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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Luteal phase

22 replies

Treaclepie19 · 26/06/2014 21:26

Hi all,
I have a short luteal phase - 9/10 days.
I had a miscarriage in may around the time my second af would have been (8+3)

My question is, does a short luteal phase only affect implantation? Or does it affect the whole pregnancy?
As I've read even after the bfp the progesterone doesn't increase enough to sustain the pregnancy.

Just looking for others who may know more about this :)

OP posts:

ladyflower23 · 26/06/2014 21:36

Hi treaclepie. I'm very sorry to hear about your mc. I have a 10 day luteal phase and have a ds who is now 2.5. I had no problems with getting pregnant (which may just have been luck) or the pregnancy so it's definitely possible to fall and carry. I have heard about increased risk of mc but my understanding is it only applies in the very early weeks however not an expert. Not even sure who to suggest to ask as I hear many dr's have not even heard of short luteal phase. Good luck to you for a sticky bean soon. It can still happen with a short lp x

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 26/06/2014 21:38

Thank you ladyflower, that's great to hear.

I always thought it was just after the initial stages but thought I'd ask.

My doctor didn't seem to know about it :( might try a different one I think!

OP posts:

Treesandbees · 26/06/2014 21:51

I'm the same. Mine is 9/10 days. I've had 1 mc at 8 weeks and 1 baby (11 mo DS) so it can work out! But it did play on my mind and I also went to my GP after my mc about it but he basically dismissed me! I did some of my own research and started taking Vit B6 which can help lengthen it (by a day or 2). I have also heard conception vitamins can help. Once I got my 2nd BFP I was prescribed a low dose of aspirin (75mg a day) to help prevent mc. I also highly recommend reflexology which I feel helped regulate my cycles post mc). I am sure all of this helped me 2nd time around. Might be worth considering some of these? Good luck!

MollyWhuppie · 26/06/2014 21:53

I have a short luteal phase (9-10 days) and have 2 DCs (no miscarriages fortunately for me) the cycles I fell pregnant though, I was taking various herbal supplements to try and balance my hormones and increase my LP.

Whyisitsodifficult · 26/06/2014 21:56

I'm the same 8-9 days. Had two children without a problem, then took over one year and six miscarriages to get my third! No reason for them, low dose 75 mg aspirin got me my third! You've nothing to lose by trying it. Good luck I know how hard it is.

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 26/06/2014 22:25

Thanks for sharing trees, my gp did the same thing.

Think I'm going to go back to them though.

I take conception vitamins but dont do anything else.
I'll have a proper look into them. Thank you :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 26/06/2014 22:27

Thanks why sorry to hear about your experience :(

And trees sorry to hear about your miscarriage, phone posted too soon.

OP posts:

MollyWhuppie · 26/06/2014 22:36

I fell pregnant first cycle both times taking the following cocktail - might be worth doing while you wait for gp referral:

Pregnacare conception (has the best combo of fertility nutrients), Vitex Angus Castus 1000mg x 2 daily, Dong Quai 500mg x 2 daily apart from during AF - amazing fertility herbs good for balancing hormones and improving progesterone. Dong Quai also thins the blood and helps implantation - don't take with aspirin for this reason (these both used to be available from Holland & Barrett but have been discontinued so you need to buy online, Vitamin B-100 complex, Red Rasperry leaf capsules for improving uterine lining.

Hope this helps - worth a shot!

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 26/06/2014 23:14

Thank you molly!
Since I got pregnant I'm just wondering if it's actually a problem?
Fed up of worrying.

OP posts:

LIG1979 · 27/06/2014 07:47

hi treacle,
I had a mc and chemical pregnancy in 2011 and also have a short luteal phase - 9/10 days naturally. With my mc I discovered it at 9 weeks but the baby had never developed beyond 5 weeks but my body had held onto it. so it was an early mc but I was unaware of it.

For my luteal phase, I started taking b6 and natural progesterone cream (brought online) and it extended my luteal phase to 11/12 days. I then conceived dd not long after.

I did find that the doctor was fairly dismissive of my luteal phase worries and I was waiting to see the fertility Dr but then I got pregnant. so ended up self medicating.

SomeSunnySunday · 27/06/2014 07:59

I have wondered this too. I had a short luteal phase when I was trying to conceive DC2 (9-10 days), and had a number of early miscarriages (all before 7 weeks). I took B6 and used progesterone cream when I was pregnant, and always thought that this helped.

However, I still had a short luteal phase after DC2 (wasn't charting as carefully, but around 8/9 days usually) and found myself accidentally (but happily) pregnant with DC3. I didn't use B6 or progesterone and fully expected another early miscarriage, but I'm now 15 weeks pregnant.

I suspect that once you reach the point when the placenta starts to take over (9/10 weeks?) a short luteal phase is irrelevant. How relevant it is up to this point I'm less sure, but clearly it's not as simple as short luteal phase = low progesterone = early miscarriage.

Best of luck.

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2014 16:34

Thank you, it's really useful to hear your experiences. I am tempted by progesterone cream.

Currently about to ovulate - positive opk and temp rose today. Nervous and excited. Hope I'm not let down.

OP posts:

ladyflower23 · 27/06/2014 18:03

I also took B6 and that was the month I fell pregnant, but was never sure whether that had anything to do with it or not, as had literally only been taking that cycle, so not sure that's even long enough for it to work! Can I ask those of you who also took B6 how long you carried on taking it into your pregnancy? I am not taking it this time, but am wondering whether to go back on it?
Good luck Treaclepie, I am hoping for a positive OPK next week!

LIG1979 · 27/06/2014 20:05

I took the p cream till 10 weeks (the drop in progesterone could cause miscarriage). The b6 I must have stopped but I started again taking 10mg 5 times a day to deal with morning sickness.

With the natural p cream make sure you get proper certified stuff.

hope this helps.

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2014 20:40

Thank you xxx
lig, so the lack of progesterone can cause the mc even later on?
How did you get your progesterone cream? My gp isn't interested.

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MollyWhuppie · 27/06/2014 21:13

I'm trying natural progesterone cream this cycle - I bought it online and it's called Emerita Progest. You have to use it after confirmed O for the 2nd half of your cycle. It comes from America though so takes a little while to arrive.

I have found this website really useful for info regarding how to help fertility naturally natural-fertility-info.com - it has guides on various issues regarding fertility and different natural things you can do to improve things - including low progesterone and using the cream etc.

I'll let you know how I get on with it!

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2014 21:15

Thank you :)

My thing is I know I can get pregnant, i just don't want an 8 week miscarriage again.

Then I also don't really want to mess with my hormones for no reason.

OP posts:

LIG1979 · 27/06/2014 21:17

I think it is the drop of progesterone that can cause the miscarriage so if you supplement and then stop the drop can cause it to go wrong. (this is just what I heard rather than any evidence.) once the placenta takes over the level in the cream is miniscule compared to the cream.

I used (and I am using) www.ukhealthspot.co.uk/source-naturals-progesterone-cream-natural-2-oz?language=en&currency=GBP

not sure if I did the hyperlink properly....

I rub an eighth of a tea spoon (small blob) into my arm, leg or tummy twice a day. I do it from when I am sure that I have ovulated till af arrives.

One thing I have found is that I get a lot more pretend pregnancy symptoms on it and that and a delayed af means that it gets my hopes up before af arrives.

good luck!

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2014 21:22

Thank you :) That's useful to know. I shall have a look.

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MollyWhuppie · 27/06/2014 21:27

That's what I'm worried about LIG! Having loads of symptoms but have told myself it's just the cream!

Treacle, I know what you mean about not wanting to muck around with hormones but a lot of the natural remedies are just about helping your body find an optimum balance in order to have things set for a healthy pregnancy - you're not necessarily adding anything, rather helping your body produce the right amounts of everything itself.

I've read up on the progesterone cream too and it seems that you can't really go wrong - you can't 'overdose'. The only thing is if you conceive on it you must keep on using it for the first trimester- so if you start you are committed to it! (And it's quite expensive)

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2014 21:52

Thanks molly, I'll have a look at it tomorrow when. For now I have had too much wine and shouldn't have. Probs ovulating tomorrow and feeling really down. Gah :(
I shouldve been 14+2 by now.

Sorry for moaning.

OP posts:

LIG1979 · 28/06/2014 08:15

treacle - sorry you are feeling so down. It does get better but I think ttc after a miscarriage is particularly tough when you always think about where in your pregnancy you should have been.

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