Urinary Hormone Assessment at 7 Days Post-LH Peak
Your urinary hormone levels at 7 days post-LH surge show a PDG of 20 µg/mL, which confirms ovulation occurred, but this level is at the lower end of the normal range for mid-luteal phase and may indicate suboptimal luteal function.
Understanding Your Results
Pregnanediol-Glucuronide (PDG) - The Key Marker
PDG of 20 µg/mL at 7 days post-ovulation is technically above the threshold for confirming ovulation (which requires a significant rise from baseline), but research in fertile women shows this falls in the lower tercile of normal luteal phase values 1
In a study of 25 healthy fertile women across 78 cycles, PDG levels at 7 days post-LH surge typically ranged much higher, with values in the lower tercile suggesting potential luteal phase concerns even in proven fertile populations 1
The mid-luteal phase (7 days post-ovulation) should show robust PDG elevation, and while your level confirms ovulation, it may not represent optimal corpus luteum function for supporting early pregnancy 2, 3
Estrone-Glucuronide (E1G) Assessment
Your E1G of 43.8 µg/mL represents follicular phase estrogen metabolism, but the critical assessment is the ratio and pattern of E1G to PDG over time, not isolated values 3, 4
The E1G-AUC/PDG-AUC ratio (area under the curve) should show a sustained negative change through the luteal phase, indicating proper transition from follicular to luteal dominance 3
LH-Beta Interpretation
LH-beta of 0.6 IU at 7 days post-surge is appropriate and expected, as LH should return to baseline after the ovulatory surge 5
This low level confirms you are past the LH surge and in the luteal phase, which is consistent with your timing 5
Clinical Implications for Early Pregnancy
Luteal Phase Adequacy Concerns
A PDG of 20 µg/mL may represent luteal phase deficiency, which can compromise implantation and early pregnancy maintenance even when ovulation is confirmed 1
Research shows that even in fertile women, lower luteal phase hormones can occur in both isolated and recurrent patterns, and serial evaluation across at least two cycles is necessary to determine if this represents a persistent problem 1
The corpus luteum must produce adequate progesterone (measured as PDG in urine) to prepare the endometrium for implantation and support early pregnancy until placental takeover 6
What Constitutes Optimal Luteal Function
Progesterone should peak approximately 8 days after the LH surge in a normal cycle, and your measurement at day 7 should be approaching this peak 6
Studies using the Mira monitor and similar urinary hormone tracking show that PDG levels should demonstrate a three-fold increase from baseline by mid-luteal phase for optimal function 3
Your current PDG level, while confirming ovulation, may not meet the threshold for robust luteal support needed for pregnancy establishment 2, 1
Recommended Next Steps
Immediate Assessment
Recheck PDG around cycle day 21-22 (approximately 7-8 days post-ovulation) to confirm peak luteal function - this should show PDG significantly higher than your current level if corpus luteum function is adequate 2
Track basal body temperature to confirm a sustained thermal shift, which provides additional clinical confirmation of adequate progesterone production 2
Serial Monitoring Approach
Evaluate urinary hormone profiles across at least 2-3 complete cycles to determine if low luteal PDG is an isolated finding or represents recurrent luteal phase deficiency 1
This serial evaluation helps distinguish between a single aberrant cycle and a persistent problem requiring intervention 1
Clinical Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not assume ovulation equals adequate luteal function - your results confirm ovulation occurred, but the PDG level suggests the corpus luteum may not be producing optimal progesterone for pregnancy support 1
Timing is critical: ensure measurements are truly at 7 days post-LH surge, as mistimed samples can falsely suggest luteal deficiency 2
Single-cycle assessment can be misleading; recurrent patterns across multiple cycles provide more reliable information for clinical decision-making 1