Luteal spotters and successful pregnancy?

@purplecolouroffunk thank you! The b6 has definitely reduced my spotting, I now only spot for one day before AF is in full swing. It didn’t really extend my luteal phase by much though it’s still only 10 days. However I worked out I would have been 9dpo when I got my bfp with my last pregnancy so a 10 day luteal phase must be enough if implantation is early.

@Frankie2607 let me know how you get on with the high strength vitamin c, I have some in my cupboard but haven’t tried it yet! I’ve also been reading about agnus cactus which is meant to be good for increasing progesterone levels naturally, so I might give it a try next cycle instead of the b6 if I get a bfn this current cycle!

@purplecolouroffunk @GreyHoggy I’ve never had my progesterone measured, I need to wait until 12 months of trying again since the missed miscarriage before my doctors will do it. I am tempted to pay for the test privately though!

As for my the progesterone pessaries requirements @purplecolouroffunk if you’ve had a miscarriage in the past and experience spotting in early pregnancy and the pregnancy is detected in the womb the EPU should give you progesterone as per the guidelines.

@purplecolouroffunk great your progesterone is ok, but understand sometimes it's easier if something isn't right so you can sort it.

@Haylsttc sorry about your miscarriage. That is also one of my worries if I actually manage to get pregnant. Have you ever had your progesterone measured? I started taking B6 this month so will see if it makes any difference.

@purplecolouroffunk I get what you mean. Although you never want them to find something, at least if they do it could potentially give you answers.

Yep same test. My doc said it will look at my progesterone levels just to ensure I ovulated. After that she kinda said there’s not really any further testing they can do. Well, not on the nhs at least.

@Haylsttc interesting about the B6. I’m also taking a high strength B vit complex after doing some research. I found that they also said a high strength vit C can help progesterone naturally. First cycle taking it and too early to tell yet, but I’m intrigued! I’ve literally done so much research it’s a joke 😂😭

Can’t shy away from the fact were desperate to get pregnant again. Literally would do anything.

Just jumping on this thread to share my experience!

I’ve always tracked my period even before ttc, not ovulation though. I noticed that I would spot for a few days before my period fully arrived but I didn’t think anything of it until we started trying and I found out what a short luteal phase was.

I started taking 100mg of vitamin b6 daily after researching how to increase your luteal phase. The first month I took it I fell pregnant! I was sure the b6 helped me fall pregnant. Sadly the pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage, I’m convinced due to low progesterone but we’ll never know.

I’m ttc again now and have taken the b6 for a few cycles with no success so perhaps it was just a fluke. Hopefully when I do fall pregnant again, given my history, I’ll be offered progesterone pessaries as I now meet the requirements, which is sad in itself that not everyone is offered it.

Sorry that turned into a bit of a ramble but I just thought it was worth the suggestion in case it helps someone else get a bfp 😊

@purplecolouroffunk Glad you got your results back. Will be interesting to see what the doctor says about them. Makes you wonder what else is going on if it’s not progesterone. Let us know how you get on ☺️

I’ve got my “day 21” blood test next week. Very intrigued to see what it says! My doctor did say though the only thing that test proves is if you’ve ovulated or not. That’ll give peace of mind, but might not give me the answer I’m looking for.

@purplecolouroffunk How’d you get on recently?

And how’s everyone else? ☺️

I’m not a massive MN poster, but this thread gave me so much comfort, so thanks guys. We’ve decided not to track ovulation this month bc, tbh, it drives me insane! I actually feel quite hopeful, but that’ll probably change 😂

@purplecolouroffunk I think I will definitely ask for another test at 7 DPO, then if there is an issue they can hopefully help.
Let me know how your test results turn out, fingers crossed you get some answers!

I also had quite a short luteal phase of about 11 days, again I was expecting this cause issues ttc but in the end it didn’t seem to. Means my days were slightly out from LMP when dating my pregnancy but that’s about it.

My spotting used to be fairly heavy especially after straining on the toilet (sorry if TMI) - a BM used to be the first start of the spotting with fresh blood and it was pink the rest of the time, turning darker and more like a period a couple of days before my proper AF arrived. The month I was pg was the same from what I recall, except as it got closer to AF being due it had got lighter instead of darker and there was less and less of it instead of more. AF would usually arrive with bad cramps but obviously it never did.

I also had quite a bit of spotting throughout my first trimester, unsure if it’s linked though. Scans etc have never picked up any problems associated with the bleeding and it’s been put down to hormonal changes/sensitive cervix.

Following as in a similar position. 35 and have been TTC for a year but start spotting from about 9dpo. Had all the tests and no issues, though dr insisted on taking progesterone on day 21 even though I told him I have a 40 day cycle and don’t ovulate until about day 27. Going to try and get another test done for that as I'm convinced low progesterone is the problem.

@purplecolouroffunk the consultant gynae I saw suggested the pessaries before I brought it up but I was planning to try my hardest to get some haha. I don't see what else it could have been other than a progesterone deficiency - I'd had two uterine ultrasounds, smear test, colposcopy and biopsy and no issues found. I'm breastfeeding at the moment and haven't had a period since I gave birth 9 weeks ago so I'm intrigued whether I still spot when my periods start again.

To answer your other question - the month after my CP I bled quite heavily at about 9DPO to the point where I thought my period had arrived early but then had a very faint test the day after. Wishing you loads of luck and let us know how you get on! 🤞🏼

@Frankie2607 I took one a day until I got my positive test then explained what I'd done to my IVF clinic (I was between frozen transfer cycles and thought I'd try naturally whilst we were waiting) who were thankfully supportive and recommended I up it to two a day.

@purplecolouroffunk Yep! I can't say if it was the progesterone or whether it was because I was pregnant though. I assumed progesterone as I'd used it in my failed IVF cycle and didn't bleed until I came off it.

Also, yes I'm in the UK :)

@purplecolouroffunk I had to get a letter from the GP for my private referral and then contact the healthcare company to book the appointment, all quite straightforward but I think I did have to wait about a week for the initial letter.

It's definitely worth asking your GP about the pessaries, mine said she couldn't prescribe them but maybe some will?! I ended up having to take the pessaries until I was 24 weeks in the end and there was a bit of a discrepancy between whether my GP practice would give me a repeat prescription or whether the maternity unit should and was told it was down to funding 🙄. I wouldn't have thought that you'd need to have a miscarriage or CP before they prescribe them if they do think that low progesterone is the issue - I hope they don't anyway!

The only thing I'd really say is to push for the pessaries even if your test results come back as normal as mine did...