Possible Luteal Phase Defect - What to Do About it?

[RingtailedLemur]

I?ve been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for a few months now. I?ve used an ovulation predictor kit (clear blue digital) for my last few menstrual cycles. From this, I?ve established that I have cycles of 25/26 days with luteal phases of 9/10 dates. I?ve done quite a bit of research online (trying to stick to reputable peer-reviewed journals and medical text books) and it seems that this is below average and might be considered a luteal phase ?defect?.

I went to see my GP today but he was quite dismissive saying that I shouldn?t worry and all sorts of people, even those with ?anatomical faults?, could still get pregnant. Not a helpful attitude! He didn?t seem very knowledgeable at all and couldn?t tell me whether I might have more difficulty conceiving than women with average length luteal phases. What he did suggest, however, is that I get a progesterone blood test done on day 19 of my cycle to check whether I?m ovulating.

I?m not sure that this is getting at the real issue, however. As I understand it, luteal phase defect is caused by insufficient progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum. In which case, even if I am ovulating, my uterus wouldn?t be able to maintain the pregnancy.

Your advice would be much appreciated! What should I do? Also, does anyone know if there is any evidence that vitamin B6 genuinely helps lengthen the luteal phase?

Do you think you might be stressing too much?

Yeah, I am stressing but not so much about getting pregnant - it's early days, I know. It's just frustrating not knowing whether there's even a problem. If there is, I'd like to do something about it. If not, great, I'll just carry on as I am now.

Hey Lemur, you'll find a bunch of people on here who discuss their short LP. I am obsessed by my 10/11day one. It's a much debated topic and if I say that your 9/10 day LP is too short, there will be someone who will come along to say they conceived with no problem with a 9 day one. I would say that yours is on the short side (12-16 days is preferable, 10-11 may be an issue) but by no means does it mean you can't conceive and you may conceive quickly but as you have only been tryig for a few months then time wi only tell. Charting your temps will give you a much more accurate picture as to when you are ovulating and your LP. Using an opk doesn't tell you wheb you ovulated. I would start charting your temps so you can arm yourself with some evidence of your LP length.
They do say that a longer luteal phase is better because it gives more time for implantation- it can take 12days for implantation but could take 7 as well. I have heard of gynaes who would tell you yours is too short and others who would tell you it's not important.

I tried 100mg of B6 and it didn't do anything. It works wonders for others. Acupuncture also hasn't worked for extending mine yet. There can be several reasons for a short LP. I would do the progesterone test to see what your levels are like and perhaps get day3 tests done (fsh and lh levels) now to check all is normal. I know it's frustrating when you think there is a problem and people can be dismissive. Ttc can take a while as it is and worrying about sth that may or may not be a problem can make it very stressful. I would take B6, chart, get bloods done and see where you are after 6 months. Otherwise you will probably need to go private for a gynae to check follicle sizes, uterus lining etc etc , you would have to wait a while to do this on the nhs. Good luck!

Hello Ringatiledlemur
I'm in the same boat - I only have a 9/10 day LP (or at least I have had for the past three cycles). In my case I think this is because poor progesterone is being secreted from a less than great egg - in that I don't ovulate until day 20-25. I, like you, have been told by my GP not to worry too much about it and have read countless success stories on here and other forums about women for whom it hasn't been a problem at all (one story that stands out is a woman who was TTC her 15th child with a 9 day luteal phase!!).
Here has been my approach so far:
Month 1: Nothing but pre-natals - ovulated day 20, spotted brown (sorry if TMI!) from 5dpo, AF stopped 9 dpo, then started properly 10dpo. Possible chemical pregnancy but not sure.
Month 2: Started agnus castus and vit B6, plus a vit B complex. O day 25, spotted day 30, full AF day 34. Noticed my BBTs were a bit more erratic with the AC so stopped after O.
Month 3: Just pre-natals and vit B complex, together with some acupuncture. Had a rise in BBT this morning (so O on day 19 possibly) but I also got up to the loo so this might be why!
Have been referred to Kings for investigation and treatment. Have PCOS so think Clomid most likely candidate to bring O forward and hence hopefullly improve quality of the egg.
Good luck x

I'm another one I only just found out through Clearblue fertility monitor that I am 9/10 days. I had a wee freak out yesterday, but trying to relax and see what it's like over the next two months and then reluctantly drag myself off to the doctors.

Thanks for the helpful and supportive messages, guys (sorry for such a late reply - no internet access until now). Charting my temperature sounds like a good idea - at least I will have a clearer picture of what's going on if I do that and if I do see a specialist at some later date, I'll be well prepared.

I've not heard of hormone tests on day 3 - what's that all about then?

Hi RingatiledLemur

I've just had a day 3 blood test at Kings - they took some blood when they did my vaginal ultrasound (not as grim as it sounds - much more bearable than a smear test in my book - plus she was 'up there' for a good 10 mins or so!!).
The day 3 test (which you can have on any day of your period I think) shows your hormone levels - or as the lovely nurse who took my blood put it - "how hard your ovaries have to work each month to produce an egg." Given mine don't seem to get their sh*t together until day 20-25, I'd say they're either work-shy or are working like demons for very little reward!

MrsHY1x