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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.

Original poster

Short Luteal Phase

939 replies

mascaraisamust · 05/07/2015 22:57

So after 6 months of ttc I've worked out I've got a short luteal phase of 9 days, however it could be even less. I get a positive opk on day 19 and 9 days later AF appears. I'm fearing it could be less that 9 days if I ovulate 24-36 hours after a postive opk. No suprises that there hasn't been a bfp yet. I'm thinking this is my obstacle. Seems I've tried everything else. Do I go to my GP? Is there any point? On preconception vitamins with b6 in and have been in them for three months and no changes. Also AF is really painful every month, wondering if there is more to this. Any ideas? Or anyone experienced/ing similar?

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 00:18

Hi sunshine, how long have you been ttc? I've not started taking the vitamin B complex yet. I think I'll give it a go if this cycle is unsuccessful. Just completing my conception tablets first as I don't want to waste them.

Your AF must have been bad to end up in A&E. My last AF luckily wasn't too bad but the one before was awful!

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Sunshinegirl2015 · 29/07/2015 07:19

mascara this is our 6th cycle ttc so not to worried yet but just want to sort the painful periods out as if AF showed and I was at work I don't know what I'd do - pass out in the loo probs!

We're also trying everything from drinking full fat milk to adding bee pollen to foods haha!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 08:23

sunshine Bee pollen?

If you haven't you should go see your GP, even if it's about AF primarily and then mention TTC. A few years ago I fainted with AF and when I told my GP he sent me for an ultrasound scan, they didn't find anything and nothing really got followed up but I didn't push for it (wish I had now), to make life easy I went back on the pill to ease it as I wasn't TTC at the time.

I'm going to ring the doctors today and see if my results are in, I know it's not the end of the week it's midweek but I'm impatient and they could be they won't be

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Sunshinegirl2015 · 29/07/2015 08:36

mascara Have been to doctors so many times but always get fobbed off. Actually have an appointment in August to see my GP so will mention again.

Was put on the pill when I was sixteen and after 10 years of being on the pill I came off it at new year to start ttc.

I've only had two really bad cycles the rest thankfully have been ok but it's the bad ones I can't cope with.

Yeah I read that bee pollen is a fertility superfood supposedly. I'll give anything a try!

Got flashing smiley face on opk today on CD12 - last month was CD14 so we'lol see what happens but FX.

Christelle2207 · 29/07/2015 08:58

I had an 8/9 day LP and neither the gp or fertility consultant believed me (or believed it to be a serious issue). Anyway I eventually got pregnant. I believe a contributing factor to be my under active thyroid - got pg a few weeks after starting taking thyroxin. I believe my dicky thyroid messed with my cycles. 2nd time round my thyroid was being properly controlled by thyroxin and I got Pg without really trying.

So worth asking for thyroid test- easy for practice nurse to do, and ask for thyroxin if you are vaguely borderline.

Sunshinegirl2015 · 29/07/2015 09:07

Oh belated congrats Christelle

It's always good to read success stories!

Thanks for the advice.

Lindsay81 · 29/07/2015 09:38

Hi macara

I am in exactly the same position as you but 2 years further down the line having tried everything mentioned in this thread. My luteal phase hardly ever exceeds 9 days and I'm sure this is the issue but unfortunately the GPs or fertility specialists I saw don't seem to believe that. My Day 21 equivalent tests are always borderline, but "normal" in the eyes of the NHS.

It is very frustrating but I would hold on to the hope that it does happen eventually for many. The LPD itself isn't really the focus, but rather what is causing it. To christelle's point, my next step is another thyroid test because I don't know what the original result was and if it was borderline underactive, I'll request thyroxin. There are some other things going on (dry skin, thinning eyebrows etc) which make me think this could be the problem.

Best of luck... I really hope we both get there!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 10:55

Thanks for the input Lindsay and Christelle, interesting as there is a thyroid history in my family (my mum, aunts, nan). I will mention this when I next go back. Thyroxin is what my mum takes.

sunshine never heard of bee pollen but I know what you mean about giving anything a go!

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star1980 · 29/07/2015 13:08

Hi mascara, I think my LP is probably 9 days as I first got a "solid smiley" 10 days before my period is due and assume I ovulated the following day (24-36 hours later). That said, this is my first time using an OPK so I need to wait to see when my period comes. If it's late I'm going to convince myself im pregnant.

lindsay, christelle what are the common symptoms of an under active thyroid? Is the suggestion that thyroid problems might cause us to have a short LP?

I really need to see my GP. I hope she is hung-ho and proactive like some of the others on here. I can't believe how easy I thought this was going to be when I started out in the New Year. Best of luck to everyone trying - I hope we have some of the luck of the others who conceived with a short LP.

mascara, did you get your results yet??!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 13:29

Just got them. It was 1! Which basically is very, very low as in probably not ovulating low. I'm not even sure what it means?! Even the GP kept saying 'that is so very low'. I wanted to cry.

Saw a different GP to the original one today and has now made me have bloods for everything from thyroid to diabetes and has referred me to fertility clinic.

I asked about cyclogest and she said they can't do it at the surgery. Appointment could be a month, could be 6 weeks, she doesn't know.

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 13:32

Although I don't ovulate until later in my cycle (not a typical day 14) so I don't know whether the test is inaccurate?! The only month I've not done opks too...

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 17:59

Ok I'm booked in for my new set of bloods tomorrow, onwards and upwards Confused Just ordered some frers too as I want to be sure that i'm out this month, which I'm pretty sure I am with a result of 1!

Also taking the B complex and folic acid now!!

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doobeedee · 29/07/2015 18:16

I had a LP of 7 days at its worst. Tried all sorts but the thing that sorted it for me was Clomid. Make sure you have your blood test at 7 DPO rather than on day 21 (lie if you have to!). I was lucky that short LP was my fertility Dr's special interest. Oh and remember that a 'normal' thyroid for the general population is not the same as what is ideal for someone TTC. Good luck!

star1980 · 29/07/2015 18:21

Oh mascara, keep your chin up. I don't know what 1 means, but from your GP's response it doesn't sound ideal. But you now have a referral which is great and more tests so you can get to the bottom of the problem. 6 weeks isn't too long to wait either - another couple of cycles and you never know, you might have conceived by then!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some good news for you soon!

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 18:30

star I think the 'normal range' is supposed to be 30. Did you get prescribed clomid through your gp? I asked but she isn't a 'regular' doctor at our surgery and said she couldn't prescribe it and that it would be something that would be looked until later when i get the referral.

doobeedee this is where I am confused, as tomorrow would be 7 days from ovulation but my AF is due Monday with my stupid short luteal phase. I could add on the day 21 test to the list of 16 others things I'm getting tested for tomorrow, just to see out of interest.

Thanks for your support and help all! Anyone else going through/gone through, feel free to join in!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 18:34

Oh and doobeedoo, what do you mean with the thyroid levels when ttc? Sorry I thought Star said about Clomid but I've just realised it was you! Thanks for your help!

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Christelle2207 · 29/07/2015 18:52

Symptoms of under active thyroid are tiredness, feeling cold and in my case feeling a bit "off colour" most of the time albeit in a non-specific way. In my case I think it affected my cycles, thus my LP. On thyroxin, my LP is longer.

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 20:14

Thanks Christelle and all the best with your pregnancy. I'll keep you updated with the thyroid result as you can probably interpret it better!

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doobeedee · 29/07/2015 20:49

Yes that was the problem I had re:timing of the test. I had about 3 at different times to try and catch ovulation. Over 30 is ideal but over 20 is ok. Mine was 22 on the cycle I conceived. Many GPs will tell you you thyroid is ok if your TSH is under 5 but it really needs to be under 2 for conception purposes. There is official guidance for GPs online if that turns out to be a prob and you come up against any resistance. Oh and my Clomid was through the fertility expert but I went armed with lots of evidence.

Christelle2207 · 29/07/2015 21:20

Mascara
Not pg anymore, have 2 babies! (2 singletons not twins thank God)
But proof that short LP (mine definitely was regularly 7/8 days) is not necessarily a show stopper

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 29/07/2015 22:33

Christelle, apologies! Good to know that you've had two children with a short LP, gives me hope!

Doobeedoo great advice again, knowledge is power!

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Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 14:02

Stocked up on vitamin C today as I read that's meant to help?? And had all my bloods done again, including another day 21. Results will be about a week and thankfully I go away tomorrow, I think I need the break!

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doobeedee · 30/07/2015 14:11

Don't know if it's been mentioned before, but get vit D3 too.

flymo79 · 30/07/2015 14:20

hello, lurking with intent, ttc #2 since May, I know I have a short LP and I was very surprised to conceive #1 (tried for around 6 months) being as my opk showed a LH surge on around day 20 if memory serves... just had a +ve opk yesterday on day 18 but my cycles have been all weird since #1, shorter and totally unpredictable...

Original poster
mascaraisamust · 30/07/2015 15:27

Hi Flymo, cd18 isn't too bad, depends when AF appears I suppose though! Keep us updated with how you get on! Are you just seeing how it goes or trying anything to lengthen it?

Doobeedoo you want me rattling don't you?! What's D3 got to do with it all then? Once again, thanks for your help.

AF should be here by Mon but I'm actually wondering now if I've had an anovulatory cycle this month as I've had none of my usual pre-AF systems!

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