Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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

939 replies

mascaraisamust · 05/07/2015 22:57

So after 6 months of ttc I've worked out I've got a short luteal phase of 9 days, however it could be even less. I get a positive opk on day 19 and 9 days later AF appears. I'm fearing it could be less that 9 days if I ovulate 24-36 hours after a postive opk. No suprises that there hasn't been a bfp yet. I'm thinking this is my obstacle. Seems I've tried everything else. Do I go to my GP? Is there any point? On preconception vitamins with b6 in and have been in them for three months and no changes. Also AF is really painful every month, wondering if there is more to this. Any ideas? Or anyone experienced/ing similar?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
sunshinegirl12 · 21/08/2015 16:38

I'm having a bit of a negative day today, theres no reason for it as I don't know yet how this month has gone, but I don't think its been helped by the girls at my work (all in their early 20's) questioning me on when I'm gona have a baby!! And then proceeding to carry on that they want all their kids before they get to 30 as thats so old!! Really!! Shock

Atleast it's nearly the weekend Smile

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 21/08/2015 06:39

According to this plan I found Shary it says for 43 day cycles, optimum eod days are: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36. You should get your peak on those days? Fingers crossed!

OP posts:
Original poster
mascaraisamust · 21/08/2015 06:30

Oh and sorry for the typos throughout! On my phone and no idea why I'm awake this early!

OP posts:
Original poster
mascaraisamust · 21/08/2015 06:27

And just ring up for your blood results, If they are abnormal the GP will have left a note with the receptionist telling you to make an appointment to discuss anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
mascaraisamust · 21/08/2015 06:25

kerala sorry didn't see your post! I've read a small minority of people can ovulate straight after AF. Some people think they don't ovulate at all and then dtd early on in the cycle and get their bfp.

shary dtd eod seems like a good plan to catch the egg, it's worth a go! I found a really useful resource about days to dtd on SPEM when you have longer cycles, I'll try dig it out.

Welcome Judy. Don't be too put off by the 'guidelines'. My GP was very much reluctant until I got my day 21 bloods back. You've already started the ball rolling getting them at that is the first step before they can even think of referring. Do you have any children or are you ttc #1? If you are TTC #1 then guidelines say a year and I'm sure it's fasttracked if over 36 due to risk factors.

Your day 21 bloods are looking for progesterone levels. 21 is the optimum date for most regulate people at this is a week before AF and progesterone levels should be at a peak, they then start to drop in AF is coming of continue elevated if you have got your bfp. The issue with us short luteal phase lot is our progeaterone levels drop too soon and AF appears early or as was in my case progesterone levels were so low that I was supposedly not ovualating at all. When are your tests? The higher the level the better.

However, as I said this test is for people with regular 28 day cycles so if you ovulate later (your cycle is similar to how mine was) it may not sure your progesterone levels peaking. My level was 1, I was told that this meant there was no chance I've ovulated this cycle and was referred to a specialist as the level couldn't get much lower! Then I got my BFP that month!

The other tests are for LH as this should be compared with the progesterone levels.

To increase luteal length and the month I got my bfp I tried:

Mega B complex (from Holland and Barrett) which contains folic acid - B complex is supposed to help lengthen

Vitamin c - 500mg (lots of studies done on this)

Pre-seed

DH on conception vitamins

Get the bloods back and go from there. Has your partner been see their gp too? It was recommended by my gp that DH did to rule that side of things out.

OP posts:
Judylamb · 20/08/2015 22:49

Hi ladies, came across this thread tonight, I've just been to the docs this evening. I'm 38 (39 in two weeks) and partner is 39. We've been trying to conceive for last 8 months but no luck. She didn't seem very bothered or that helpful, just read out the criteria for being referred for fertility issues, one of which was that you needed to be trying for two years and 39 or under... If we have to try for 2 yrs I'll be 40?! I told her I tracked and was getting an ovulation positive using OPK on day 19/20 but cycle is 28days generally. She said 'that's odd, but if you ovulate it shouldn't be a problem'. This contradicts what I've read though. She has asked for 21 day and 7 day bloods... She didn't explain what for or if I needed to go back!
I've been taking folic acid... Any help or advise gratefully received...

SharyBobbins · 20/08/2015 22:40

I'm doing that too Mrs Smile I'm throwing every strategy I have into this cycle in the hope that I can ring my GP in September & say 'thank you for sending me for bloods but I've actually got my BFP' (living in hope)

mrsmugoo · 20/08/2015 22:11

Shary - why not use temping or opks to find out your ovulation day and time DTD to that?

Of course nothing wrong with lots of sex! But it only takes one sperm to meet the egg and at least you'd narrow down the element of guesswork.

Sunshinegirl2015 · 20/08/2015 21:33

luceeann congrats! You and mascara give me hope with a 9/10day luteal phase!

shary good luck! Hope the sperm meet the egg!

kerala never heard of that. AF is visiting now but I don't think I'll suggest it to DH haha.

sunshine sounds right but I only started temping a few days after ovulation so can't tell you much. Read something about some people getting an implantation dip but not sure if that's a myth.

SharyBobbins · 20/08/2015 21:22

Does it rise after ovulation? And what is classed as a rise? My temperature fluctuates so I'm just wondering of it's something noticeable!

Mrs, I'm not sure when I ovulate (or even if I do) so I'm using the SMEP this cycle to cover all bases!

mrsmugoo · 20/08/2015 21:16

The SMEP seems bizarre to me? Have sex within 48 hours of ovulation - job done.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 20/08/2015 21:07

*drop not stop! Sorry sunshine

OP posts:
Original poster
mascaraisamust · 20/08/2015 21:06

Yeah Sunshine, it should elevate if you've got a BFP or start to stop if AF is coming. Although mine were like a yo-yo!

Shary, sounds like a good strategy. Loving the positivity on here at the moment!

Luceean, DH is also laid on the sofa with a beer and me with a bag of malteasers. I already feel big and bloated! I go away this weekend with DH for the week so at least we can chill out together and think about other things and not just babies!

OP posts:
SharyBobbins · 20/08/2015 21:00

I'm trying the SMEP luceeann but with a long cycle that's a lot of sex! Shock

I am temping but in all honestly I just don't get it! I've recorded 13 so far with a range of 36.18 to 36.57. What are we supposed to be looking out for?!

luceeann · 20/08/2015 21:00

Hey Sunshine.
My temp used to come down but sometimes I didn't spot it until after AF arrives. I think if you get 4-5 high temps that are higher than the previous 5 days then you can pin point that first rise as the day after you ovulated.

KERALA1 · 20/08/2015 20:59

I had this but never went into the detail with temperatures etc. my tip is to have sex during your period (tmi sorry). We ttc for 9 months mid cycle - nothing- then read something on line and dtd at the end of my period - pregnant. Have two gorgeous dds now. Good luck all

sunshinegirl12 · 20/08/2015 20:53

That sounds positive Shary, are you still temping?

So I got my first temp rise this morning, am I right in thinking it should stay high but then drop just before AF arrives? (Or hopefully stays away) I'm not really sure what to look out for now x

luceeann · 20/08/2015 20:48

Thanks Shary and Sunshine.

It is amazing how different all our bodies are and also how much they vary month on month. I agree that hearing from everyone really helps.

Try not to run out of steam DTD before you get the peak Shary. It is great your OH is taking it in his stride. I really thought my hubby would not be into it or feel the pressure, but he was a very diligent man :) (whilst breathing sigh of relief now that he can relax a bit). Speaking of which he is out boozing tonight and I am eating cake on the sofa. How life has changed already!

Mascara - good luck for the scan, but try to relax and enjoy. I agree it is weird. I have no real symptoms, though I did clearly have implantation spotting on DPO 6-8 and then nothing which gave me the hint it might have happened. I keep checking my temp too to see if it is staying high.

SharyBobbins · 20/08/2015 19:52

Hi Mascara! I'd love to ovulate in the next few days because it would mean my cycle is shorter this time round but I think that's at least a week off yet unfortunately! Bloody 43 day cycles mean every stage takes forever! Nevertheless we're doing the necessary every other day and will increase to everyday once the monitor says peak & the OPK line is as dark as the control one. Luckily DH has no complaints! My best friend keeps telling me 'be positive' & 'it'll happen for you soon'. I know she means well but she's never had any issues conceiving so as much as she tries I don't think she will ever fully understand. I never thought I'd take solace in a forum but this place is a such a big help full of women who truly get it x

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 20/08/2015 19:24

Shary that's fab about the opk. Hopefully an egg will be there in the next 24 hours, fingers crossed! Catch it!

It's normal to have up and down days. Down days were after AF and up days in the fertile periods and then just worry after that. It's not easy people telling you to keep positive, don't stress and it'll happen. Just take it as it comes, you're doing all you can and I am no doubt that your time will come very soon! Oh and keep busy!!

OP posts:
Original poster
mascaraisamust · 20/08/2015 19:19

Sunshine that sounds ideal. I'm away from this weekend too. Can't wait.

Luceean supposedly 6+4 from LMP but I think I'm more like 5 weeks going from conception as I think I might have ovulated later this cycle. I've got my booking in appointment already which a week on Monday and I've got an early private scan which is a week on Thurs as I can't quite believe it and need a bit of reassurance. Only found out last week myself, total surprise.

OP posts:
SharyBobbins · 20/08/2015 19:19

Congratulations luceeann, its always nice to hear when others get their BFP, gives me hope!

Sunshines- I keep getting confused when you both post! I'm not sure who asked the question but defiantly have sex tonight!

I've bought the 'taking charge' book but I'm avoiding it at the moment simply because it's not telling me what I want to hear (eg. that a 43 day cycle is perfectly normal and doesn't indicate an underlying health issue Wink ). It defiantly looks like a useful read, I'm just going to wait for a few more days to pick it back up again. Does anyone else have days where they feel focused & positive about TTC followed by others where you feel really down & negative about the whole thing? I'm having a sulk today!

Not much to report here, day 21 now and did a test on my (cheated) CBAFM this morning. Got a high after my low yesterday. Did a cheapy OPK this afternoon too and got the darkest line I've seen yet. Hopefully that means things are on the up.

Hope everyone is okay xx

sunshinegirl12 · 20/08/2015 18:57

Congrats Luceean, and thanks for posting. It's so nice to hear another positive story to give us all more hope, I hope everything goes well for you x

luceeann · 20/08/2015 18:54

Hi Mascara. Many thanks. It is really nice to be able to tell someone! I am 4 weeks pregnant so only just really. How about yourself?

sunshinegirl12 · 20/08/2015 18:53

We are going away this weekend for DH's bday so I'm going to relax and have a few glasses of bubbly, and hopefully even DTD for fun rather than feeling we have to x