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Leeds fertility - wont test progesterone! Why?!

10 Replies

Hi Ladies, gearing up for my 4th transfer of frozen embryo’s and this is my last chance. My last fresh transfer in ended in MC just a few days after OTD. I started spotting at 8dp5dt and it carried on to full af . My previous two cycles resulted in early spotting too. After some of my own research I read low progesterone can cause early spotting and be an issue. I’ve mentioned this to ky clinic several times and they just wont test my progesterone. They said I had a sufficient amount in all my cycles and they dont measure progesterone as there is nothing to measure it by! Iv read on here that there is a certain level progesterone should be at, at the time of FET? My Clinic wont test! Has anyone had this? Really frustrated and dont know where to turn for answers.

Sorry for the whiney post!

Thanks x

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10 Replies
StressedIRIS profile image
StressedIRIS

Hello, you can try asking your GP to test it or get a self test at home or alternatively go have a private blood test if this would calm you a bit.The level varies a bit according to clinics. My clinic wants 100 nmol but i think 50 nmol would be considered ok? I had spotting at 50 nmol so i am not sure entirely but other women didnt

XOXO13 profile image
XOXO13

Hey,

Sorry your last cycle ended in miscarriage 💔

Do you take progesterone support for your transfers I.e pessaries? I’ve been on 800mg a day (400mg in AM and 400mg in PM). With my last transfer I wanted my levels tested but my doctor advised it isn’t necessary because I’m getting more than enough and the pessaries aren’t picked up in your blood stream so I wonder if that’s what your doctor meant when they say there’s nothing to measure it by?

I’m going into my third transfer and my doctor has agreed to test it this time as really, it’s just a quick test and it’s for my own peace of mind. I don’t know what figures it should be.. over 50 I think but someone else may be able to advise better than me on that.

If you’re spotting prior to each OTD then I would also come to the same conclusion you have and push for my levels to be tested. Are you private? Xx

Solly-44 profile image
Solly-44

Hi,

I’m really sorry for your loss. My clinic refused to test too - they said there isn’t enough evidence to know where the need for additional support lies. I also found it hugely frustrating because like you said, many women on here do have their levels tested, and many get additional progesterone based on that. I looked into getting it tested elsewhere and you can buy then my clinic said they wouldn’t change my treatment plan based on the results so I didn’t bother. I knew I’d be even more stressed knowing it was low if they’d refuse to do anything about it xx

Angels2us profile image
Angels2us

Hi , just wanted to say my Clinc doesn’t test so frustrating, so I got my test done at another Clinc, this time I was on 3xlubion, 3 x cyclogest because I think my progesterone was low before I got it tested day before and it was 70 , and 2 days after and it was 100 ,

But sadly , I had a negative again Monday on day 14 , so maybe this time it was another issue

Sending you love xxxx

Jam-master profile image
Jam-master

My clinic don’t test either. But as I am about to start my 3rd FET I said I was anxious as I started spotting the day before my OTD on one and the day after a positive on the other. Even though they don’t test they’ve increased my progesterone to pesseries and injections xx

L2213 profile image
L2213

Sorry to hear you are going through this it’s so frustrating. My clinic was the same but I pushed and pushed and eventually they did do a blood test the day before transfer on my 3rd round. My first fresh round I bled before otd (2 x cyclogest daily) then on the next FET they would only add in lubion every 3 days along with the cyclogest (still wasn’t enough) then 3rd FET I had lubion every day - I got pregnant but miscarried. It was only after this round they took me seriously and said it does seem you need a lot of progesterone! I’m now pregnant after another fresh round with lubion and 2 x cyclogest daily. I felt I had to push and push being told you are on enough but for some women the standard isn’t enough. Keep pushing for what you feel you need. The blood test was only £50 but put my mind at ease in the end I said it was affecting my anxiety and I just wanted it for piece of mind and was willing to pay and they did it. Good luck xxx

Thankyou @L2213 Jam-master Angels2us Solly-44 XOXO13 StressedIRIS for the replies

My head has been a mess these last 10 days. The clinic refuse to test i have pushed and pushed. This time im on prontogest, progesterone in oil injections. The clinic say these are enough

I just want to cry!

So frustrated..

i start prostap injection on cd1 which is tmro.. !

Praying this FET goes smoothly

Looking at a potential transfer first week of April

Rcs11 profile image
Rcs11

I am exactly the same as you- I’ve had 1 miscarriage (spotted a lot until diagnosed at 9 ish weeks, very weak heart beat at 7 weeks), 3 chemical pregnancies, 3 failed FET. In all three of my FET I’ve spotted, 2 from transfer day to period, 1 from 5 days post transfer.

I have a phone consult with my fertility consultant next week to ask 2 things- 1 I also want my progesterone testing, he doesn’t believe in this either, said I’ve been on ‘industrial amounts’ (lubion x2 a day on my 3rd FET- the one I started bleeding day 5, the other 2 were natural cycle no drugs). My nutritionist said she thinks my progesterone is low & said some people absorb progesterone differently, it may be for us we don’t absorb lubion well, but muscle injection or even progesterone cream is better for us (you can buy that- I’m considering if I get nowhere with consultant!). However, my consultant said in some cases they overkill with progesterone & it’s too much so??? Not sure where the balance is.

The second thing I’m asking is for prednisone, which some clinics are refusing at the mo due to pandemic, but I’m convinced that would help (for the record I’m a community midwife & used to book women all the time on prednisone from ivf preg so I really think it does help!)

Keep us posted. If my consultant says no to progesterone testing I will tell him I’ll ask my gp or a private clinic/medichecks because I know I know I know mine doesn’t work right! Every period every month I spot for 3-4 days before I bleed properly.

GOOD LUCK 😘😘

in reply to Rcs11

Sounds like iv been through such an ordeal! I wish there was some kind of set it stone formula for progesterone that worked well for everyone! There is so much mixed info out there its frustrating to not know how much or which kind is the best. I spot 3-4 days before every period and every month. I have asked about prednisone and my clinic just refuse. Fingers crossed for u !

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