Blood work--am I overanalyzing?

[Anonymous]

I am a new patient at SG and had progesterone checked today, 8 dpo as the doc wanted to make sure that I ovaluated this cycle. Progesterone test results were 18.3 which the nurse said indicates that I did ovaluate--happy abut this news. It is likely that we will do an unmedicated IUI next cycle unless of course our efforts to ttc on our own this month were successful.

I have found the nurses to be very non definitive about things deferring to the doctor when I've asked question which is why her next comment really surprised me. It also seems that there must be protocol about what they can/can't say regarding your chances of getting pregnant. When we were discussing protocol for the coming cycle she said, "I'm hoping that this (the IUI) won't be necessary." When I asked her what she meant she said that many people start working with the doctor and then find themselves pregnant before starting treatment. Of course we would be thrilled if this happened but I am not getting my hopes up. For day three bloodwork, I know that they do a pregnancy test, do they do one for a progesterone test and if so is it even possible that it would show up positive on 8 dpo? Any chance that it showed up positive but she didn't want to say anything in case of a chemical pregnancy? Other thoughts on her comments or should I just put them out of my mind?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I don't think they did a pregnancy test, but a high progesterone level at 8dpo on a natural cycle indicates at a minimum, a strong ovulation, or perhaps an indication that you are pregnant.

[Anonymous]

PP here again. I really don't think doing an unmedicated IUI gives you any increase in success. I would consider a low stim cycle instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here again. I really don't think doing an unmedicated IUI gives you any increase in success. I would consider a low stim cycle instead.

I agree with this. Also, I feel like every time I start a cycle my RE tells me something indicating this will be the right treatment and he's sure it will be successful yet, I'm back the following month. So try not to think too much into the nurse being upbeat.

[Anonymous]

I don't think her response had anything to do with your progesterone level-it was just her commenting on your situation. Even a progesterone level in the 50s and above does not necessarily mean one is pregnant. It would be convenient if it did though Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I agree that it may just be optimism on the part of the nurse. I have one nurse who says about every single next step that "hopefully it won't be necessary," and others who never say anything like that. FWIW, the first time the nurse said it, I totally thought she was hiding something as well, but here's hoping she actually is in your case