TTC question - help please

madisonpeas

Someone mentioned an E2 test the other day - maybe you Two?  Is that a short hand for estradiol?  Our provider's nurse mentioned that test and we want to know more about it before we meet with her.  Can you tell me what you know?

thefamilyway904

Yup, E2 is shorthand for Estradiol. The first E2 blood test is done on cd 3 to determine ovarian reserve. High levels at this point can indicate  problems with ovulation or a cyst.  Throughout the remainder of the cycle and prior to ovulation, the E2 level is checked to make sure it is increasing at the proper rate, which depends of the number and maturity of the follicles present. So far this cycle, I've had my E2 levels, among others, checked on cd 3, 12 and 14.

I found the chart included in this link helpful. http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html#female

 

Two*True

Exactly what she said :-p  E2 levels along with the later u/s can also tell you the likelihood of the follicles being mature and releasing an egg.  E2 should be about 200-300 per mature follie.  So if there was one follie at 22m with an E2 level of only 100 it's not likely that going to release an egg.  Or if there were 2 mature follies and an E2 level of 600 than things should be good to go.  Does that make sense? 

madisonpeas

Awesome....we have one tomorrow.  She had her FSH checked in the past on CD 3 (not this cycle, but before we tried the first time) and it was at the appropriate level.  Here's hoping for sizable follies with correlating E2 levels!