The Short Luteal Phase Gang

[onedaybaby]

Hi,

I've noticed that the question about a short LP comes up quite a lot, and I would love it if we had our own thread to discuss where methods we are doing to try to increase it, lengths and what the dr thinks!

My LP is 8 days with a 31 day cycle.

I am currently taking Agnus Castus and have had accupuncture for 2 months. I also use the CBFM.

This will be my 9th month TTC. I have had the 21 day blood test (which has to be done on 28), the day 3 blood test and an ultrascan. All tests are normal.

I've clearly spent far too long on MN over this year because i've just found a previous thread where i pasted my results!.
TSH - 1.60mu/l
My t4 level was 13.8pmol/l and normal said 9.0-19.0.

It used to be 10 apparently!
The issue with reference ranges is they are huge and if you are close to the 'normal' limits on either side that can be a difference of a factor of 100!

Apparently its fairly simple and involves taking Thyroxine (a hormone)
Once you start taking it though I think you have to be on it for ever so I can see the reluctance to treat people who are borderline.

I believe it can cause both problems concieving and with MC.

I hope I have not caused you to worry, i know what it is like. I veer all the time to thinking I have found some other problem (convinced myself I had PCOS, prematrure ovarian failure and early menopause all in one afternoon!)

That is a great TSH level joycep

No you haven't caused me to worry at all but it's good to hear what other people have been told. And i think it's human nature to want answers to why things aren't happening. I'm glad it's fairly simple to correct though and hopefully a bit of thyroxine and a bit of progesterone will do the trick next time. I would be intersted to know if your doc thinks along the same line as my gynae and that progesterone levels should be above 40...
And i know that feeling too well, i have spent hours hyperventalating with all those suspected problems too!! My latest theory on my lack of being able to conceive is that DH and I are just genetically incompatible. Obviously hoping that all my far flung theories are disapproved very soon with two fat pink lines

Oooh joycep fingers crossed for you!!

I posted on here in July having started agnus castus and acupuncture. I also went on a low sugar diet to help with inflammation etc as recommended in the Zira West books. Anyway after two months on agnus castus my luteal phase went to 12 days from 7 days which I was thrilled about. Even though I'm on the IVF waiting list we carried on trying and I'm now 7 weeks pregnant! We had an anxious wait for early scans after my previous ectopic but it was in the right place. I'm being closely followed with regular scans and my next one is on Friday. Just wanted to write and give hope to other women out there. I'm still so nervous about mc but trying to relax. Fingers crossed all will work out for us after almost three years ttc.

Patience - huge congratulations. i wish you all the best for a successful pregnancy. It is your time now - you have been through enough after taking nearly 3 years, so look after yourself and thanks for posting. It does give me hope!!

Hi
I've found this thread really helpful and was hoping to resurrect it.
Any (more) good news stories out there?
Am a bit worried because temps, opks, cm and mid cycle cramps over the past year point to a luteal phase of only 7-9 days for me. Have tried b6 and agnus castus with no luck as yet.
GP doesn't see it as a problem though I can't see how it can't be, I mean if an egg can take 6-10 days to implant how can it have a chance if uterus starts to break down during this time?
I will finally see fertility consultant next month (fingers crossed) and want to go armed with lots of info incase he fobs me off too. I gather lots of doctors don't take this issue seriously.
Would really like to hear (more) stories from those with a similar problem, especially any success stories in dealing with difficult doctors and of course finally getting bfps!
Cx

anyone?

Hi Chantelle, just noticed this thread again. Eeek it was started 18months ago and I am no further forward, no baby . Anyway, I would say that a 7-9 day LP is problematic. Without generalising too much, I have found GPs knowledge very limited on this subject to say te least. The good news is, if you can find someone who takes it seriously then it can be rectified. Short LPs can be a sign of something else like pcos or ovulating issues. Have you had any monitoring scans or progesterone tests done as this should be the first step? I know a girl who had a 7 day LP and clomid and metaphor min helped her get pregnant and she now has a little girl after being told she should just go to ivf. What were your progesterone levels?

Sorry I meant Christelle , in a car so cat read properly !

Hi christelle2207,

I have just read all this thread with great interest, thanks for resurrecting! I have a ridiculously short lp of around 4-6 days and irregular cycles anywhere from 32-108 days! I started using opks last cycle and thats when I discovered my lp. Been to my gp twice and she's now referred me to gynae, but my appointment isn't until dec, so I'm going to ring on Monday and see if it can be brought forward, even if it means paying. The bloods my gp did showed a progesterone of

Hello,
I have a LP of around 8 days and am trying to lengthen it. Want to take B6 but it only comes in 10mg capsules. What dose are you guys taking? I tried agnus castus......missed two periods, negative test, so unsure what that did to me! am now temping daily once more, and monitoring CF. AF arrives despite DH and I managing to hit ovulation just before and on the nose...to no avail. I am thinking of going to GP to see if I can be prescribed progesterone cream.....although seen it for sale on Amazon. I have bee TTC for nearly six years, unexplained infertility. Desparation is driving me a little crazy I think! Any advice aprreciated.

Hello all:

Haven't read the whole thread, just the start and then skipped to the end.

I have a borderline short LP - usually about 9 or 10 days with lots of spotting before and after AF. We're TTC #2 for about 9 months now. I first realized my LP was short when we were TTC for DS. He took 8 months to conceive and no one had sorted my LP out in that time, so it is possible to get pregnant. I've had blood tests done both last time we were ttc and this time as well and both have shown normal hormone levels.

Am now trying acupuncture and my cycle does seem a lot more 'normal'. LP is about 11 days now and less spotting. Think the only good thing about a short LP is you can kind of see your GP under the guise of an "abnormal" cycle way before they would do anything for infertility.

Good luck!

I went through all the tests about three years ago....bloods, hysterosalpingogram sp! and scans following several rounds of Clomifene no one at any point said to temp and check Cervical fluid. I wish I had, as it is only recently I have discovered a short luteal phase. Probably too late as I am almost 40. If you are having difficulty, get going with investigating. I went aged 35 and six years later am in the same place.

I have a good news tale as requested, I was on this thread a while back, managed to lengthen LP with acupuncture, high dose B Vits (10mg) and selenium via brazil buts. I also cut right back on the booze and coffee. LP went to 11 days with no spotting from 9 days with 2 days spotting.
I also had a monitored cycle which was really useful as it showed I was getting positive OPKs 2 days after I ovulated so I had to get in there with the early shags!!

Good luck to all

thanks for all the responses! Pleased there are some good news stories out there, sorry to those still trying.
We are ttc for 1 year now so trying not to panic yet - I'm 34.

I'm actually taking 150mg of b6 at the moment (3x50mg tabs) for one last month before I give up on it. Research I've read suggest that 100/150mg is ok but 200mg is bad so not upping it any further. So surprised farfallarocks that such a small dose + acupuncture did the trick for you. Also that is an interesting tale re the OPKs - thankfully I have already given up on them as I was getting a very confusing picture. Now onto CM checking and temps which is better but has confirmed my fear that the LP is too short.

Am also considering progesterone cream though going to ask doc about it first because you can only get low doses without prescription. My pg level for the 21 day test (which I made sure I had 7 days after ov rather than cd 21) was 26 which I was told was just about ok. Scans fine - no PCOS.

joycep really sorry you are still not pg. Where are you at with it all now? Any joy lengthening the lp?

otheregos I am actually booked in to start reflexology next week!! will let you know how I get on, not overly optimistic. If no joy I'll try acupuncture - I thought reflexology sounded less scary to start off with. However if you've only just started tracking your cycle is there a chance that you've just had a strange one this month? I have crazy cycles from time to time.

blackrocked sorry to hear your story. What are the doctors saying about fixing your LP?

Farfallarocks I will be trying that I think. I have made an app with acupuncturist and with GP to discuss with my charts LP and cycle length. I am going to get all my test data printed off and then investigate a private clinic for tests into LP as have had my share of NHS....not going to get any further there, but will ask.

Christelle glad no PCOS. Temps and CM is a great way of tracking, and agree on the progesterone cream. I plan to ask about it too.

Thank you for the advice regarding dosage of B6. Thought around 100g, but will started by taking 10mg this next cycle...and eating brazil nuts!

I have also switched from coffee to green tea, and stopped alcohol. I take pregnacare conception tablet daily.

My next step with the GP was IUI, but I have one child, and DH was not supportive at the time it was offered. He is indifferent about success in having another child, if it happens it happens, if not oh well. He has always been straight with me, and whatever happens he would support me. I just have to get my head around the less positive possibility!

I have been away overnight and had a read about a few things. Early in my cycle my basal temp is 36.2 which is very low, and I also have low blood pressure. I have digestive problems too, which are related to having a low basal temp and have had repeated infections over the last few years. I am going to work on raising my basal temp as well as ensuring I take a vitamin supplement. I am on last resort effort, here but not going to give up. I found a few simple recommendations here worth a try?

Hi christelle2207,

There is a chance my cycles are just taking there time adjusting from having my little boy 17 months ago. I've only been charting and opk the last 2 cycles, first lp was 6 days a d 2nd cycle was 5 days, I got my vit b from holland and Barrett its vit b complex 100 mg tablets.

I've just phoned the reflexology place and left a message, hoping I can get an appointment for next week! I'll let you know how it goes...as for acupuncture it's really not that bad...I've never had it but I'm a nurse and use to work with chronic pain patients who use to come for acupuncture weekly, which they got on the nhs.

Will it be your 1st baby?...I'm 33 and a 1/2 lol! And realise people have babies a lot older, but feel my clock is ticking esp if seeing the dr and testing etc takes along time, I didn't want too big an age gap between my children but hayho !

Blackrocked, I too have stopped caffeine now...boy did I know about it for starters..mega caffeine withdrawal migraines..clearly I was drinking way too much of the stuff! I haven't stopped alcohol but to be honest I probably only drink once every few months anyway

My husband is not as enthusiastic as I am to wanting another child, he's more if it happens it happens way of thinking, where I have an over whelming urge to have another one and can't imagine not being able to have a2nd, I'm pissed off and very angry at my body's inability to get it right!, but I try not to dwell on it too much as realise stress can play a factor too.

Is it raining everywhere? I'm slowly plucking up the courage to take the dog out

yup ttc #1 for me.
have cut down on caffeine and alcohol a lot but never had thay much of either anyway. however pleasantly surprised how much i get on with decaf tea and coffee- am a real convert now!

Hi guys!

I have a short LP too - between 10 and 12 days and you are right, GPs don't really recognise it as an issue, they just test to see if you have a blockage or you are ovulating.

I was soooo frustrated TTC, especially as my periods would range from 19 to 30 days and i found out about my short LP by tracking my basal temperature after we had been TTc for a year, at which point I was pretty upset as I watched people around me fall pregnant at the drop of a hat.

I don't know how you lengthen a LP but my one bit of advice, and what worked for us, would be to try every day from about four or five days before ovulating to about four or five days after, that and a holiday! We would literally do it ten days running, very unromantic I know!

The CBFM didn't work for me because it really only gave me a 'get shagging' indicator about two days before ovulating.

The ' do it every day' advice came from a very experienced consultant and I wish I had seen him at the start. I listened to my GP who said two or three times a week would be sufficient, and I am sure it would be for some but if you have any issue like a short LP you need to boost the odds.

Sorry if that seems obvious to you but it wasn't to me so thought I had better post in case it makes a difference to someone.

So....did you get pg?!

I have also tried the every day, or at least every other day, and charting allows for more accuracy. I have had two mc, and one late AF which was very heavy. Suspect implantation isn't quite right for me. Desp to know if you got pg with the short LP cycle.

Hi, sorry for break - didn't have computer this afternoon!

yes I did. First was a missed mc, April last year after a year and a half of trying, and maybe four or six months of doing it every day, then in July/ august we got pregnant after having a d&c in June and I now have a beautiful boy.

I think my MC was a boy too which makes me wonder if a short LP means you are more likely to have boys...the fast swimmers.

Because of the short LP I knew I was pregnant about a week before one might normally know.

I battled with low basal temperature and a history of chronic fatigue in my early twenties so I wondered whether that didn't help things either.

But it can be done, I just wish I had more scientific advice than shag every day!!

I think I read somewhere that your luteal phase was set from childhood but it seems like posters say you can change it?