Short luteal phase- advice needed! How can I increase it?

[zippyswife]

My cycles which were solidly 28 days seem to be getting shorter and shorter.

This month I had positive opk on cd 14. This cycle was really short only 22 days. Does that make my luteal phase 8 days? If this is the case I have no chance of conceiving do I?

Anyone know how to or have had any success in increasing luteal phase?

Am ttc #3 I don't know if this was a problem for me previously?

Thanks for reading!

I have always had short cycles 23 days and very short luteal phase @8 or 9 days.

I took agnus castus when ttc Dd (now 5) 1st month 26 day cycle 10 day luteal phase, 2nd month 28 day cycle 12 day luteal phase, 3rd month bfp

Thanks for replying. It's great to hear a success story (I had a hunch I had short LP but didn't know for sure until AF just arrived and was pretty gutted). Congratulations on your DD.

Where do I get agnus castus from? Did you take it every day throughout your cycle? I've also just read about b6. I think I'll stick up on these tomorrow.

I have a short luteal phase (between 7-9 days). It's actually never stopped me getting pregnant.
DC1 - pg 2nd cycle
DC2 - pg 12th cycle (but I think this was due to the fact I lost DC1 at 22 weeks and ended up being induced with traumatic results - my cycles still weren't normal when I conceived DC2)
DC3 - pg 3rd cycle
I tried B vits and agnus castus between DC1 and DC2 and unfortunately they didn't help me. My GP always said as long as luteal phase was 8 days or more you could conceive - this contradicts most things you will read on the internet but for me it was true.

Good luck!

Thank you. This is just the kind of positive stuff I needed to hear!

iwant sorry to hear about your loss.

I bought it from either Boots or Holland and Barrett. The first month I took it every day, after that only up until ovulation.

I was also taking vit b 12 as I am anaemic and mum to be type multi vits.

I would be wary of Agnus Castus. I know some people have had success with it but it can seriously mess up your cycles if you don't take it at the right time.

Most herbal remedies can be quite negative on your cycles. The best thing to do would be to speak to your doctor. Some people try Vitamin B Complex (not Vitamin B) but you have to stop taking it after you ovulate, because it can cause other issues (same with agnus castus).

Good luck

I used b bits and got a sticky bfp in 6 weeks after 3 years of trying.
Basically with b vits have to have over 50 mg of b5 I used h&b b50.
But a lutuel phase defect can be a sign of poor egg health so get on to that with zinc and maybe even dhea

Thanks.

What's dhea?

I'll get some b cuts tomorrow. I've got an appointment with gp for next week too.

I've been trying acupuncture. My cycle length was all over the place since I came off the pill over a year ago & MC'd in July. Last 4 months they've consistently been 26 days but ovulating D19. After two sessions my D21 progesterone test came back in a normal range (indicating I'd ovulated >5 days before) and this cycle I've ovulated D13 - so my LP has went from 7 to 13 days. That's just with 3 acupuncture sessions.

Did you take the vitamin b complex as well as the conception multi-vitamin?

Thanks for responses.

How do you go about finding someone for acupuncture? And how much does it cost?

You need to tell your GP that your ovulation to period phase is getting worryingly short and request he does a day 21 progesterone test to test the strength of your ovulation. Having periods and positive opk sticks doesn't mean you ovulate mature enough eggs. If you have no joy through the GP, you could track your cycles for a bit with a special fertility monitor and fertility chart book from boots. Then go back to the GP armed with charts, having read up a lot.

I found out about a natural fertility clinic that offers acupuncture, herbal & nutritional support. Then discovered they have a sister clinic nearer me.

It's £30 a session but I saw the change after two treatments. I'd start by searching for fertility acupuncturists in your area. I went last night as I was ovulating yesterday. So now just keeping everything crossed!

I do think your GP is absolutely the right port of call right now.

There is a lot of conflicting information about luteal phases and lots of different anecdotal advice. I can tell you of 3 people I know who conceived easily with an lp under 10 days. I can also tell you of people I know who have successfully increased their luteal phase using various methods. None of this particularly helps you tbh.

What you need to do is find out what is happening to YOU and use that information to make an informed decision.

There are lots of things you can do which may help and certainly won't harm and I know you must be so keen to try something, but do get everything checked out first. It might be something easily remedied. Best of luck.

Thanks for your responses again.

I had bloods for 21 day progesterone (think I ovulsted on day 15 of a 22 day cycle my bloods were taken on day 20 as I had a 12 shift on day 21 so couldn't go then). I think they also tested for fsh? Does that mean anything?

What does the 21 day test actually show? I'm 38 will it show if my eggs are no good? Will it show if I actually ovulate?

I actually had the bloods done as I've had problems with periods hormonal etc and I was worried I was getting an early menopause.

Thanks for listening!

The day 21 progesterone test usually takes place 7 days post ovulation. I think the difference in progesterone between 5 and 7 days post ovulation is minimal though. So wouldn't worry. Please can you ask for the exact results. Anything below 30 (or boarder line around 30) ask for another day 21 progesterone tests test and then the drug clomid.

A good day 21 progesterone test will indicate that your ovulation is strong enough/eggs are mature enough to be fertilised.

However you're possibly much like I was, just needing a boost in the form of clomid to help eggs along. It's the cheapest and most easiest and very very common fertility issue to deal with.

You can get your egg reserve tested privately

Thanks peony I have 2 dcs. This would be number 3- would they still give me clomid?

Will clomid sort the luteal phase?

Clomid did it for me where everything else failed.

doobe did you have a short luteal phase too? How many cycles did you take? Are there any side effects?

I was chatting for over a year. Had at least 4 chemical pregnancies (that I know of - I didn't test every time) due to weak ovulation. I would test positive after a "period". My progesterone was dropping before the pregnancy could implant. I tried everything; B6, Agnus Castus, loads of other vitamins, had my thyroid checked etc. Clomid worked first cycle. I knew I was preg before I took a test as I'd never had a luteal phase so long. I finally tested at 11DPO and it came up straight away. Luckily, I saw a specialist who was experienced in this sort of thing. Many GPs just aren't aware.

Charting, obviously!

Yes. I'm fully expecting my gp to be clueless when I go for the results this week.

Really glad it all worked out for you. Thanks for the advice.

I used Soy isoflavenes (from Holland and barratt) which are sometimes described as a natural clomid. They lengthened my cycle and I'm positive they helped me conceive both my dc's!

Sylvia did you use b6 with them or on their own?