Christi - it is disappointing that your clomid cycle is not being monitored by mid-cycle ultrasound. That way you'd know whether to expect ovulation - the ultrasound would show follicle development. This is a very common problem with seeing an ob/gyn for fertility tx instead of an RE.
A progesterone test is supposed to be done 7 days past ovulation. You already know that last cycle you O'd on cd 17, right? Is that just because of pains or are you charting BBT also?? Anyway, assuming you didn't ovulate on cd14, cd21 will be too soon for your progesterone test.
You started AF on your own after your previous clomid cycle because you ovulated. The ovulation may well have been helped by metformin, and obviously was helped by the clomid. After ovulation, progesterone rises. The subsequent fall of progesterone about two weeks later is what brings on AF. The metformin only helps indirectly, by clearing out the bad insulin and testosterone so that the body can work more normally. Progesterone rises gradually after ovulation, which is why taking a progesterone level, say, 4 days after ovulation does NOT tell you whether your progesterone is "too low" or something, for the purpose of whether supplementation is necessary. Usually, a progesterone level over 5 indicates that ovulation did occur, but most docs will supplement progesterone that is below 15-ish - but that is only valid if the blood was drawn 7 days past ovulation. Indeed, if you didn't ovulate until cd 20 (which would not be unusual, on clomid especially), a progesterone level drawn on cd 21 would probably tell you very little, it might not even show that you ovulated.
It is very common for people to ovulate past cd 14 on clomid. CD 17 isn't too bad, really.
My advice is to track BBT so that you know when and if you ovulate. It's a little late this cycle, but if you do another cycle, I'd definitely chart it, especially if your dr is basically doing no monitoring of when you ovulate. Since you're on metformin, there is a chance that OPKs might even work for you, though with the pcos you can't be sure until you try and then match up your OPK results with your BBT chart (your OPK positive would probably be a day or two before the chart shows ovulation). I highly recommend Toni Wechsler's Taking Charge of Your Fertility, both for charting and for basic cycle info. Knowledge is power. Also, there's free charting at
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ .
sorry if this sounds abrupt and unorganized - i gotta run. Good luck, and yes you may still ovulate yet. I would NOT rely on ovulation pains alone to tell you anything about when ovulation occurred - it's just another little piece to add to the puzzle. Many people have no ovulation pain, or don't have it every cycle, so I don't think pain is a very reliable indicator AT ALL. You can always add it to your bbt chart though
And make sure you're having plenty of BMS!!!
-eaglet
