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

Has anyone successfully lengthened their luteal phase?

36 replies

tootle · 05/12/2004 08:42

Mine is 9 days long.

Is that indicative of a hormonal problem?

Will the NHS do anything to treat this?

How could I treat it? Agnus Castus (does it work?)

Traditional Chinese Medicine?

I don't feel like my hormones have got back to normal following a miscarriage in June. Or perhaps my hormones haven't been right since I stopped b/f my dd and maybe that caused my miscarriages this year.

I am pretty sure the docotrs will take no notice of me as I have only ( had 2 miscarriages and I have only had trouble conceiving the passed 6 months.

But say I got a year down the line and still no success ttc.... how would they even treat a hormonal problem?

Any advice would be welcome

OP posts:
Original poster
tootle · 05/12/2004 20:39

My lp is 9 days currently.

Do all GPs recognise a short luteal phase as a fertility problem or do they prefer to take the wait and see approach since some people get pregnant ok with a short luteal phase?

I'm scared to say I have been charting incase tthe GP thinks I am one of those neurotic self diagnosed off the Internet types Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
tootle · 05/12/2004 20:35

Twiglet - how did you get to see the consultant. Were you ttc over a year?

And Jeddah - I'd love to see that article. How do I CAT you?

OP posts:
TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:30

Copied and pasted from previous advice

Baby aspirin (less than 81mg) daily throughout cycle

Vitex Agnus Castus from period to ovulation (although some theories that can be taken throughout cycle but should be stopped when pregnancy established)

Evening Primrose Oil (1500mg to 3000mg per day) from period to ovulation (do not take past ovulation)

Vitamin B6 (100mg to 200mg) most B6 supplements have a lot less so should ask specifically for this

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:28

Hey tootles

Vitamin B has to be taken in high doses .. between 100mg to 200mg

other things that might be helpful are Baby aspirin less than 81mg a day, Vitex Agnus Castus and Evening primrose oil (but only up to ovulation)

I had short post luteal phase (8 days) and tbh my consultant put me on low-dose clomid (to give a boost to system) .. my ovulation wasn't brought forward .. still happened day 24 but it worked 'cos I conceived very first month

Good luck

jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:20

I have a really good article given to me by one of the GPs at work

The dose has to be all VitB6 and you keep increasing until the LP is lengthened...(the safe outer limit is 300mg..I think)
If you are interested you can CAT me and I will send it to you!

How long is your Lp at the mo?

Original poster
tootle · 05/12/2004 20:15

I am taking nearly 100mg of B6. Half of it in a B6 tablet and the other half of the dosage in a B50 complex.

OP posts:
jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:07

tootle what dose of vit B6 are you on??

jingleballs · 05/12/2004 19:18

blood tests need to be done a week b4 your period my dr said CD 21 at first, and when I told him that was 3 days after the day I was booked in for the test, he said it didn't matter as long as I had them done a week before I was due on. (turned out to be in effect day 21 (as I had blood done on day 19 of a 26 day cycle). Angus Catus seems to have made OV earlier, thou by how much i'm not yet sure about, It's also made my cycles shorter by a day. I takw two tablets twice daily of 400mg from holland and barrets. (have just swoped to another brand thou which says two tablets only and they are 500mg, I think i'll take 3 to stay in between, and nearer to the 1600mg i've been taking so far.

Original poster
tootle · 05/12/2004 19:14

Many thanks for your responses.

I meant to write past and not passed Blush

I have taken B6 for the past 10 weeks and it hasn't (yet) made a difference to my luteal phase.

Futurity - What dosage of Agnus Castus Vitex did you take and how long did you take it for before you noticed a difference to your luteal phase?

When you got the blood tests to check your hormones, on which cycle days did they take the blood?

OP posts:
jeddah · 05/12/2004 09:52

I am taking Vit B6 and lengthened from 6 to 12!

futurity · 05/12/2004 09:06

Mine was 9/10 days after I came off the pill which was a problem as I ovulated on day 20 but then AF turned up on day 29. This meant even though my temps showed a dip for ovulation and positive looking "pregnancy" temps my period would turn up before any implantation could occur.

Because I took my temps for a few months and knew what was up I was able to go to see my doctor with confidence even though I had only been TTC for 4-5 months. She agreed that yes it could be a problem and that she would take blood tests in the following cycle and that this problem is normally resolved using progrestrone supplements after being referred to the hospital.

However, in the mean time I researched short luteal phase and started taking Agnus Castus as well as using soya products (yogurt and milk) which were also recommended for helping this problem. Combined with this I took evening primrose, vitamin b6 and magnesium..again all recommended for regulating cycle. Lastly I had a few treatments of reflexology which helped me to relax and switch off a bit from the frustration of TTC and the woman worked on my hormone area which she said wasn't right.

And yes..you've guessed it...I got pregnant (am now 30 weeks). I gained an extra 2 luteal days I think in the end which was enough for success.

So I would suggest starting taking temps..take the supplements..and make the appointment at the doctors as you know your body and you know when things are right. I was sure the doctor would tell me to bu**er off as I hadn't been trying long but because I was armed with facts she had no choice but to agree with me and start the blood test process.(Note..good job I didn't need them..they took the wrong bloods in the end so i would have had to wait another cycle!)

HTH

Swipe left for the next trending thread