vial national shortage and to late to have it down at the hospital where I go for transfer (am satellite patient so have transfer 50 miles away and all other treatment locally) so I will have just have to hope all is ok, thoroughly stressed myself out over this and now feel really anxious about the whole thing, think I just feel anxious about the whole cycle tbh trying to relax but feel so edge think the increase in hormones levels as taking more Prognova tablets doesn’t help. 🤣🤣 felt like a right mess today. Xx
Aww bless you!! Coikd you even request yo do 2 pessaries and 1 lubion per day to err on side of caution?! The meds do turn us into crazy ladies!🤪🤯 Try not to worry too much and keep some calm in your life....plenty of time to stress in the 2ww!🤣🤣xxx
Hi, I have just decided to leave as is atm & trust all will be ok, first cycle using Lubion so will see if this helps. 🤞ha ha yes on 2ww now & trying to relax 🤦♀️😩 yeah right, google has gone into overdrive 🤣🤣hope u r doing ok xx
Hi Coral. Not so many checks are being done these day due to the Covid-19 scare. Won't hurt to speak to your clinic to see what they recommend. Good luck! Diane
Thanks Diane yes they can’t atm due to shortage of of some part of the vial that the blood goes in so urgent blood tests only. Oh well need to hope what I am taking is enough. 🤞💪
DianeArnoldPartnerNurseFertility Network UK in reply to
Just be careful if you are on pessaries as these are providing local progesterone to your uterus but it doesn’t show up as well on blood testing.
I tested my own progesterone with home test kit the day before transfer and it was 40 (slightly low, ideal over 50). But I was on 2xcrinone gel and one lubion a day. It was a tricky position as my clinic don’t do the test as they don’t feel it is reliable so I had no medical support to change my dose. In the end I stayed on what I was on as the pessaries probably meant I had higher levels in the womb.
I am now 18 weeks with my first success after 3 failures and off all progesterone.
Basically I would say to try and trust the doctors and make sure they support you if you are testing. Otherwise it ends in a lot of extra worry.
I think a lot of those having it tested are in America and a lot of them seem to be on PIO which isn’t used as much in UK, as far as I can tell.
Congratulations, thank for your response the clinic don’t do routinely and my local hospital would have done it but due to rationing of blood tests due to supply issues said they couldn’t as you say I will just need to trust they know what they are doing and what they have given me is enough. 🤞 and now try not to worry about it during my 2ww. X
Thanks so much to everyone for your responses, Unfortunately due to Covid and lack of a particular part of a blood test vial that has a shortage nationally they can only do very urgent blood tests. I did try the hospital where I am having the transfer (I have egg collection and transfer at this hospital as satellite patient) but as it took so long for them to call me back and they are 50 miles away they said it is not a routine thing they do ( which I know) and it is really too late to do now as unlikely the results would come back before my transfer. I feel really anxious now and need to stop worrying that my progesterone is low and that is why this round is not going to work. Never usually get like this but think not being able to have it done and my hormones being all over the place is making feel like this. Oh what a journey this Ivf game is. 😩🤦♀️😞🙄😂 is.
If you can, try not to worry too much (much easier said then done of course), you have done everything you can and that’s all you can do. You are on a decent amount of progesterone and that’s good. You could mention your concerns to your clinic (they should be happy to answer your concerns, that’s what they are there for!) and see what they say, but if they are confident you are on the right dose then again you’ve done everything you can.
There are so many things that can affect implantation so you’re right not to focus too much on this, especially in the current difficult COVID circumstances. I hope things get a bit easier for you - some of it will be the hormones, but IVF is hard, even without these! Try to be kind to yourself - you’ve done everything you can and some things are just out of your hands. Take care x
Thank you for your lovely message u r so right sometimes it just doesn’t work and I need to try and relax although as u say easier said than done!! U take care too xx
Hi, best of luck with your transfer. My transfer is on Friday afternoon and I’m going for blood test Friday morning. I’m on 2 Lubion a day and 2 cyclogest. Last time on transfer day my progesterone level was around 70.
I agree with others speak with your clinic, or to be honest if I were you I would try to find a clinic to check the level, only to put your mind at rest.
Although you can’t have testing now, are you able to up the dose of progesterone support you do have? Eg take more cyclogest pessaries? If your clinic thinks you should or can? I don’t want it to make you anxious but I strongly believe that getting progesterone right was key for me in my success. Please read my past posts on progesterone. However, sometimes there are other factors at play in this ivf game working or not working so you do need to trust in your clinic and your embryos. Seriously good luck for this go x
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Stressing about Progesterone level 
Progesterone level before FET
Progesterone levels following FET
Progesterone level after transfer 
