What should my progesterone level be?

Progesterone will be less than 1.5 Ng/ml until the LH surge. It peaks about seven days after ovulation, when it reaches 15 Ng/ml or more. But note, if you are above 10 in the luteal phase, your progesterone level is probably fine. When it drops between 2-4, menstruation begins. (This is why use of progesterone supplements can delay the start of your period). Additionally, you may get very high progesterone levels after IVF because so many follicles were created. (Progesterone is made by the corpus luteum, which is the site on the ovary from which the egg is released. The more eggs are produced, the more progesterone is produced.) Most doctors use a high level of progesterone supplementation in the luteal phase, which can also result in very high progesterone levels. There is no progesterone level that indicates pregnancy, only an hCG level over 5 determines that. It is also worth nothing that progesterone pulses, so the level varies throughout the day. Some doctors suggest testing first thing in the morning after fasting for the most accurate result. A high progesterone level gives more information than a low reading in that a "good" level indicates sufficient progesterone to carry a pregnancy; a lower level (in the 5-15 range) does not spell doom.

3.2 What should E2 numbers ideally be during an injectables cycle?

You should see 150-200 per mature follicle. (Note: E2 tends to be somewhat lower on pure FSH cycles. You may use this as a guideline, but your physician will be your best guide in this case.) It ideally should be 100 or over after three days of LH-containing injectables. It ideally should be 100 or over after 4-5 days of injectable recombinant FSH. No chart can show ideal E2 levels since E2 varies per number and size of the follicles.

3.3 What should my uterine lining be at ovulation and at implantation?

As you approach your LH surge, it should be above 6 mm, ideally between 8 and 12 mm. (If it is much more than that, it may be advisable to ask about a hysteroscopy or sonohysterogram to see if perhaps there is a polyp inside the uterus). You want to have a triple stripe pattern around the time of the LH surge and ovulation. Towards the time of implantation, you want to have a more integrated HH or IE pattern. The triple stripe occurs in response to estradiol; the HH/IE conversion is in response to progesterone. It should also be noted that, although most doctors prefer the above pattern of linings, there is no conclusive research on whether a better pattern actually results in higher pregnancy rates.

3.4 I have just had a 3-day FSH test taken, and I am concerned about the results.

If these bloods were drawn on day three of a cycle, the results would imply decreased ovarian reserve or eggs available. To confirm this we would draw blood for inhibin B. If the inhibin B is low consideration should be given to donor eggs. Inhibin B is a protein made by the granulosa cells that surround the eggs. FSH is more of an indirect measurement of ovarian reserve.

3.5 How do we know if the sperm count is adequate for IUI?

Besides the number of sperm, the percentage with rapid forward-progressive motility and with normal morphology at the time of insemination are important to know. If the functional sperm count (number with normal morphology and rapid forward-progressive motility) exceeds 1 million; chances for pregnancy with well-timed IUI are excellent. See Semen Analysis fact sheet for more information.