Want to Test Your Progesterone? Here’s What a PdG Test Can Tell You

Tracking your ovulation is crucial when trying to conceive (TTC). One effective way to do this is by using a urinary PdG test at home. A rise in PdG levels during the luteal phase indicates that ovulation has taken place.

If you’re new to PdG testing and want to gather all the key information, keep reading to learn what a PdG test is, how it helps monitor your progesterone levels, and how it can support your fertility journey by confirming ovulation.

What Is a PdG Test?

Pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) is a progesterone metabolite. After progesterone completes circulating in your bloodstream, it is released from the body as PdG, which can be detected in urine. A PdG test measures these levels in your urine to confirm whether ovulation has occurred in a cycle.

At-home PdG testing involves using test strips dipped in a cup of urine, with results available a few minutes later. This test also provides insights into your progesterone levels. 

Please note that Progesterone (measured in ng/mL) should not be confused with PdG (measured in ug/mL) the urine metabolite of progesterone commonly used in at-home testing. Mira tracks PdG levels. The information in this article about Progesterone is for educational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Why Is a PdG Test Important?

The primary purpose of a PdG test is to confirm ovulation, a critical factor for conception, as pregnancy can only occur if ovulation takes place. Unfortunately, not all women ovulate every cycle. According to a study, anovulation occurs in over a third of normal menstrual cycles.

Using a PdG test is a simple and convenient way to confirm ovulation when you’re TTC, as it can give you peace of mind or indicate when you should seek a healthcare professional’s help if ovulation hasn’t occurred.

PdG tests also help keep track of progesterone levels during the implantation window, a key period when progesterone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg. Progesterone thickens and makes the lining sticky, facilitating the newly fertilized egg’s attachment, which is essential for initiating pregnancy.

A recent study found that higher PdG levels during the implantation window can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy by over 75%. As PdG levels rise, progesterone levels in the luteal phase also increase, increasing the chances of conception. It’s important to note that progesterone levels typically rise 1-2 days after LH surge. 

How to Take a PdG Test at Home?

If you prefer not to visit a doctor, you can measure urine PdG levels at home with a Proov test or Mira Fertility Max Wands. To ensure accurate results, always use your first-morning urine.

The Proov PdG test strips work similarly to pregnancy tests – simply dip the strip in urine and read the results after a few minutes. However, with Mira Fertility Max Wands, you will also require a Mira Hormone Monitor. Here is how you test for PdG with the wands:

• Dip the test wand into the urine for 20 seconds.
• Insert the wand into the Mira Hormone Monitor.
• Your hormone results will sync with the Mira App in about 21 minutes. 

Since a Proov test is based on a fixed threshold, it will only provide a yes or no result for ovulation. On the other hand, Mira Confirm provides numeric values of your PdG levels, which you can use to confirm ovulation by tracking your PdG levels over time. 

Factors Affecting PdG Test Results

PdG test results can sometimes show false positives or negatives due to several factors, which include: 

Diluted Urine

Drinking large amounts of water before testing can dilute the PdG concentration in your urine, leading to a false negative. 

Progesterone Supplements

Progesterone supplements may cause a false positive by artificially increasing PdG levels.

LUFS

Some women may undergo luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS). In this condition, a dominant follicle produces progesterone but doesn’t release an egg, resulting in a false positive as PdG rises without actual ovulation.

Levels from baseline

Threshold-based tests often create false negatives if your PdG levels rise but don’t reach the threshold, even if you have ovulated.

When to Test for PdG Level

To accurately track your PdG levels and confirm elevation of your progesterone hormones, it’s important to understand when ovulation occurs (approximately 12-14 days before your next cycle) because progesterone usually peaks between 6-8 days after ovulation. 

This means you can test for PdG around 7 days past ovulation as PdG levels would reach their peak at day 21 if you have a 28-day cycle. Since only 16% of women have a 28-day cycle and about 20% of women have ovulation on day 14 of their cycle, you can test PdG immediately after LH peak

How Accurate Is a PdG Test?

Now, you must be wondering about the accuracy of a PdG test. According to research, a PdG test has an accuracy of 96%. Also, PdG tests like Mira Confirm are FDA-registered as a reliable way to detect PdG (pregnanediol-3-glucuronide) to confirm ovulation.

PdG Test vs. Progesterone Test

There are two methods to confirm ovulation in a cycle: a PdG test and a progesterone test. A PdG test is urine-based and a progesterone test is blood-based. A PdG test is a non-invasive and convenient test that tells you whether you are ovulating. You can test for PdG from the comfort of your home. However, the results of PdG tests are not as accurate as those of blood progesterone tests and certain factors may affect their accuracy. 

While progesterone testing is highly accurate, it requires a doctor’s visit. Also, the results are only available after a few days of testing, which makes tracking your progesterone levels for every cycle more difficult. 

Who Should Use a PdG Test?

A PdG test is ideal for women who want to track ovulation, especially those beginning their fertility journey, struggling to conceive, or managing conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis. 

Understanding PdG Test Results

If you have tested with a Proov test, you will be able to see the results in thresholds. A positive result indicates progesterone metabolite levels above 5 mcg/mL, while anything below reads as negative.

However, with Mira Confirm Wands, you will receive results as numeric values, allowing you to track progesterone levels more precisely and understand when ovulation occurs. This data can help guide discussions with your doctor.

You can reach out to Mira’s Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility for personalized support throughout your conceiving journey, where experts guide you in often overlooked areas including nutrition, hormonal imbalances, gut health, exercise routines, sleep quality, and stress management. 

Conclusion

Understanding your PdG levels is crucial for a successful pregnancy. PdG tests offer a convenient, non-invasive way to track ovulation and can be especially useful for confirming pregnancy, as elevated PdG levels indicate higher progesterone levels, which are vital for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions