Ready and Waiting

Today was cd3, and I went into Carylon's office for my preliminary blood work. The lady who took my blood, since Carylon was not there, said that they were testing my progesterone level. I won't know until early next week since they had to send it off to the lab. Here's what google told me:

Fertility & Progesterone

Progesterone is recognized as a vital female hormone central to successful conception and a healthy pregnancy. The word "progesterone" is itself etymologically related to the Latin root gestare - meaning to bear or carry - suggesting the importance of this hormone in creating a fertile environment for conception and the continuing development of the embryo.

In short, progesterone is a female sex hormone that is secreted by the corpus luteum to prepare the endometrium for implantation of the fertilized egg. Following implantation off the egg, the developing placenta signals the body to produce progesterone and prevent rejection of the developing embryo or fetus. Without this continuuing progesterone production, the endometrium would shed and menstruation would ensue. Therefore, progesterone plays a significant role in reproduction. Thus, progesterone...

• Helps create a fertile, warm environment in the womb and promotes the survival of the fertilized egg through healthy implantation.

• Strengthens and maintains the secretory endometrium which sustains the embryo throughout pregnancy.

• Prevents the premature shedding of the secretory endometrium (menstruation).

As progesterone forestalls the shedding of the endometrium (where embryo implantation occurs), low progesterone levels - or a significant drop in progesterone levels - during the first few weeks of pregnancy may correspond with miscarriage.

Here, progesterone plays a 'secretory’ role in the reproductive organs. It stimulates changes in the uterus and supports pregnancy by increasing blood vessel and tissue development in the endometrium.

Progesterone, Fertility, and Reproduction

During a woman's cycle, progesterone levels rise rapidly at ovulation to provide a fertile environment for the fertilized egg. Here, progesterone is also responsible for the increase in body temperature at ovulation that lasts through most of the luteal phase. Beginning with ovulation, the corpus luteum produces progesterone for several days (and the concomitant temperature increase is in most cases easily measurable through methods of BBT/fertility charting).

If fertilization and implantation take place, the placenta takes over the role signalling progesterone production and in further maintaining a supportive environment for embryonic and fetal development. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels fall dramatically (usually after 10-12 days) triggering the shedding of the secretory endometrium (menses).

Because progesterone is essential in preventing the shedding of the secretory endometrium, a significant drop in progesterone levels during the first 10 - 12 weeks of pregnancy may result in a miscarriage.

I don't know what's with the formatting, sorry! Anyway, some good information! Now we wait for cd5 so that I can start clomid! Oh joy! Menopause, here I come! haha..

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry." ~Psalms 40:1