Normal Progesterone Levels After Ovulation (Day 21 Progesterone Level)

The day 21 from the beginning of the menses bleeding is the healthy peak day for progesterone hormone, here’re detailed normal progesterone levels after ovulation in different menstrual cycles.
ًًًWhat is this topic is about?

  • Am I ovulated or not?
  • Progesterone levels at day 21, 22, 23,25, etc
  • Normal progesterone levels 7 days after ovulation or more.
  • Inadequate progesterone levels and infertility.

What is the optimum progesterone level post ovulation?
Normal Progesterone levels after ovulation 7 dpo in average 28 days cycle is > 15 ng/ml, which means progesterone level is adequate enough and the woman is ovulated and fertile, while at Day 3 of the menstrual cycle normally seen < 1.5 ng/ml.
Does progesterone level 5 ng/ml adequate for pregnancy?
Many Medical resources tell that progesterone levels tend to be < 2 ng/ml prior to ovulation, and > 5 ng/ml after ovulation, means progesterone value must be at least 5 ng/ml at the middle of luteal stage to be good level for ovulation but it variable women to woman and by different cycles, expert doctor can help woman in this situation.
Serum progesterone levels rise with some variance after ovulation, peaking at 15 to 90 ng/ml by 10 to 25 days after ovulation (the LH peak) and gradually reducing over the term of pregnancy.
Between days 7 to 56 post ovulation progesterone should ideally be above 15 ng/ml
Normal progesterone levels at day 21 means:

  • Good thickness of your endometrium (uterine lining), which means uterus is ready for pregnancy.
  • Confirm that ovulation has occurred and an egg is successfully produced by ovaries, means no problems in your cycle and you have healthy ovaries.

Other normal progesterone signs include low FSH levels, low LH levels, increasing levels of E2 (estrogen hormone), increasing levels of BHCG hormone if pregnancy is achieved, and normal spotting at the first week of pregnancy.
What is hypoluteoidism?
By medical definition: it’s a deficient progesterone production, a state incompatible with continued pregnancy, this means the premature failure of progesterone production by the corpus lutea with resultant decrease in serum progesterone and pregnancy failure.
Low progesterone below 10 ng/ml usually or inadequate progesterone levels after ovulation date means:

  1. You took a blood test for progesterone too early, less than a week after ovulation, if you are clearly know your date..
  2. No Ovulation occurred due to a problem usually ovaries issue.
  3. No chance of pregnancy as the E2 hormone level dropped and takes the uterine lining down with abnormal menses bleeding.

Recommended follow up tests: Progesterone blood test, E2, FSH, LH, TSH, Ovarian reserve test and CBC test for monitoring anemia due to bleeding.
Why measuring progesterone level after ovulation?
In an average cycle of 28 days, the ovulation starts after LH surge prior to the middle of the cycle period, followed by releasing of an egg that’s ready to fertilization by a valid sperm, and followed by transform the follicle into corpus luteum, which acts as a gland and secretes the progesterone hormone to help maintain the growth of the released ovum and thickening the uterine lining as well, from the middle of cycle the ovulation starts and called the luteal phase, FSH and LH hormone levels decline followed by increasing levels of Progesterone and estradiol hormones,
What is the best day to take progesterone blood test?
Progesterone hormone level read the highest values at the middle of time between ovulation and expected next day of menses , this period of time is called the luteal phase, in a healthy 28 days cycle; expected normal progestrone level is around day 21 of menstrual cycle, which corresponds to 7 days after ovulation.
However, after you eat, progesterone levels can drop by as much as 50%, that’s why the blood test should be done in the morning and before you eat.
How to calculate progesterone level after ovulation?
Easy free progesterone calculator of the expected peak day for progesterone levels is equal to “cycle length*3/4”
For instance: In the average 28 days cycle, the ovulation starts at 14 days, the progesterone peaks 7 days after ovulation, highest progesterone value at day 21 of the period, likewise in the 30 days cycle the day of the progesterone peak level due to ovulation is “30*3/4=22.5”, likewise in the 26 days cycle the prog. peak level at the day 19.5, thus the progesterone peak day after ovulation for cycle length 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 days is the day 19, 19.5, 20, 21, 22, 22.5, 23, 24, 25, and day 25.5 respectively.

progesterone-day-21 chart

Progesterone levels chart after ovulation


Remember that:

  • Other names: progesterone day 21, normal progesterone level after ovulation, early pregnancy progesterone, progesterone in luteal stage or phase, subsequent menstrual period progestrone, progesteone level for present period, and Progesterone (P4).
  • Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the first day of flow, not including any spotting.
  • The level of progesterone in day 21 (or at mid-luteal after ovulation) is an indicator of present menstrual period, not the preceding cycle.

Read also: How to calculate ovulation day by yourself?
Next: explanation of progesterone levels chart..be the first to know and be a member today>

Dr.Megan Ralf

A Medical laboratory Scientist who devoted his life to medical and laboratory sciences, writes his everyday expertise dealing with various pathological conditions through laboratory diagnosis of different body fluids, also participating in many workshops for first aids, infection control, and urgent care. Also Dr Megan Ralf coaching many medical teams.

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