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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 Gang!

806 replies

Beau20 · 27/02/2020 09:05

I started a thread a while ago asking for success stories but now I would love to get all the girls together who are struggling to conceive with their short Luteal Phase!

Here's a little bit about me -

TTC #1
Cycle 7
28 years old
Luteal phase average 9-10 days longest being 11 days.
Ovulation CD17-18 cycles 26-28 days long

I have had 2 pregnancies before (both termination please no flaming) both conceived without even trying, one with my current partner of 6 years. I also had a chemical in January. My last contraception was Nexplanon for 1 year and before that I was on the pill for 10 years or so (which was when I conceived previous). I have been taking 50mg sertraline for 6 months then 100mg sertraline for 6 months after that and have just stopped completely today. This is the only thing I have been doing differently since I conceived last time so part of me thinks this may affect fertility.

I'd love to hear about everyone else's journey! x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
24
Wearenotyourkind · 06/04/2020 15:07

Wow! Huge congrats @CooperLooper 🥳 this is so lovely hear and does give us all hope. Sorry about your ankle though. Really hoping it sticks 💗

CooperLooper · 06/04/2020 13:29

Thanks both

Also I was taking every supplement under the sun for two months (agnus, b6, b complex, high dose vit c and folic acid) but I stopped those last month because it was sending my head a bit west taking that many tablets every day. So this has been the first month of just taking a a big standard pregnancy and conception multivitamin. Probably a coincidence but maybe worth sharing

paintfairy · 06/04/2020 12:26

@Beau20 I think the ideal ovulation time is 14 days or later. Because the egg isn't mature enough before ideally. And the less mature- the poorer the corpus luteum? I dunno. But still not much on my OPK this morning.

@CooperLooper oh wow! Congratulations!

Original poster
Beau20 · 06/04/2020 12:24

@CooperLooper wow!! Amazing news sooooo so happy for you!!! So sorry to hear about your ankle though that must be awful!!! Thank you so much for sharing and I am keeping everything crossed for you that it all works out 💕💕

OP posts:
CooperLooper · 06/04/2020 12:15

Hey everyone. I recognise quite a lot of you from the previous luteal phase thread we had going. Just jumping on because unbelievably I have a positive story to share.

We've been TTC#1 since October after having my implant removed, which I'd had in consecutively for around 6 years and the pill for years before that. I'm 29.

My luteal phase for each (really irregular) cycle I've had has been:

4 days
8 days
5 days
7 days

I've been on contraception for so long I have no idea whether my cycles have always been like that.

I stopped coming on Mumsnet for a while because I was getting really upset about it all and was really struggling with seeing people's BFPs after having sex once without even TTC (sad I know) so just cut it off and blocked it out. I also had tests at the doctors last month and he suggested I have PCOS too based on my luteal issues, irregular cycles and irregular hormone levels. So I thought it would never happen.

Well.... on Weds last week I fell and broke my ankle in two places and my period never arrived when expected, I figured it was a no-show because of the trauma. I've also had nausea and high temps which I also put down to my swollen leg and being in a cast etc.

Took a test today at 11DPO and I've had a faint BFP. I'm scheduled to have surgery on Thursday and I've been taking a ton of medication and injections recently so I'm terrified it's not going to stick. But at least I know I CAN get pregnant now, so I'll keep my fingers crossed....

Short Luteal Phase Gang!
Original poster
Beau20 · 06/04/2020 09:59

@paintfairy my GP said that low progesterone can be caused by problems at the ovulation stage, either no or weak ovulation which produces a poor corpus luteum. Or alternatively ovulation is fine but the corpus luteum just doesn't produce enough progesterone. Another thing she said can cause low progesterone is estrogen dominance which is said is basically just imbalanced hormones.

I always used to ovulate around CD14 and now I'm ovulating like CD17-20 but still having 28 day cycles. I am trying my hardest to bring ovulation forward as hopefully if I ovulate early and my cycle stays 28 days I can get a longer luteal phase! Soy isoflavones seem to have had an effect. Last month I tried to ovulate CD13 but it failed and I ended up ovulating a week later. This cycle is my 2nd cycle taking it and I've been having EWCM since yesterday CD11 so expecting (hoping) ovulation tomorrow. Hopefully this isn't another false alarm and it will actually happen earlier rather than later!

I don't think there is a huge issue with ovulating earlier than CD14. They say the one you want to be consistent is luteal phase of ideally 14 days

OP posts:
paintfairy · 06/04/2020 09:22

I have had my day 2 bloods done last year, and they were apparently normal. Never saw them though.

Do all you guys have normal length cycles, just a short LP?

I thought my progesterone was low. My LP isn't short but I bleed through it from 10 dpo. Sometimes a lot. Obviously progesterone comes actually from the egg/corpus luteum. This made me think that it could be this stage you need to tackle, as opposed to after. Not that I know really. Lol.

So I've been taking all sorts over time. Some stuff has made no change. I actually usually ovulate days 11-13 looking back over 2 years. With the last several cycles being day 11. Which is quite early and not necessarily good. So I wonder if things aren't ideal in that sense?

Anyway - this month I'm now on CD 14. With no sign of ovulation? I got a slight increase day 9 but it went. Then another yesterday but it was tiny. Temp remains at 36.30 today. I'm hoping this is good. But I'm not sure on the reasons. I can only guess. CM is increasing among with sex drive, so its coming at some point - I hope. 😂

I started taking vitex before the beginning of my last cycle. Maybe that's finally working. I was taking high level b12 which I've now started alternating with b50s (they didn't agree with me last time, when I was trying them daily). I started taking ubiquinol on CD 2 this month.

I already take vitamins too and shatavari, but I've been taking that a few months now. So these haven't altered.

Also- I tried progesterone cream last month. Made zero difference to my LP. I even seemed to start AF a day early. So whether that had some weird knock on effect? I don't know.

Failing that- its coronavirus stress and the change of not going to work. 😂 I'm working from home.

Original poster
Beau20 · 05/04/2020 13:53

@Proseccoprincess33 yep I know! She said it's likely just hormones regulating still... yeah a whole year to regulate really?? I mean fine but I've never once had this issue before and I'm only 28 so there's clearly something not right.

Yeah I had my FSH and TSH levels done at the same time. I'm not sure on the actual results as they were being awkward about telling me but she said 'doctors has reviewed they are normal no further action'. It's annoying because each gp has a different idea of 'normal'.

I am considering going private for a 2nd opinion too... if I was a few years younger I would wait but I really really don't want to be having kids past 30 (not saying there is anything wrong with it but for my own personal reasons I don't want to) and I am coming up to 29 now.

OP posts:
Proseccoprincess33 · 05/04/2020 11:52

Yeah same. Its so ridiculous that your progesterone is so low and they are saying to keep trying for another 4 months. I mean talk about wasting time. I can't remember of you said before but do you have an underactive thyroid? Because I do I've read it can lead to low progesterone etc.

I actually think once this corona pandemic is over and hopefully I'm still alive 😳 that I'm going to go private for bloods and advice etc expensive but NHS don't seem to take anything seriously 😒

Original poster
Beau20 · 05/04/2020 11:05

@Proseccoprincess33 no she said because I've not been trying for 12 months they will do nothing for my low progesterone for another 4 months... I've had 2 chemicals as well which is the only reason I managed to get the bloods in the first place. She didn't even seem to think progesterone was a big deal...

I have however heard of progesterone suppositories being prescribed for women who have recurrent miscarriages but not for actual low progesterone if that makes sense? I have been using progesterone cream but no difference. I was using it when I had my bloods done. I don't actually even think it makes a difference

OP posts:
Proseccoprincess33 · 04/04/2020 13:14

@Beau20 can I ask, when gp noted low progesterone did they offer to prescribe anything for it? I was due to have my day 21 bloods done but stupid fucking corona put a hault to that!

I am having issue that I get af dpo 8/9 and then a few days later I am gettimg a stromg positive pregnancy test which then fades. Its happened twice and the only reason I tested was because of high temps...!

I have progesterone cream on shelf which I was temped to use... But progesterone may not be the issue, although I suspect it is as I have an underactive thyroid (which is medicated and apparently stable) and I k ow low p and underactive thyroid are partners in crime 😞

Sorry for essay. Like all of you guys I feel stuck as corona virus has stopped all tests and possible means to discover what issue is. I'm 33 which I know is not very old but I still don't want to be hamging around for months and months.

Hope you are all doing OK in lock down xx

Wearenotyourkind · 03/04/2020 21:25

Interesting! Keep us posted @Beau20 as I might give them a go next cycle. I'm still taking AC, but no luck lengthening my LP as yet. On cycle #9 now and turning 35 in 6 months so feeling a bit disheartened.

Original poster
Beau20 · 03/04/2020 20:25

@Trying2019 you are totally right. We fell pregnant within 3 months last time and I think I expected the same so now I'm just like wtf?? It absolutely will happen for us both I am 10000% sure!

@Wearenotyourkind yes I took them 2-5 this cycle. I'm not doing OPKs or anything this cycle (other than temps) so noooo idea where I am!

OP posts:
Wearenotyourkind · 02/04/2020 17:31

Are you taking the Soya Isoflavones again this cycle @Beau20 ?

Trying2019 · 31/03/2020 17:06

@beau20 i have had them done all came back normal. FSH they said satisfactory but doctor said that was fine. I just think we will have a baby eventually just need to think more long term and not waste time being depressed about it. Its shit though. I just want to make some exciting plans but cant even do that with corona xx

Original poster
Beau20 · 31/03/2020 15:21

@Trying2019 it's horrible, I'm sick of it. I have 'nightmares' almost every night about not having a baby/not ever been able to/close family members being pregnant and me not.

Weird question but has anyone on here had their day 2-4 bloods done? FSH, TSH and LH? Or has anyone got a thyroid problem?

OP posts:
Trying2019 · 29/03/2020 23:10

@Beau20 its shit isnt it. Never thought it would be so bad. We DTD loads this time as well. I know his sperm is fine. I know im ovulating. I just dont know why its not bloody happening. 😡 and now bloody Corona. We will keep trying and just see what happens. Shame everything is now on hold so no more tests until the madness ends x

Original poster
Beau20 · 29/03/2020 21:13

@Trying2019 AF came for me this week also... I started spotting on 11DPO and instead of period 12DPO I had another day of spotting. So still only 10DPO before spotting starts...

I had my progesterone levels taken again 6 DPO and it was only 19 and Gp said needs to be at least 30 to sustain a pregnancy.

I genuinely give up on TTC - I hate it! Plus coronavirus has put me off too 😫

OP posts:
Trying2019 · 29/03/2020 17:20

Im out again. Just started spotting 10 DPO was really hoping to get to 11 days at least. I don't know what to do now. Still think it will just never happen for us naturally. I dont think anything makes a difference either. I might just go back to what i tried the first couple of cycles when i had a 12 day luteal phase but starting to think i didnt even ovulate them months 😫

Wearenotyourkind · 28/03/2020 09:44

CD7 here. Am continuing with Agnus Castus but not sure it's having any effect.

paintfairy · 27/03/2020 22:31

I'm now CD4. Nothing seems to make any bloody difference, no matter what I do. 🙄

Trying2019 · 27/03/2020 21:51

Just checking in to see how everyone is getting on. Im 8 DPO no signs really. Hoping i last a couple more days before any spotting x

paintfairy · 22/03/2020 10:44

@Wearenotyourkind only this month. Started using it just after ovulation twice a day every day. And the spotting started on time, like usual? So either its not the issue or the cream just doesn't work. No idea? I'm still using it.

Wearenotyourkind · 22/03/2020 10:41

@paintfairy oops

Wearenotyourkind · 22/03/2020 10:41

Argh@paintfairy sooooo frustrating 🤬 how long have you been trying the progesterone cream?

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