Are You Testing Progesterone on the Right Day? (Because It Really Matters)

One of the most common hormone complaints I see in clinic?

“My doctor said I’m not ovulating because my progesterone is low.”

Cue the alarm bells—because nine times out of ten, it’s not that you’re not ovulating…
It’s that you’ve tested on the wrong day.

Let’s get one thing straight: when it comes to testing hormones like FSH, LH, oestrogen, and especially progesterone—timing is everything.

Here’s what most people (and let’s be honest, a few too many practitioners) get wrong:

🩸 Day 21 testing is not one-size-fits-all.
Day 21 only works if you have a perfect 28-day cycle.
If your cycle is 32 days? Testing on day 21 means you haven’t even hit peak progesterone yet—so of course it looks low.

💡 Progesterone peaks 7 days after ovulation.
Not 7 days before your period. Not on day 21. Not whenever your app says so.
If you ovulate on day 18 of a 32-day cycle, your progesterone peak will be around day 25.
Test too early? You’ll think you’re not ovulating when you actually are.

And if you test on day 3 (during your period)?
Of course progesterone is low—you haven’t even ovulated yet! That’s like blaming a cake for not rising when you haven’t even turned on the oven.

So how do you get it right?

📉 Track your ovulation.
Not with your app (those just predict).
Use a basal body thermometer like Tempdrop to confirm when you’ve actually ovulated, then count forward 7 days to test. Use my discount link for 11% off

Because knowledge is power—and timing?
It’s the whole game.

Much Love,
Megan