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Anyone taking B6 for a short luteal phase?

10 replies

userpin11 · 06/03/2010 10:04

I have been charting my cycles for about six months and my luteal phase is consistently ten days which is considered short (I also often have spotting in the second half of my cycle which further suggests I might have a luteal phase defect).

I've been trying to conceive for six months and had one 'chemical pregnancy' (fertilisation but not implantation) last month. I am due to see a gynae about the bleeding soon (can't get referred to a fertility specialist until I've been trying for a year) but in the meantime I want to try as much 'self help' as possible!

I've been told by several people that vitamin B6 can be beneficial in treating a luteal phase defect, but suggested doses have ranged from 25mg to 600mg!!

Has any one been prescribed B6 by a specialist/nutritionist, and at what dose? And has it helped??

Huge thanks!

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peanutbutterkid · 06/03/2010 11:56

I took B6 for other reasons, 500 mg/day for 6 months and 250 mg/day afterwards for many more months. During that time my periods became extremely regular (had always been quite un-regular before that), so I expect it does have a genuine effect.

I think the health scares (temporary nerve damage) about B6 are for more than 500mg/day, I wouldn't take more than that myself. You may have trouble getting hold of it at such a high dosage??

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Ariesgirl · 06/03/2010 12:13

100 mg and Agnus Castus because of PM spotting. This month I didn't have any so we'll see how it continues.

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userpin11 · 10/03/2010 13:35

Thanks peanutbutterkid and Ariesgirl!

How did you manage to get it at a high dose? I have found bio-available drops but there's only 2.5mg in each drop so getting even 100mg involves taking a lot (and will work out really expensive over time).

Did you get it prescribed or self-administer?

Any side effects? I have heard about tingling and nerve damage but can't get a sense of how bad that could be (if temporary I'd prob be willing to put up with it!).

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gembay · 10/03/2010 13:50

I took B6 last month because i thought I had a short leutal phase. I actually did get a BFP that month (although it sadly ended in an early miscarriage)- but I have no idea if the BFP was down to the B6 or just a coincidence!

I got mine in tablet form from Holland and Barrett - I think it was about £4 for 90 100mg tabs.

hope that helps.

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userpin11 · 10/03/2010 17:13

Thanks for the advice gembay. I'm going to give it a go for the next few months and see what happens. Really sorry to hear about the early miscarriage - best of luck.

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lilysma · 10/03/2010 22:15

Hi, I don't want to scare anyone, but I just wondered if any of you have come across any reliable info on the issue of potential birth defects with Vit B? I looked on safefetus (the american site) which suggested there is some evidence of it being linked to birth defects so wondered how that plays out in terms of taking it while TTC. Is that what you referred to in terms of nerve damage peanutbutterkid?

I have been thinking about trying it due to spotting at the end of my cycle (though my luteal phase is not technically short) but have been hesitating because of this unresolved doubt...

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Ariesgirl · 10/03/2010 22:34

I'd never heard that lilysma. I think the nerve damage you refer to is when taken in high doses I think i.e. over 500mg per day. It's thought that it may cause temporary numbness and tingling which stops when you stop taking it. But 500mg is a lot. When you say spotting do you mean premenstrual spotting or at the end of your period? As I said above, it may be coincidence, but I usually have the same for about 3 days before I start, but this time there was nothing. I get mine from Holland and Barrett, the 50mg stuff, and that's by no means the strongest there.

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lilysma · 11/03/2010 19:32

Thanks Ariesgirl, I am talking about damage to the fetus, which is listed here www.safefetus.com/DrugDetail.asp?DrugId=278&TradeName=Vitabee%206&TradeId=4663. Basically as far as I can understand it says it may be associated with congenital malformations in 'high doses'. It doesn't define high doses, but says the RDA in pregnancy is 2.2mg! So I'm not sure whether taking 50 mg during the luteal phase would be safe (for a potential foetus) or not and not sure how to get any further intelligence on this!

I did mean premenstrual spotting, by the way. I get it for about 4-5 days before AF, which is new in the last few months and is accompanied by backache and other PMS symptoms, but when temping my temps so far have stayed above the coverline until AF arrives. So I'm not sure whether it is a luteal phase defect or not! Saw a gynae consultant on Tues, who was completely unhelpful, but that's another story posted elsewhere!

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lilysma · 11/03/2010 19:33

By the way has anyone actually been prescribed B6 by a health professional or nutritionist?

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userpin11 · 14/04/2010 11:24

Hi Lilysma - no I wasn't prescribed the B6, I've just been following the advice in the various conception books.

I have to say after taking it every day last month, my bleeding got a lot worse in the latter part of my cycle, and I've decided to stop it this month to see if it returns to how it was before.

I do have cervical erosion and the possibility of a polyp so I'm not sure if in my case the B6 isn't helpful (i.e. it may be helping progesterone but irritating the erosion). Who knows.

I had a blood test last cycle and apparently my progesterone level on day 21 was really good and I was still bleeding, so perhaps in my case the bleeding is nothing to do with low progesterone. It's all such a mystery...