Description

What is Pregnanediol Glucuronide (PDG) Test

Progesterone is a hormone released after ovulation, which is the major urinary metabolite of progesterone, necessary to reach certain levels in order to maintain pregnancy. Using this test helps determine if you ovulate normally. The information will allow you to identify possible hormonal abnormalities that can cause infertility, sub-fertility, and early pregnancy loss so you can see your doctor before a successful pregnancy.

So, what is a PDG test?

The major urinary metabolite that progesterone consists is the Pregnanediol Glucuronide (PDG). To prepare the female body for conception and pregnancy, the body would need the progesterone hormone. Progesterone levels in the body of a woman are low in the first half of the menstrual cycle but increase significantly after the ovulation period.

However, progesterone levels remain high throughout pregnancy. This progesterone test measures the presence of PDG in the urine, showing a direct association with the presence of progesterone in the blood.

Positive PDG test result

This result is used for the confirmation of the occurrence of ovulation. These tests are qualitative and give a positive sign when they detect 5 µg / ml or more PDG in a urine sample. Based on clinical data or standard studies, this reduction level equals approximately 6 to 9 ng/ml range serum progesterone, which is the level of progesterone in the blood. The range is due to small differences in the manner each woman metabolize progesterone.

You may be thinking, why do I really have to take the PDG test?

Here are some reasons or benefits

Although luteinizing hormone (LH) test is a reliable way of detecting ovulation in many women, it is due to several factors: it may be irregular and not occur at the same time of each menstrual cycle or do not occur at the same absolute time. Therefore, the performance of this urine test must be at each cycle to check for ovulation and to remove uncertainties or doubts.

This test also allows women that are trying to conceive (TTC) check for ovulation at home before consulting their doctor for suspected infertility or sub-fertility problems. The combination of specific LH and PDG significantly facilitates the journey of Natural Family Planning (NFP).

When should I take the CEO test?

The recommendation for this test is 5 days after the positive LH test until you have a positive result, do not stop. PDG tests will help you get pregnant faster or easily confirm ovulation. The recommendation is that you make use of the first-morning urine the test.

This test allows women to control their PDG levels in the urine during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone secretes waves, forming peaks in serum progesterone levels; therefore, daily monitoring of urinary PDG levels is a better diagnostic tool for the luteal phase than single serum progesterone levels.

In the Follicles, contain the mature egg and the association of small follicles are with poor luteal phase quality, which can cause infertility and then a miscarriage. You will see the poor luteal phase by the normality of the PDG levels, followed by the low PDG rates. Low levels of PDG followed by normal levels of PDG are normal and not a threat of abnormality in the luteal phase, as some women need to produce progesterone longer.

However, recent research highlights the inaccuracy of using the LH tests themselves to detect ovulation, and suggests that you can use them in conjunction with home executive testing to improve accuracy.

Does COVID impact PDG

In this COVID world many questions are asked surrounding pregnancy and covid. We also find many expectant or thinking about pregnancy couples asking if does mom have Neutralizing antibodies and does that transfer to the child at birth?