Hormones play an important role in the IVF process.
Knowing the proper hormone levels for your egg retrieval can give you insight into what to expect as well as the knowledge of how these hormones will help you achieve your dream of being a parent.
Hormones that are monitored during the egg retrieval process include:
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Progesterone
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Estradiol (e2)
If you haven’t created embryos yet, you have several options in terms of fertility clinics that we can connect you with to decide what’s best for you. Fill out our contact form to get more free information about these clinics or to start your surrogacy planning questionnaire so that when your embryos are ready, we can quickly find you a match.
What Is the Ideal Follicle Count for Egg Retrieval?
The ideal follicle count for egg retrieval and IVF is usually between 8-15 mature follicles. But the exact number depends on your doctor’s suggestions and your situation. Three follicles are typically the minimum amount needed for the trigger shot and egg retrieval process.
LH Levels Before Egg Retrieval
LH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. For men, it helps create sperm. For women, it helps facilitate egg production. Lupron, another fertility drug often used early in in-vitro fertilization (IVF), causes your pituitary gland to release FSH and LH.
Normal results for LH levels before egg retrieval are anywhere from 2.4-12.6 international units per liter (IU/L) during the follicular phase.
LH levels before egg retrieval, paired with blood tests, can reveal a lot about your fertility health. LH levels depend on:
Age Health Where you are in your cycle
LH plays a key role in follicle growth and Lupron helps to regulate LH in your blood to make sure its levels are low during the last few days of follicle growth. High levels of LH can lead to poor egg quality and premature ovulation.
What Should Progesterone Levels Be Before Egg Retrieval?
There have been studies in the past on progesterone levels on the day of the egg retrieval and how it can affect becoming pregnant or not.
There is no set standard for what progesterone levels should be before egg retrieval, but there is a limit that should not be exceeded. Progesterone levels above 1.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) have been associated with affecting the success of IVF.
Progesterone is a hormone produced by your ovaries, detected when an egg is released during the middle of a menstrual cycle. Progesterone increases during ovulation, helping prepare the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg. Once an egg implants, progesterone helps the uterine lining maintain the pregnancy.
If the egg does not implant, the level of progesterone drops, but if it does, the ovary continues to produce it for the next 8-10 weeks.
During IVF, medications are used to stop your body from premature ovulation and these medications affect your body’s ability to produce progesterone naturally. That may mean supplementing those levels via medication.
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What Is A Good hCG Level for Egg Retrieval?
A good Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) level for egg retrieval is 25 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml). hCG levels over 25 mIU/ml will generally produce a positive pregnancy test while 5 mIU/ml and under will produce a negative pregnancy test.
hCG is a hormone produced by the cells around the embryo. hCG helps maintain healthy progesterone levels during the start of a pregnancy which help facilitate the growth of the fetus. hCG levels depend on:
Fresh vs. frozen embryo transfers Day 3 vs. day 5 embryo transfers When the test is performed And more
hCG levels start high and reach their peak levels around 8-11 weeks. hCG is important during the first trimester in ensuring the health of the embryo until the placenta is formed.
What Is A Good FSH Level for Egg Retrieval?
Normal Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels for menstruating-age women are between 4.7-21.5 mIU/ml. A study on day 3 FSH levels and IVF showed that levels lower than 15 mIU/ml had a better chance of becoming pregnant than those with FSH levels between 15-24.9 mIU/ml.
FSH levels are used to evaluate whether IVF could be effective for your situation or not. FSH is produced in the pituitary gland naturally and is the hormone responsible for stimulating estrogen production and that promotes follicle growth on the ovary while preparing eggs for ovulation.
Testing FSH levels is a way to evaluate the number and quality of eggs left in your ovaries. A good level for the Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for egg retrieval is dependent on how old you are. “Normal” or good levels of FSH vary by age.
What Should Estradiol Levels Be for Egg Retrieval?
Estradiol levels for egg retrieval differ from person to person. Rising estradiol levels during ovarian stimulation are a sign that the follicles are developing and producing eggs.
Estradiol, or e2, is the primary form of estrogen. E2 is the hormone responsible for:
- Regulating the menstrual cycle
- Promoting the growth of the uterine lining
- Preparing the body for pregnancy
E2 plays a big part in IVF, helping keep track of
- Follicle growth
- Uterine lining receptivity
- Embryo implantation
E2 levels for egg retrieval that are incrementally rising or even falling can mean a poor response to the stimulation while higher e2 levels that are too high or rise rapidly can be at risk for ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS).
If you want to learn more about estrogen levels for egg retrieval or any of the other hormones needed for your egg retrieval, use our online form to contact us. We can help you prepare questions and connect you with reputable fertility clinics that can answer all of your fertility medication questions.