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Suggest Remedy For Low Progesterone Level
Question: I am concerned I dont produce enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy as my temps drop a week before my period starts instead of dropping dramatically just before
Brief Answer:
The only way to know is to get a progesterone level blood test.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The basal thermometer temperatures can be helpful sometimes but cannot be relied on. Instead, talk with your doctor about getting a progesterone level blood test on day 24 of your cycle. By day 24, I mean 24 days after the 1st day of your period. It would also be useful to get a day 2 FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level.
These blood tests are much more accurate than the basal temperature readings.
But you can't tell that you won't have enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy by any of these tests. Women who don't ovulate regularly (and therefore don't produce much progesterone) during their monthly cycle can, once they conceive, have ample progesterone to sustain their pregnancy. The opposite holds true also. There are women who ovulate and have a normal amount of progesterone during their monthly cycle who do not produce enough progesterone once pregnant. For those women, supplemental progesterone can help them during pregnancy.
So you can't make a prediction based on what is happening during your cycle.
If you are trying to get pregnant and it has been a year, it is time for your partner to be tested for sperm analysis. Nearly half the cases of infertility are due to male factors.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. And good luck to you!
The only way to know is to get a progesterone level blood test.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The basal thermometer temperatures can be helpful sometimes but cannot be relied on. Instead, talk with your doctor about getting a progesterone level blood test on day 24 of your cycle. By day 24, I mean 24 days after the 1st day of your period. It would also be useful to get a day 2 FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level.
These blood tests are much more accurate than the basal temperature readings.
But you can't tell that you won't have enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy by any of these tests. Women who don't ovulate regularly (and therefore don't produce much progesterone) during their monthly cycle can, once they conceive, have ample progesterone to sustain their pregnancy. The opposite holds true also. There are women who ovulate and have a normal amount of progesterone during their monthly cycle who do not produce enough progesterone once pregnant. For those women, supplemental progesterone can help them during pregnancy.
So you can't make a prediction based on what is happening during your cycle.
If you are trying to get pregnant and it has been a year, it is time for your partner to be tested for sperm analysis. Nearly half the cases of infertility are due to male factors.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. And good luck to you!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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