Progesterone 4.1 ng per ml--conclusive or not - Page 1

This was yesterday at 11 am when the blood was drawn.

Some articles say it has to be 5 for ovulation to have taken place.

I plan to have her mated with a champ tomorrow at about 6pm, meaning about 55 hours after it was 4.1.

As far as I have read, 4.1 seems to be nowhereland. Some authors say between 2-2.9 is chancy as it may stay at this range for days and ovulation would be late.  Then some say 5 is the magic level of ovulation. No one mentioned about 4.

4.1 is tricky, another test does not seem to make sense.

My plan is to test again 3 days AFTER mating to see if another mating is needed, if the champ were still available. I am not sure.

I am a little upset with the vet. The tech told me that the result would be available the same day if the sample is collected before noon. Well, it wasn't until this morning. If I have known that, I would have her blood drawn close to 5pm, the second collection time in the day. The result after 6 hours may have push it above 5.0 and I wouldn't have to think so much about it now.  

I found this in an article on breeding: www.geocities.com/welshealth/Articles/caninerepro.htm

"A single progesterone value will give one of three results: low, mid range, or a high progesterone level. If the level is very low then you know you have at least 4 days or longer before a breeding will be needed. If the level is mid range (2.0 to 4.0 ng/ml) you need to start breeding within two days; if the level is high (>5.0 ng/ml) you should start breeding immediately; if the level is very high (> 1 5.0 ng/ml) you need to evaluate if the bitch is still in season and if she is, breed ASAP. Breedings beginning when the bitch already has a very high progesterone may be too late and you will need to start sooner for subsequent breedings"

hello, if she is being bred live cover, the sperm will live in her for 5-7 days. by then she will be well over 5. its a safe bet to go ahead and breed her at the date and time already planned that she will catch. if its cooled sperm it will live 24-48 hours in her. so its a smaller window.

Welcome to the science of chasing progesterone numbers. The world of results that have multiple interpretations you get a day or maybe 3 days later than you need them. It's an expensive frustrating way to do what nature has done for thousands of years.

As of yesterday her vulva was still quite swollen, though I have not touched it before and after to compare if it is "softer" than in a few days earlier. And as of yesterday, she still has plenty of red discharge.

To be honest, I had expected the progesterone level to be still rather low. Nature is not always right (or it is and science is failing me this time). By nature, as a degree of acttractiveness to male (I am guessing) and standing for mating, she seems to be still a few days away. So in the wild, a bitch like this may habitually ovulate too soon, or standing heat starts too late, to be quite fertile. I am just guessing.

You should retest again today to confirm ovulation because some bitches take several more days.  You cannot time a breeding correctly unless she has acually ovulated.  A 4.1 is close but she still hasn't ovulated.  The ideal mating time is 2 days after ovulation, once the eggs have matured.  A level of 5-6 is where the bitch is considered to have ovulated.  Your vet should have been able to interpret the results.

You should retest again today to confirm ovulation because some bitches take several more days.  You cannot time a breeding correctly unless she has acually ovulated.  A 4.1 is close but she still hasn't ovulated.  The ideal mating time is 2 days after ovulation, once the eggs have matured.  A level of 5-6 is where the bitch is considered to have ovulated.  Your vet should have been able to interpret the results.

Thanks GS Mom, nice article. That certainly helps me.

generally 4.1 is beginning ovulation if you breed two and four days from that day you should be fine I have bred many based on a 3.5-4.9