Anyone suffered with luteal phase defect?

[viv73]

Been ttc #1 for four months andcharting for two. Last month I o'd on day 28 and af came nine days later. This cycle I took b6 and Agnes castus and evening primrose up to day of ovulation. FF had me ovulating this month on day 20 although felt pains on day 22. Yesterday day 26 started light bleed that is still going and think it has to be af! So worried as if I am right that is a 4 day luteal phase and if FF right it is still only 6. Going to docs next weekbut just want reassurance that this issue can be sorted in a timely manner without months of tests and referrals. I really want to be a mummy!

Hi Viv I've had a rubbish luteal phase (7 or 8 days according to ff) and it's very disheartening. I did go to dr but they were not interested and said they couldn't start testing without a referral to fertility clinic which they wouldn't consider for at least a year-18 months given my age (34), the fact that I already have children and gave been pg recently (I miscarried at 16 weeks in July).

I do think that's wrong and she could have done basic progesterone tests etc without a referral but I just wanted to warn you because tbh I would consider...er... exaggerating the amount of time you've been ttc just in case.

Having said that, gp did say (and I have heard from several sources) that length of LP is not necessarily a problem as long as your progesterone levels are high enough because in the event of pg they would kick in to sustain it. But I still think it's worth having a progesterone blood test in case this is the issue. If it is, then actually it's fairly easy and quick to treat with progesterone suppositories I believe.

Not sure if that's helpful or not, but didn't want you to go unanswered. Also, beware of relying too much on computer interpretation of your charts, after ov I have a slow but steady rise in LH which ff seems to struggle to pick up; it draws the line a couple of days later when the rise becomes more obvious but I don't think that's necessarily accurate.

Good luck with everything!

Hi Viv and Izzy....I think I suffer from a LF defect or and just generally worried about my periods. Ive been trying for 15 months and I used to ovulate on day 14 and would get my priod by day 23....I take Vit B6 and it has helped to lenghten my LF (but does take a couple of months to get in your system) however I spot from 5 days PO to until I get my AF which I just dont think is right and its been the same every month for about a year...gone are the days of getting excited that it may be implantation bleeding) Ive been to my docs on numberous occasions and just last week had my first consultation at the Fertility clinic after I pestered the doc with a million questions. They could not tell me anythign about the spotting still however have booked me for an ultrasound to look at my ovaries and uterus and also the HSG where they do the dye through the tubes. Ive had all the blood tests done and they came back normal....i'll let you know what they say at my next fertility clinic which they said would be in 3 months (so not too happy about that) and when I get my results from the tests. I agree with Lizzy and exaggerate how long you have been trying otherwise they will just tell you to keep trying for a year before they will investige anything. I feel much more positive now im having tests as was getting very low and emotionsal especially as 4 people have announced they are preggars in the last few months. Im happy for them of course but cant help but go home and have a little cry!

Sorry about your miscarriage Izzy...they should do the tests you want maybe try and really insist that they do the blood tests for you and that you would like a referral to the fertility clinic...you have every right to even if you already have children.

I too have a LFD. Didn't even know it until I started TTC a few months back (9 days, though I think may occasionally be shorter). I ended up having two chemical pregnancies (fell as soon as started trying), but the Dr I spoke to after the second one was (typically) unworried, so didn't do any tests and told me not to worry .

Third cycle trying I took a cup of licorice tea (not as nasty as it sounds) every day until I ov'd, 2 days earlier than usual. I'm now the best part of 8 weeks pg.

Honestly have no idea if the licorice tea helped or if I have a random luteal phase cycle and just got lucky on a long cycle. However assuming all continues to go well with this pg, I am proof that it is possible to successfully concieve with a LFD.

I hope this is the sort of answer you were after. Hang in there, it will happen for you .

Oh and don't take any crap from your GP. I was fully prepared to go biserk at mine if I had another CP this time round.

Thank you so much - there is soooo much negativity out there on the old web. Its lovely to hear such a lovely positive story. You've made my night. Will give the tea a whirl I think!

I'm not sure what a chemical pregnancy is but I'll look it up.

Anyway best best of luck with your pregnancy and thank you so much for your message xx

I have recently started ttc and think that my leutal phase is on the short side but only in second month so still unsure. Iv heard tht the contraceptive pill can impact upon leutal phase was wondering if any of you have been on pill previously?

Hi I agree it is nice to hear a positive story - lets keep positive...good luck with your pregnancy NoMoreChocBiscuits x

Um maybe the pill does I do remember I used always be 28 days on the dot then went on the pill for only about a year...it could of messed it up

I would agree with pill having some effect. I have a perfect 28 day cycle (or did b4 the pill). We have now decided it's time to try again,I came off the pill and I'm ovulating but seem to be having very short leutal phase's. Last one was about 8 days !!
I am in what should be the 2ww now. I am about 5dpo so will keep you posted.

I have done in the past and to get medical people to acknowledge it at all was a battle!

Have 2 grown daughters (easily caught for) and then caught very easily in 2006 twice (1 mc) followed awfully by a full term stillbirth. And then the LPD problem raised its ugly head. 9 months (I was 38+) of ttc and despite me knowing and being very very certain of ov dates the first consultant told me it didnt even exist! hmmmm

Second opinion from another consultant with day 21 tests and a prescription for Clomid and hey presto month1 and a bfp :)

And now she's a very precious 2+ yr old

Wishing you all lots of luck, but arm yourself with lots of info. I knew clomid could move ov and went in asking specifically for it!

How do you calculate leutal phase? do you count from possitive Ovulation test or from you temp rise? i had been counting from positive ovulation as mine may be even shorter!

Hey witches - you should count the first day of your temp rise until your period starts. You don't include the day of your period. OPKs can be misleading as sometimes you can have several days of positives and it predicts ovulation rather than proves it iyswim. but if you temp as well then you will probably find that it corresponds. I have a short one too which seems to have been brought on by an m/c or perhaps it was always short. A consultant in harley street on Monday said I must be confused as it was very unusual not to have a 14 day phase. Sometimes I wonder about the professionals!

thanks for that vics although i think that makes mine even shorter oh dear! been tring B6 as read was a good natural way to increase the leutal phase. will keep my fingers crossed for us all! keep me updated

LOts of B6 is needed I think - rather than the normal supplement

yes I agree B6 definitely lengthened mine...

forencrusty can I ask you a question you said taking clomid for a month and you got your BFP - were you ovulating every month..I was wondering if they would try me on clomid as ive been trying for 16 months and had my first fertility appointment a couple of weeks ago and just having tests next week but I thought if you ovulate reguarly clomid can have an adverse affect and stop you ovulating...just worried what your thought are?

sounds like you had a really bad time so glad you have a lovely daughter now.

Yes i have heard about B6. I have another appt in about 10 days with a gyno consultant and will get more info then. Has anyone used acupuncture to lengthen their LP?

Absent bump ( :( )

I was ovulating every month, but late every month. I've never heard it can stop oving. And we were certainly never told this and it was not on the info that came with the pills.

It can make you release more eggs (hence the multiple risk) and it can change ov dates though.

I know its a very cheap drug from an NHS point of view and I know it is often a first stop for them.

I really hope you get some action and a result very soon

Ah thanks for the infoflorencerusty..yes sorry thought I had heard something like that before but may have been mistaken think I read so many difference things :) thanks for the info just wondering if they may try me on that then....

thanks

Got a positive this morning not even missed AF yet so still a little apprehensive kinda don't want to believe in case jinks it! B6 seems to have certainly worked for me 200mg a day - might be worth a go if not already

haha - that 's great!! really crossed fingers for you. i better get that b6 !!

witches im so pleased for you....im sure it will be fine think positive...keep us updated..i was always taking 100mg a day but will up it to 200

Thanks very excited and trying very hard to stay positive but v early days. While im praying my wee dot is fine ill say one for you guys to get urs!