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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Short Luteal Phase

29 replies

mrsmugoo · 15/06/2015 11:12

I know there have been many threads on this in the past (I've searched and read them all) but there hasn't been a live one for some time so thought it might be good to see if other current posters are going through the same thing right now.

I'm trying for #2 and although have only tried actively for 3 cycles, have charted for 8. My cycles are generally 26-28 days long and I ovulate on around day 18 or 19. My LP has been between 7-9 days. I use OPKs and temping.

I've been taking high strength Vit B complex for ages and last cycle I tried Soy Isoflavones which brought my ovulation day forward to day 17 which I was over the moon with, but then AF arrived on day 23 giving me the crappest LP ever of only 6 days and I was gutted.

I have a doctors appointment on Thursday of this week but I'm nervous because I've read so much online about how GPs give you the brush off with regards to short Luteal Phases and they simply tell you it's fine, as long as you ovulate you can conceive. Which obviously isn't the case.

I'm 35 and I feel like I don't have loads of time left to just "wait and see" if my LP lengthens on it's own but I just don't know what the options are? I'd be willing to go private if necessary. It's not just a case of being impatient about conceiving, if my LP was a normal length then after only 3 cycles of actively trying I wouldn't be concerned in the slightest yet, but the way things are I just feel like I'm pissing in the wind.

Anyone else going through / been through this and what were the outcomes?

OP posts:
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Thomasjames2007 · 21/06/2015 10:26

It took me a year and a half to conceive and the first thing I noticed after using opks was that I had a short LP (8-10 days). I am 33 and we had started going through all tests etc for IVF when I managed to conceive. The only thing that popped up was that my FSH was 11 (ideal between 4-8). I'm not medically trained at all btw but from my own research a high FSH like mine indicates either low quality or low quantity eggs (you need a further test to discover which one) anyway after this and the short LF I decided to try acupuncture on the recommendation of friends who had been successful in conceiving. I had 4 sessions and I fell pregnant. Could have been a coincidence or placebo I'm not sure but it was the only thing I did different that month. As it was in one month I can't tell you if it would have lengthened my LP but when I queried it with the doc I had the same attitude that basically I was googling too much and shouldn't worry about such things. The acupuncturist said it was to do with having "a cold womb".

Again I know not everyone agrees with holistic medicine but it worked for me. Good luck

RalucaMorena · 20/06/2015 21:33

Up till now no bloody witch! Fc is just a cramp!

Beansprout30 · 20/06/2015 19:06

Hi my luteal phase is usually 11 days which is supposed to be ok however idlike it to be longer, my doctor also said plenty of sex around middle of cycle even though I dont ovulate till cd 17/18! I made the mistake of mentioning my dh works away even though he has been able to get home at the right time for 12 cycles and we've still not managed to conceive!!

She told me to try for another six months, me and dh have booked another appointment though as I feel a bit fobbed off and she just thinks we aren't shagging at the right time.

I tried b vits and they added a extra day to lp but started delaying ovulation so ive binned them. I did read that vit c is supposed to help increase progesterone and lengthen lp but ive not tried this yet

RalucaMorena · 20/06/2015 08:42

If things go add they seem this month my lp will be 5 days. Confused

RalucaMorena · 18/06/2015 16:04

Shocking is all I can say! Like we do all this for fun!

chandelierswinger · 18/06/2015 12:46

Ugh, this winds me up so much. Sympathy and Brew to you mrsmugoo Drs with this type of attitude literally drive me up the wall. Unfortunately for her (and fortunately for you), information about ttc is readily available now, not just on the internet! That kind of scathing attitude that a so called professional has is just simply not helpful. Tracking does help; knowledge is power. Ignore her and crack on. Glad you got the bloods ordered though.

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 18/06/2015 12:37

So had my doctors appt today. A horribly patronising experience.

I got the outcome I wanted - a day 21 blood test to check progesterone levels - but only got this because I specifically asked for it.

Was basically told by the doctor to stop " worrying about the minutiae" and that tracking every last detail wouldn't help me. I just need to go off and have "plenty of sex around the middle of my cycle" (even though I told her I don't ovulate in the middle of my cycle)

She asked how I even knew about luteal phases (errr, biology) and at even the slightest whiff that I may have gained information from the Internet implied I'm just being neurotic.

I know the NHS is over stretched and everyone can't just walk in and self diagnose using Google and expect to be taken seriously but I didn't really expect to be brushed off on quite such an epic scale.

Well I got the blood test anyway so whatevs.

OP posts:
RalucaMorena · 17/06/2015 19:48

Does vit b complex make you hungry by chance?

smellsofelderberries · 17/06/2015 18:21

Also, B6 can delay ovulation in some people so try only taking it from O day onwards b

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 17/06/2015 18:21

I've been taking 100mg for about 3 months.

OP posts:
smellsofelderberries · 17/06/2015 18:00

My LP is 10 days, so not terrible but I would like to see it longer. I will be taking a B6 vitamin (the 50mg one from H&B) alongside my regular B vitamin complex after ovulation this cycle. 100% RDA of B6 probably won't be enough to help as it's only 1.3ish mg. some women take up to 100mg daily! Shock but YMMV.

RalucaMorena · 17/06/2015 09:27

Ooh! Good to know!

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 16/06/2015 22:06

Twinwife thank you that's very reassuring!

OP posts:
Twinwife · 16/06/2015 21:52

Hi,
If it's any reassurance my LP is 8/9 days and I ovulate on day 18. I have a DS who is 2 who was conceived after 3 months and am 15 weeks with #2, conceived after 6 months . Dates from my scan confirm ovulation on day 18. I was getting worried with #2 and struggled to find any positive stories online

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 16/06/2015 21:46

Saulgood thank you for the clarification. You're right there is no hard and fast minimum but my irregularity and age have definitely been factors for me in deciding to progress to a GP appt.

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsmugoo · 16/06/2015 21:44

Well yes that is the implication. I hope I can get the opportunity to get my progesterone levels checked and fixed if too low.

OP posts:
Mrsbadger77 · 16/06/2015 19:46

Rather than worrying about yourLP I would get your progesterone levels checked. That's what really matters

SaulGood · 16/06/2015 19:16

As I said mrsmugoo, I think with your history and the marked irregularity, you should see your GP. I was just clarifying that 10 is not "the absolute minimum" you need for a successful pregnancy as you mentioned above. Just thought it worth pointing it out for anybody else who is using MN/this thread. Less than 10 is considered short but it's not an automatic barrier to conception. Each case has to be taken on its own merits though and a short luteal phase can be indicative of other problems so it is often part of a bigger picture which absolutely should be considered.

All the very best with it. I hope your GP is helpful on Thursday.

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 16/06/2015 19:03

Well 9 has been my highest and if it was consistently 9 I wouldn't mind so much but 7 has been the most common and now 6. That's too short to conceive.

OP posts:
RalucaMorena · 16/06/2015 18:46

Hi Saul,
I didn't have problems before mc2 . And to be totally honest I only noticed this last month but if this happens again I will definitely go see the gp.

SaulGood · 16/06/2015 16:45

The other thing to note is that I always tested positive on 9dpo when pregnant. Implantation occurred a few days before this obviously.

SaulGood · 16/06/2015 16:33

My luteal phase was 9 days when I conceived my youngest. 10-16 days is considered normal but it doesn't actually imply that you need a minimum of 10 days. My friend has recently been through fertility tests/investigations (problem firmly with her DH it turns out) and has a luteal phase of 8 days. She has just had her 12 week scan. Smile Her team concentrated on the problems with her DH and weren't immediately concerned about her luteal phase. With good reason it turns out.

However, if your cycles seem to be irregular, you're 35 and you're concerned, I do think seeing your GP is a good idea.

RalucaMorena · 16/06/2015 16:26

My multivitamin has b1, b6, b2 and b12 100% of daily recommended dose. Should I up it?

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 16/06/2015 14:02

If you take a vitamin b complex supplement it contains all the b vitamins anyway.

OP posts:
RalucaMorena · 16/06/2015 13:30

What does marmite taste like? I didn't have the guts to try after my husband said it's disgusting. But then again he says the same about spinach. ..

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