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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

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?

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doobeedee · 31/07/2015 09:00

I would if you're just starting out. It's good to see the whole pattern. When you get into it and you know approx when you ovulate, you can start a few days before that. I used to steer on about day 10. I always let going after ovulation though as it's interesting to be able to predict when AF will come (or work out you are pregnant before testing like I did!)

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 31/07/2015 08:40

Ladies, when should I start temping? First day of AF?

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doobeedee · 30/07/2015 22:20

Deffo get it back now you're going to start temping. It's so interesting!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 21:42

Thermometer has been ordered ladies Smile, it arrives tomorrow.

I had fertility friend but deleted it as I wasn't getting much from it but I could see it was very geared up towards temping. I like the idea of presenting charts to prove my point.

I wonder how much the average person spends TTC!

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doobeedee · 30/07/2015 21:35

Oh and if you do go down the temping route, get the fertility friend app which interprets everything for you.

doobeedee · 30/07/2015 21:34

I took loads of different things. I found a list on my phone! I also found records I wrote. It seems my LPs were slightly longer just before I conceived (up to 9 days) but I have no idea what it was that did it and I guess I'll never know if I would have conceived on that cycle without the Clomid. I second temp charting. I took all my charts to my fertility doc and he agreed with me straight away about the LP issue.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 21:15

Hi alicia, thanks for your input. Good idea with just taking the B6. Can I ask what strength? I'm concerned my seven seas B complex is a bit weak in terms of mg. I'll give it a go this month and then if it's no good I'll switch to your suggestion. I was stood in Holland and Barrett for 20 mins, then in Superdrug and then in Boots just staring at vitamins and googling quantities!

I've heard of that book, I'll download it and give it a read and I'll invest in a thermometer too.

I've also decided that I'm going to stop being so damn strict on myself and not let TTC rule all I do.

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aliciagardner · 30/07/2015 20:52

I had similar issue when ttc. Two recommendations:

  1. Taking charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler. Amazing book - will help you loads and explain a lot of things (including why the day 21 test may not be that helpful for you)
  2. B6 - which I see you're already taking. I used this so that I could then take folic acid as well and not have the issue you mentioned!

I also recorded my temperature (the Toni Weschler book explains all of this and why it is useful info) and these 3 things were a massive help. I really do think that I needed b6 to conceive, my LP was 8 days without and 10 days with.

Good luck!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 20:50

I've just seen I keep calling you Doobeedoo and not doobeedee, damn autocorrect!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 20:40

Yeah I do pregnancy tests, never had a line doobeedoo in fact I did one today (even though I know it's not even possible with the progesterone level at 1ng but hey) no suprises for a bfn (I have done it 4 days early also)! So far I'm taking B complex with folic acid, vitamin C and I'll give the D one a go. Anything else?

I got the day 21 test done again today with my bloods just to see out of interest if it's any different!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 20:34

Flymo Your cycle is very similar to mine then. This was the only month I didn't do OPKs as I stupidly thought that I my cycles were in a clear pattern but now I'm thinking that I haven't even ovulated. I will definitely do them next cycle!

I use Ovia which so far has been accurate every cycle, especially when it comes to AF arriving.

We have been pretty accurate with dtd, but I think I'm going to go for the same strategy as you!

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doobeedee · 30/07/2015 19:00

I was rattling! I can't remember exactly what it does but I researched it loads 2/3 years ago. I was taking around 10 different tablets at a time! By the way, do you ever do pregnancy tests? I realised I was conceiving but losing them early due to my LP.

flymo79 · 30/07/2015 16:21

mascara I've been looking at things to lengthen it, keeping an eye on here... I'm using the Glow app to try to track but I guess even with opks you never actually know when you've ov'd, af came much earlier last month than I expected, cd28 which for me (with usually 33d cycles) is massively early, and my opk last month said I had a surge on day 20... anyway the Glow app then readjusted to say that we'd dtd on the wrong days!
So I guess we'll just dtd every other day! Grin

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 15:28

*symptoms rather

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 15:27

Hi Flymo, cd18 isn't too bad, depends when AF appears I suppose though! Keep us updated with how you get on! Are you just seeing how it goes or trying anything to lengthen it?

Doobeedoo you want me rattling don't you?! What's D3 got to do with it all then? Once again, thanks for your help.

AF should be here by Mon but I'm actually wondering now if I've had an anovulatory cycle this month as I've had none of my usual pre-AF systems!

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flymo79 · 30/07/2015 14:20

hello, lurking with intent, ttc #2 since May, I know I have a short LP and I was very surprised to conceive #1 (tried for around 6 months) being as my opk showed a LH surge on around day 20 if memory serves... just had a +ve opk yesterday on day 18 but my cycles have been all weird since #1, shorter and totally unpredictable...

doobeedee · 30/07/2015 14:11

Don't know if it's been mentioned before, but get vit D3 too.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 14:02

Stocked up on vitamin C today as I read that's meant to help?? And had all my bloods done again, including another day 21. Results will be about a week and thankfully I go away tomorrow, I think I need the break!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 22:33

Christelle, apologies! Good to know that you've had two children with a short LP, gives me hope!

Doobeedoo great advice again, knowledge is power!

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Christelle2207 · 29/07/2015 21:20

Mascara
Not pg anymore, have 2 babies! (2 singletons not twins thank God)
But proof that short LP (mine definitely was regularly 7/8 days) is not necessarily a show stopper

doobeedee · 29/07/2015 20:49

Yes that was the problem I had re:timing of the test. I had about 3 at different times to try and catch ovulation. Over 30 is ideal but over 20 is ok. Mine was 22 on the cycle I conceived. Many GPs will tell you you thyroid is ok if your TSH is under 5 but it really needs to be under 2 for conception purposes. There is official guidance for GPs online if that turns out to be a prob and you come up against any resistance. Oh and my Clomid was through the fertility expert but I went armed with lots of evidence.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 20:14

Thanks Christelle and all the best with your pregnancy. I'll keep you updated with the thyroid result as you can probably interpret it better!

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Christelle2207 · 29/07/2015 18:52

Symptoms of under active thyroid are tiredness, feeling cold and in my case feeling a bit "off colour" most of the time albeit in a non-specific way. In my case I think it affected my cycles, thus my LP. On thyroxin, my LP is longer.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 18:34

Oh and doobeedoo, what do you mean with the thyroid levels when ttc? Sorry I thought Star said about Clomid but I've just realised it was you! Thanks for your help!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 18:30

star I think the 'normal range' is supposed to be 30. Did you get prescribed clomid through your gp? I asked but she isn't a 'regular' doctor at our surgery and said she couldn't prescribe it and that it would be something that would be looked until later when i get the referral.

doobeedee this is where I am confused, as tomorrow would be 7 days from ovulation but my AF is due Monday with my stupid short luteal phase. I could add on the day 21 test to the list of 16 others things I'm getting tested for tomorrow, just to see out of interest.

Thanks for your support and help all! Anyone else going through/gone through, feel free to join in!

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