Short Luteal Phase Gang!

Hey all,

Been a week or so since my last message on here but I thought I would update after my appointment with the private fertility doctor yesterday. FYI I went to see Dr Gudi, this guy:

I am still waiting for my mid-luteal progesterone result but luckily all my tests and hubby's sperm test look good or normal.

Anyway few things that surprised me was the he said opks can be wrong so sometimes women actually don't get the peak when they are ovulating.
He said often people think they have a short luteal phase but they may not. Although he did acknowledge that I likely do since most months I have been getting obvious symptoms correlating with the positive opks. Last month luteal phase was only 6 days but my whole cycle was off because I took vitex that month and didn't get peak ov opk until CD 21. So don't take vitex unless you are sure it is right for you!

Although he said that a common trait of short luteal phase defect is spotting from early in the luteal phase which I don't get, I just get spotting the day before first full day of AF.

He wasn't at all interested in discussing bbt although I told him I almost never see a pattern and it is always on the low side.

He said said you can spend lots of time trying to investigate if it's a real short luteal phase defect or just start treatment as though it is and see if it works. I had been expecting to maybe get prescribed some progesterone or something but he suggested I start on Clomid next cycle. I'm currently on CD 24 of my 7th cycle TTC so if I'm not pregnant this time around I will start that next cycle. He gave me the pills there and then, enough for the next two months. I know clomid is used for PCOS which I def don't have although he said I might have had it when I was younger though. I think it's actually fairly common that women can grow out of it just because of the changes that come with age (I am 32, 33 in a few months) When he did the ovary scan and follicle count he said what might be happening is the follicles are staying low and coming up too late or something. Honestly I was so overwhelmed I barely followed it all so glad DH was there.
Has anyone else tried clomid? @Proseccoprincess33 was the suggested to you at all?
@MintGreenLife welcome! After reading your posts I hope some of my updates might be helpful to you. I wonder if perhaps you have been ovulating earlier that you think and just not getting the peak? Or could you possibly have PCOS? Also I am not sure if I am going to bother with the bbt anymore as found it had just been making me more anxious than anything and the dr didn't even seem interested. Mine is really a bit all over the place but I am wondering if thats also because I'm a really light sleeper and wake a lot during the night. I know you are probably sick of hearing about it but try not to worry.

Good luck all!

@Proseccoprincess33

Thanks for being so understanding, I totally get that I am only two months in but it's hard not to fret. To be honest I'm less worried about it than I thought I would be. I wasn't charting my first cycle but I had a feeling I knew with ovulation was as I got lots of EWCM, and then like I said sore nipples and then AF just a few days later. I had read into short luteal phases and thought well if I ovulated when I think I did that would mean a luteal phase of just a few days, but then I thought no I've probably got that wrong, I'll wait and see what happens next cycle, and then same thing again but I could confirm it this time. The fact that I'm fresh off the pill is keeping me from getting too concerned.

Yeah sure ☺️ It's absolute nonsense though! As you'll see I had three LH surges and on the highest (third) one my temp went up, but only a smidge and just for three days, then AF arrived. With the third LH surge I got three days of EWCM, whereas I didn't get any with the others.

Is the GP starting to help you now after 7 months? Hope they can figure out what's going on xx

@MintGreenLife I know how frustrating it is 😤 but no gp or consultant will do anything for a good 6 months after coming off pill sadly 😔 I have only been trying 7 months and already went to fertility clinic to get prog so I understand the stress ans want to fast forward. Do you have a pic of your chart? I have become obsessed by them since ttc lol xx

@Proseccoprincess33 x

Thanks so much for your reply ☺️ I already chart BBT which is how I know I had a super short luteal phase. You're totally right. I'll try to go with the flow for a few months and see if things improve, thanks 😘 X

@kittie321 mine was not much better tbh at 6.8. But consultant was not concerned at all. Says doesn't want to rush down ivf route. But did say as my mum has early menopause that if no baby in 3 Months we will do ivf.. He had originally said 6. He said as I had a chemical pregnancy before he felt it would happen naturally and not to worry 😊

I also cornered him into giving me progesterone pessaries and he agreed lol he did not think short lp was an issue... There's a shocker lol

@MintGreenLife do you take your bbt temperatures? I would do that and you can see the actual day you ovulate and when af comes. Then if after a few months you see no change you could get bloods done. Loads of people have v v wonky cycles after coming off pill so pls try not to worry. Easier said than done I know 😔 xxx

Just popping on again as AF arrived yesterday for me, which means I had a 3 day luteal phase!! Just wondering if anyone else had this when fresh off the pill? As I mentioned above this was my second cycle off the pill and I knew my luteal phase was probably going to be short as last cycle I had sore nipples/boobs for 4 days and then AF showed, same again this cycle, the day after ovulation straight away I had sore nipples and then low and behold AF three days later. Just curious if anyone else was effected this way coming off the pill and if their luteal phase extended? Thanks x

@Proseccoprincess33 message above!

I’m sure yours will be higher than 5. From everything I’ve read it tallies with FSH so if mines 12 and yours is 10 it should be higher.
I’ve spoken to the consultant and he has said I have a good chance via IVF - he gave odds of 35% in one cycle so if I did 3 it should tip the balance in my favour. But these things seem quite random tbh!
Husbands SA was very good so thats one thing (so makes me feel like it’s completely my fault - it is I guess!!).
I was gutted when I found out, now I’ve had some time to process and rationalise I feel better. It’s not that I can’t conceive naturally but being realistic it will be a hard rd. I would be self funding, totally fair enough given I’ve been blessed with one DC already.
Let me know how you get on - I’ll be rooting for you!

@sausageface been thinking of you. Hope you are doing okay xxx

@kittie321 I am sorry to hear that 😔 although I have read about many ladies with an amh much lower than that and they conceived either naturally or with ivf so don't lose hope. Did you speak with a Consultant yet about options?

I am expecting a low amh today and really trying to prepare myself for it. Hoping for above 5 as NHS cut off is 5 I think and fsh cut of is 12.5. Although I have money set aside for private ivf if it's needed.

I have also considered egg donar if things are like worst case scenario. Big hugs to you. I hope you are not too down. Life is just really shite sometimes xxx

Hey @Proseccoprincess33 unfortunately I did and it wasn’t good news. They were low (6.1) so it indicates a DOR. Trying to figure out where to go from here which seems to inevitably be IVF. Pretty gutted though having conceived quickly and naturally 2.5 years ago.
So considering next steps - I’m focusing the supplements on egg quality and will probs give it a whirl for a few more months. Then it’s IVF (or accepting life as a family of 3 which I’m incredibly grateful for). But even that is a minefield! The clinic I’m with have the best success rates but it’s very focused on the highest dose of meds etc. I’m just looking into a milder approach but in reality if the chance of success is low doing that it defeats the object! Really hope you have better news! I’ll have everything crossed for you.

Thanks @MintGreenLife appointment tomorrow so I'm nervous now 😢 hope you're doing ok ❤️

@Minai thank you so much for this. That's such a wonderful success story. Congrats on your 2 beautiful children and good luck with ttc number 3 ❤️

@kittie321 did you get your amh results back? Mine are tomorrow 😱😱😱

Oh and just to add I haven’t been on the pill for a while now and still have short luteal phases so I think it is just me and not the pill that did that. Now ttc dc3 so will see how it goes this time

Just jumping on to say I have a short luteal phase. When I was first ttc I put it down to coming off the pill. The longest luteal phase I had was 10 days, it was usually around 7/8 days. I tried pregnancy vitamins, vitamin b and agnus castus with no effect. I conceived ds1 after 5 months. When I went to conceive ds2 my luteal phase was 7 days the first month and the next month I conceived him so just to reassure people that having a short luteal phase isn’t the end of the world

@Proseccoprincess33 message above x

Thanks so much for your reply :) I'm sure you're both right and I'm fussing prematurely. I've ordered Pregnacare and will start taking from tomorrow. Spotted it contains all of the B vitamins, which I believe can help if progesterone is out of whack from coming off the pill, also going to take vit c as appears that can help too.

Fantastic, really hope that meeting goes well for you xxx

Hello @MintGreenLife you're v welcome. I would also tend to agree that as you have just come off bc you cannot really tell if it is a short lp yet and hopefully for you it is not 😊

Def get yourself on a good preconception multi vitamin. I am due to meet virtually with a consultant on Thurs about all this ttc craic and my low prog and short lp so anything I find to be of help i will post ❤️

Hope you're all well xxx

@Kitte321x

Thanks so much :) really appreciate your advice x

Not a problem @MintGreenLife. I think either of those would be absolutely fine. Yes for some it can delay ovulation for a couple of days but given you haven’t yet settled into regular cycles it’s probably not an issue.
Good luck - I’m sure it will be fine in a couple of months!!

@Kitte321 thanks so much for your reply :) I totally get where you are coming from in saying it's too early to worry - I'm sure you're right that my body just needs some time to regulate.

I actually found this article which is really useful in understanding what happens when you come off the pill, and how to help your body regulate: avivaromm.com/post-pill-reset/

Funnily enough the first step is to start taking a multivitamin, is there a specific one you would recommend? I have the Seven Seas Trying for a Baby, but when comparing the vitamins it misses out a couple that this article advises. I've looked at Pregnacare, which contains everything, but have heard it can really mess up your cycles - although am on CD36 right now having just ovulated, so mine are already messed up. I looked at the Wellwoman multivitamin (made by the same company as Pregnacare) and that seems to contain much the same as Pregnacare, but is slight cheaper, and has the addition of evening primrose oil which I know is meant to be good for cervical mucus, so I may try that. Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to do something wrong and make my cycle worse!

Thanks x

Hello @MintGreenLife my honest advice is to give it time. TTC can be all consuming and the longer you can stay even slightly relaxed about it the better! (Speaking as someone who has spent the last 6 months completely obsessed).
I’m no expert but I think it’s too early to be worrying. Get yourself on a decent pre conception multi vitamin and see how the next few months go. If after that you’re still struggling things like Agnus Castus can help regulate your hormones.
Good luck - I’m sure it’s just your body regulating!!

Hi all,

Hope you don't mind me hopping on here. I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice/let me know if anyone has experienced similar...

I came off the pill in April as was due to get married September this year, but wedding has been postponed due to the pandemic. We decided to start TTC instead, and this has been our first cycle, but second cycle off the pill.

I wasn't tracking my first cycle, but this cycle have been charting BBT and using OPKs. I'm current on CD36, and didn't get a positive OPK until CD33. My temp spiked today, so looks like yesterday was ovulation day. During this cycle, I have had three LH surges in total, with the last seeming to finally trigger ovulation. The first surge was on CD20, second 5 days later, and next not until CD33. Between CD20 until now I felt pretty awful with mild nausea, fatigue, an upset tummy, cramps and lower back ache, with the cramps and lower back ache becoming worse over the last week, and are now relieved since ovulation. Prior to ovulation I had 3 days of EWCM, so took this to be a good sign.

The reason why I'm writing on this thread is because today (1DPO) my boobs are agony. I was worried this might happen again, as the same thing happened last month. While I wasn't using OPKs etc the last cycle, I did notice EWCM around CD23-24, following this I got sore nipples, which lasted until AF arrived, making this cycle 30 days, and so what would appear to be a 5-6 day luteal phase. Now I have sore breasts again, I'm concerned AF will arrive way earlier than the typical 10-14 days.

What I wanted to ask is if anyone has any advice. Should I consider starting a B6 supplement for my next cycle, or is it best to wait and see what happens with my next few cycles? Something else I have suffered from for a few years now (while I was on the pill) is a low sex drive, and I was hoping this would improve upon coming off the pill, and while I think it has a little, it's not particularly noticeably better. From what I've researched online, sore breasts after ovulation, a low sex drive and a sort LP could all point to low progesterone.

Thanks so much in advance, I realise this is a mini essay x