In a day cycle, we would measure on day In our experience, progesterone level interpretation is one of the most misunderstood fertility evaluations, by patients and doctors alike. In truth, there is a lot of variation in progesterone levels over the course of 90 minutes.
A low progesterone level could mean that the level was drawn close to ovulation or close to menses rather than at the peak in the mid-luteal phase. Additionally, a low progesterone level could simply mean that the blood was drawn at a time when the level briefly fluctuated down. Beyond that, the length of the luteal phase is more informative about adequacy of progesterone production than the absolute progesterone level.
Around the time of ovulation, estrogen levels rise and cause more water to be secreted into the cervical mucus. The mucus can become thinner, or stretch more when held between the fingers. Women can check their own cervical mucus to see if it becomes thinner.
Some women can reliably predict ovulation this way, and for them, it correlates to ovulation predictor kits and basal body temperature charting. However, studies have shown that cervical mucus testing is less accurate than urinary ovulation predictor kit testing, because some women perceive a change in mucus even when ovulation does not occur. Nevertheless, there is little harm in checking for cervical mucus changes.
We recommend that cervical mucus testing not be the only method used to determine ovulation. These have been shown to be unreliable and we do not recommend them.
Salivary ferning microscope tests will sometimes even show that men and post-menopausal women are ovulating. Clearly, these results cannot be interpreted with any confidence. Ovulation Testing What is ovulation testing? Types of ovulation testing Tests of ovulatory function include basal body temperature charting, ovulation predictor kits and timed serum progesterone levels. Basal body temperature charting technique Obtain a BBT thermometer, available at your drug store.
Place the thermometer at your bedside. The day after your menses begin, start recording your temperature. Each morning, upon waking and before rising or any morning activity, and before drinking anything, take your temperature.
Record the temperature on a BBT graph. Keep recording on a daily basis until your next menses begins. The temperature should remain elevated for at least 11 days. You can use a regular digital thermometer or buy a basal thermometer. A basal thermometer shows you the temperature in tenths of a degree. This allows you to note tiny changes in body heat. This thermometer is faster and more exact than a regular thermometer.
Use a simple Fahrenheit temperature chart or Celsius temperature chart to track your temperature for several months. You can find a basal thermometer or digital thermometer in a pharmacy or in the pharmacy section in many grocery stores. You can also find kits that include materials for measuring and charting BBT. These items are low in cost.
Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. There are a few things that can affect our basal body temperature.
These include:. If you measure BBT with Natural Cycles, the app is able to detect changes in temperature and can exclude a reading if it is higher or lower than usual. If you have an underactive thyroid , or are going through menopause, you can still use Natural Cycles, just be aware that you might get given more red fertile days per cycle if the app cannot identify your ovulation day - this does not make it any less effective. It offers a hormone-free option for women who also want to learn more about their bodies.
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