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Conception

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Original poster

Does an 8-day luteal phase mean I have no hope? :-(

42 replies

VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 11:13

Okay, am in cycle 3 after coming off the pill and so far my lp has been 8 days. Have been on 100mg of b6 for a month but it didn't seem to affect my last cycle. Perhaps it will this time. I am now cd9.

Yes it's 'early days' but it's making me feel so down that I have stopped talking and thinking about ttc. I just have a feeling it's going to take a long time. Started reflexology yesterday to see if that helps too.

Does an 8 day lp mean I am effectively infertile? Is there still hope for my cycle to get better? I have no idea what my lp was like before the pill.

OP posts:
Totesamazeballs · 29/09/2013 13:49

It could be your body trying to adjust after the pill which I have heard can take a while, or if a permanent thing then an 8 day LP isn't what they would define as 'normal' and needs to be investigated. Are you tracking your basal body temp and 100 percent sure it's short?

I had an 8 day LP which was deemed as a result of low progesterone and easily fixable. I had done some basal body temp tracking for a few months and then a scan backed up my measurements. I think you need to wait a few more months before you can be sure that it's permanent though. It could just be temporary and things will gradual,y settle down.

Good luck. While it is frustrating I am told it is a surmountable issue in most cases.

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 14:29

Thanks. I don't temp but use opks.

OP posts:
Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 15:09

The thing is, having spoken to most of my friends who have been on the pill, they all said their cycles were normal afterwards. So I'm starting to wonder whether my issue really is caused by the pill.

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 29/09/2013 15:10

Sorry to hear your latest LP was short again VJ - maybe a trip to your GP is in order now? x

MrsB2013 · 29/09/2013 15:24

I would see how long this cycle is and if it's the same then go see your doctor. Were your cycles regular before taking the pill?

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 15:24

Yeah, maybe. I just don't know whether three months is long enough to wait before seeking help. I guess there's one way to find out!

OP posts:
Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 15:26

MrsB - they were regular but I have no idea if my lp was normal or not. They've been the same length since stopping the pill bit lp has been 8 days each time.

OP posts:
Refoca · 29/09/2013 16:41

Even if it's too early to investigate, you have your concerns on file which may help credibility/speed of help when it is another 6-12months down the line...

Fingers crossed it'll settle down soon anyway.

katieash76 · 29/09/2013 16:52

Hi I've been charting my cycles for over 4 years since coming off the pill after 12 years taking it. In this time I've always had luteal phase of 7-9 days, regardless of how much b6 or other vitamins I've taken. I had 2 early miscarriages then a successful pregnancy with no treatment which resulted in my now 3yr DS. Started ttc number 2 at Xmas, had another early miscarriage then got pregnant again straight away which went fine until heart problems discovered at 18wks and I sadly lost my daughter. I then was referred to a fertility consultant who straight away without any blood tests or anything gave me a progesterone prescription, just from listening to my story. I have seen 3 GPs about this over the years who always dismissed it. You may have more success with yours hopefully. Sorry for long post but just wanted to point out that a very short lp does not equal infertility and now that I am ttc again and using progesterone I'm confident it'll work for me again soon. Btw I am 37 so not exactly young!

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 17:51

Thank you for your story, it does fill me with a little hope :-) I think prog cream can be bought over the counter so that may be an option for me in the future too.

OP posts:
Totesamazeballs · 29/09/2013 18:18

Alternatively you could have a private consultation now if it's affordable. I went privately because i have already had a baby so docs aren't quite so keen on believing there is an issue ( I didn't have LP probs pre baby) and having googled a lot I was pretty convinced my issue was low progesterone ( I had other symptoms). I did manage to get bloods done through GP so we didn't have that to pay for. We paid for two consultations in all and two follicle tracking scans plus the progesterone. It isn't cheap but it was worth it.

Totesamazeballs · 29/09/2013 18:20

First month of taking progesterone I got a BFP and am currently nearly 13 weeks. Docs couldn't say much to that!

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 18:25

Thanks for the advice. I highly doubt any private treatment would be affordable but I will def ask my gp about progesterone.

OP posts:
watermint · 29/09/2013 18:55

I had a short lp and took soy isoflavenes which helped extend it. I got them from holland and barrett.. I think they helped by bringing ovulation forward which meant my lp was longer as my period still came at same time iyswim. I conceived twice using these and now have 2 lovely dc's.

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 19:00

Never heard of those, watermint. Thanks for the tip - if b6 still does nothing for me, I will bear that in mind.

OP posts:
HappyAsASandboy · 29/09/2013 19:17

A short luteal phase isn't always a problem. I tracked my fertility before pregnancy and think my LP was always under 10 days. I was so worried it would mean I'd have difficulty conceiving, but I conceived twins the first time we had unprotected sex.

My twins are now 3, and my LP is now longer. I am now worried it has lengthened due to age and I'd have difficulty conceiving again. Nothing is 'perfect', and we'll always worry about everything :(

I hope you get the news you're waiting for soon. Speak to your GP if you want to find out more, and hopefully they'll refer you for tests if they think there is anything to worry about.

blamber · 29/09/2013 20:12

VJones, you're still only just off the pill. You have got to give it 6 months before you can be certain there is a lasting problem. Just because your friends didn't have any issues, doesn't mean anything different is abnormal. I know it's difficult, but give it a bit more time before seeking help. The GP will only tell you to wait another few months anyway.

bonzo77 · 29/09/2013 20:20

I think the b6 will take several cycles to have an effect. I think it's worth temping as OPKs only show the LH surge which predicts ovulation. It does not confirm you have ovulated, only that you are likely to. Temping is the best "non medical" way to demonstrate ovulation has occurred. Google Fertilty Friend for info on temping.

Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 20:30

Thanks everyone! I think I just feel alone. I don't know anyone in 'real life' who has been through a similar thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
VJONES1985 · 29/09/2013 20:31

Thanks everyone! I think I just feel alone. I don't know anyone in 'real life' who has been through a similar thing.

OP posts:
PervyMuskrat · 29/09/2013 21:42

I was about to post something very similar so thanks for posting this. We've been trying since the end of last year and since I've been monitoring it, my LP has varied between 8-10 days. Due to my age though I think I'll need to see a GP sooner rather than later. I suspect we'll have to pay privately due to having a DC already, which is just about doable.

Best of luck to you Flowers

RubySlippers77 · 29/09/2013 22:29

Hi all, this may be a silly question but... I'm wondering if I have a short LP as my cycle length is often 25 days, and the CBFM peak day is usually around CD15 and/ or 16. I don't do temperature tracking but does the CBFM look for the same thing? Also, my GP has already referred me for blood tests and said my progesterone level was normal on CD21, but looking through MN it looks like that might be irrelevant if I have a short LP?!

Sorry if this sounds a bit dim, we're currently TTC for the first time and thought it might have happened by now (6 months with no luck :( ) so I'm trying to consider everything!

joycep · 30/09/2013 05:44

VJ - this is a good article on LPD and gives the 3 reasons as to why someone might be having a short Lp. Extra progesterone for example may not be the answer.
www.inciid.org/printpage.php?cat=infertility101&id=7
(Note it's American and they use different measurements for progesterone levels)
I do agree with others who said you need to give it more time for your body to right itself after the pill. Doctors can often say it can take up to a year before your body gets into a natural rhythm. Worth temping with OPKs so you can arm yourself with data if you need to push for a referral if it doesn't sort itself out.

Tea1Sugar · 30/09/2013 20:28

Please please stop b6, give your body a break and sort itself by itself!

blamber · 01/10/2013 11:55

I agree with tea, messing with your body while it's adjusting from being off the pill might actually make things worse. In my experience it did anyway. Just remember, it's common to have a short LP for the first few cycles after stopping the pill. Even if you have a b6 deficiency because of being on the pill, the amounts you're taking means that would have been supplemented by now.