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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

Despairing about short cycles/luteal phase - any experts out there?

30 replies

TempsPerdu · 12/11/2016 09:07

I'm 36 and we've been ttc DC1 for four months. Today AF has arrived at only 9dpo, making this my shortest LP yet. Got +OPK on CD13 and now AF already on CD22. I've always had shortish cycles but they're definitely getting worse - been tracking for over a year now and lately LP has shortened from average 10/11 days to 8/9 days. First half of cycle seems fine - +OPKs every month, plenty of ECWM, sore sides of breasts afterwards. After that it all goes wrong!

Been taking 100mg B6 this cycle as it seems to work for so many people, but if anything it's made things even worse! Also had day 21 bloods done last week - results due on Mon but not convinced they'll be accurate as were actually done on CD19 in the end (no appointment slots available on the right day!)

Anyone with similar experiences care to share? Beginning to despair about the whole thing and suspect DC are not going to happen for us. Based on my erratic cyclues I'm terrified I'm already perimenopausal. Sad

OP posts:
SweepTheHalls · 12/11/2016 10:11

It is so hard, you have a hand hold here x

ocelot41 · 12/11/2016 09:32

Temps, it feels like forever if you are TTC but 4 months isn't that long. It took us a year to conceive - and we managed it with an LP of 10 days, so it can be done. There is some research to suggest that sweeteners disrupt hormones, so I would say ditch them, and there is also some research to suggest that full fat dairy can help. So I did a daily ice cream dose! Seemed to work as before that my LP was only 7 days. No harm in putting your name down for a fertility clinic too as there is a bit of a wait. Good luck x

Original poster
TempsPerdu · 12/11/2016 09:26

Thanks so much sweep and ocelot - lovely to hear your positive stories. Trying not to stress too much about it all but it's hard when your body is doing so many weird things and it's probably also tied up with guilt about leaving things too late (DP is also older at 42). My body has changed a lot over the past couple of years (never been on hormonal contraception so been very aware of cycles etc) and I guess I've been a bit of an ostrich about it. Periods are also getting lighter (although they've never exactly been heavy) hence the perimenopausal angst!

Think I've already done everything I can self-help wise from B6 to magnesium to Brazil nuts, so I guess going down the medical route is now our only option.

OP posts:
SweepTheHalls · 12/11/2016 09:10

When TTC dc3 my cycles become very short too, averaging 18-21 days. I used fertility apps to track my cycles, and made sure we had lots of sex in the week around ovulation. After 2 and a half years we finally conceived DD. Good luck Flowers

ocelot41 · 12/11/2016 09:10

Hi, I had exactly the same experience - same age, same LP. We now have a 7 year old DS - just offering a hand to hold