Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse, and it affects 1 in 6 Australian couples. If you have been trying to conceive for over 12 months, your GP may determine that your situation warrants further investigation and may suggest a referral to a fertility specialist.
There are many reasons why a woman may struggle to conceive, from a blockage in the fallopian tubes to lack of ovulation.
This ovulation test aims to identify infertility that is caused by anovulation or lack of ovulation. Over-the-counter ovulation prediction kits or ovulation tests tend to measure LH (luteinising hormone) surge but a surge does not necessarily guarantee that ovulation will take place. To accurately determine whether ovulation has occurred, a progesterone ovulation test measured on day 21 of the menstrual cycle is necessary.
If your blood test results do indicate that you are not ovulating, in many situations treatment is simple and involves a prescription from your GP to help release the eggs.
This ovulation test checks your progesterone level to confirm that ovulation has occurred and is done on Day 21 of the menstrual cycle. A low Day 21 progesterone level suggests the cycle was anovulatory and that no egg was produced.
The sex hormone produced mainly in the ovaries following ovulation and is a crucial part of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone helps to combat PMS and period pain issues, assists fertility and promotes calmness and quality of sleep.
Take test 7 days before predicted date of menstruation (day 1). If menstrual cycle is 28 days, test on day 21. Or day 23 of a 30 day cycle, or day 19 of a 26 day cycle.
If it’s not possible to determine 7 days before menstruation, then you can also opt to do this test on day 3 of your cycle (where day 1 is the first day of menstrual bleeding). Just let us know which day you end up taking the test and we can apply the appropriate reference ranges to your results.
Download and print your pathology form from your i-screen dashboard.
Take your form to one of our affiliated collection centres to have your sample taken - no need for an appointment.