[sfrandom]

Hi - I'm new to the board and new to all things infertility.
Been trying to conceive for 9 months, am 38. Tried my first OPK last month, and I got no LH surge and started to freak out. Roaming around these boards, I understand this is not entirely uncommon, but I still don't understand why. I have regular menstrual cycles, lasting 25-28 days, most months right at 28. I have started the process of getting a referral to a fertility specialist, and my PCP just sent me a lab slip with no directions on it. He ordered the usual - Estradiol, FSH, LH, and Progesterone. But then I assumed that there must be specific dates to take these tests on. I know that FSH is Day 3 of my period, but can the rest of the labwork be done that day as well?
So I am slightly clueless, in the early days of wondering about infertility, with unhelpful doctors. So any advice on this whole no LH surge thing, why that would happen when I have regular periods, and advice on lab testing, would be greatly appreciated!

[ggedwards]

Originally Posted by sfrandom

Hi - I'm new to the board and new to all things infertility.
Been trying to conceive for 9 months, am 38. Tried my first OPK last month, and I got no LH surge and started to freak out. Roaming around these boards, I understand this is not entirely uncommon, but I still don't understand why. I have regular menstrual cycles, lasting 25-28 days, most months right at 28. I have started the process of getting a referral to a fertility specialist, and my PCP just sent me a lab slip with no directions on it. He ordered the usual - Estradiol, FSH, LH, and Progesterone. But then I assumed that there must be specific dates to take these tests on. I know that FSH is Day 3 of my period, but can the rest of the labwork be done that day as well?
So I am slightly clueless, in the early days of wondering about infertility, with unhelpful doctors. So any advice on this whole no LH surge thing, why that would happen when I have regular periods, and advice on lab testing, would be greatly appreciated!

sfrandom

You'll find a lot of support here. I have never gotten an LH surge on the OPK's either until I started taking Clomid and used the ClearBlue Easy test (which apparently is a little more accurate). Sometimes, the LH surge concentration in your urine is difficult to detect by the OPK and also it depends on what time of day you're testing. Depending on the time, you could have tested too early or too late and just missed it.

You can do all the blood work on Day 3. The progesterone levels are usually done on day 21 if your cycles are normal. What infertility issues are you having at this point? You may want to list them in your signature so others can help you as well.