Short Luteal Phase #2

[mascaraisamust]

For all things luteal phase, join us!

If you have a short one, have managed to extend one or haven't even a clue what one even is, here is a friendly bunch of ladies for all things TTC related!

Mrsu I completely agree with you that Dr's just don't know enough about fertility to the point that they don't think there's any point in referring a patient to a specialist as they themselves don't think there's an issue with whatever it is someone is concerned about. Although I had a good experience with the NHS things just took so long to move forward. It was 2+ years from seeing someone to then going through the investigations and being referred for IVF. Thankfully we conceived naturally after the IVF consultation. I know the NHS is overstretched and I'm in no way putting it down. We were referred for secondary infertility but went for a private consultation and conceived just after that, unfortunately I then had a mmc. DH has low motility and I have low prog but after taking advice on another thread I'm on DH started taking vitamins and we conceived 6 weeks later. This time I've started taking vit c as again someone advised it helps with low prog levels so we'll see.

In our case IVF has been recommended but as we managed to conceive in July I'm hoping it happens again naturally.

Bear, I think that she will just be sending off the referral for me to have the internal scan which could take weeks, while in the meantime I will have the STI test and hopefully have the results too by then. I forgot to mention that DH said to her that we will most likely just go private as its all taking too long but she kept saying that going private wouldn't be any quicker (I don't know how shes worked that out!)

In the meantime I'm going to try and relax and enjoy the run up to xmas, although today I have been obsessively googling about people miraculously getting their BFP shortly after a smear. Also going to book a big holiday for a few months time, we didn't do it this year as thought it wouldn't be overly suitable when I'm pregnant, but I've realised it's impossible to live that way (and sods law says it will encourage my BFP).

Dizzy, did they give you progesterone or other medication to try before referring you for IVF? x

Sunshine they give me clomid but then took it off me. Apparently it was prescribed in error and according to my consultant I didn't need it I wasn't prescribed anything because apart from the endo which was diagnosed and cleared of via a lap, the consultant didn't think the low prog was an issue. I didn't have a clue about all this back then so didn't question any of it.

You can get pregnant with a short LP, but the pg was prescribed for me to sustain it. It might be that you are able to implant but with the pg being low it triggers AF, hence why when you take pg it keeps AF away and you need to test 14 days later. Started to take pg a few days after ovulation to maintain levels. DH spoke to his gp tonight and they got onto how is miscarried and that I'm now early pregnant again. He said I'd been given pg and she said that was good. Some people think it's rubbish, some people think it actually helps people like me who like I say seem to be doing everything textbook but have a short LP and low pg levels. Not say it will work for all though!

Mrsunsure, a long holiday sounds good and probably just what you need, hope its somewhere lovely for you. Not sure about the ovulation, it is probably one of those things that is different for everyone and you may even have an anovulatory cycle first. Hopefully the relaxing on your holiday will help get it all back on track and you can just enjoy DTD rather than have to time it all.

So you didn't wait long for the internal scan then, I thought I'd atleast have to wait until after xmas. Another thing for me to be scared about

Dizzy, I would have thought they would have atleast tried Clomid, I always thought IVF was the last resort if nothing else worked. Especially as I've read that Clomid can boost ovulation which in turn can increase progesterone.

Hi everyone :) I had an 11 day luteal phase last month as I stopped taking pregnacare (it was 15 days before that). Is 11 days classed as too short? I've read varying opinions so is quite confusing!

Mrsu I had an anovulatory cycle post mc and this cycle I ovulated on cd20. I read on the mc threads that the first cycle is usually anovulatory for most people. We conceived DD in 2012 naturally. I wasn't prescribed anything at the time. We've now been ttc#2 for 18 months with one mmc in September. Hope you have a lovely and relaxing holiday.

Sunshine I don't know why I wasn't allowed to take it and I didn't even think to ask them! When I saw my GP earlier this year and was diagnosed with low prog she was sure I would be prescribed clomid and if that didn't work we'd have to go private if we want IVF.

I was just the same mrsu but we got there and you will too.

I did have accupuncture for a couple of months before I got my bfp. I know some people don't believe it helps but the cycle I conceived I had a strong postive opk whereas previous months the line wasn't as dark as the control line so I would say for me it did work. I will try it again in the new year.

Mrsunsure123 Thanks for the reply :) I thought it odd too but I've read quite a few reports from other woman who say it messed up their cycles. It didn't agree with me in general and also caused me to spot for up to 6 days before my period. Last month I only spotted for one day so I think it's definitely connected. I think it might be something to do with the Omega 3 potentially. But I don't like only having an 11 day luteal phase now, feels too short!

Mrsrose I stopped taking pregnacare this month and started spotting from 10dpo now I'm wondering if it's the mmc or the pregnacare hat has messed my cycle up. Though I never had any side effects or any other issues whilst on pregnacare and only stopped taking them as I ran out.

Hi DizzyMerry I'm very sorry to hear about your mmc. Do you also have problems with spotting in general? I had a blood test recently to check progesterone and thyroid. Was told all normal but my TSH was 4.83 which I've read is outside of the normal levels but GP said was fine. Also had a scan which said my endometrium lining is thin and was only 5mm. This did end up being the day before my period but I'm quite worried about that now!

Mrsunsure, thankyou for being so honest, I do have a couple of questions, how long does it take? Is the camera thing quite small? I really don't know what to expect, does it hurt?
I also worry about what if it never happens, if we'd adopt and things like that. I have to try to stop my mind from getting that far ahead.

So after the internal scan, if everything comes back ok, what is the next step after that? x

Mrsrose, when you were told your endometrium was thin did they say how they could make it better? There seems to be so many things that can be wrong its a wonder any one has babies x

Hi sunshinegirl12, I think I see from your reply to another poster that you have to have an internal scan? I have had many of those as I have been treated twice (most recently in July) for endometriosis, and actually had one last week to investigate my spotting issue. Personally I don't find them painful, however they can become uncomfortable if they sonographer or doctor needs to do detailed checks to the left and right. But I think it varies per person. Just remember to try and stay relaxed (I know easier said than done!) and try and breath slowly and deeply when the scan is being inserted. They do use lubrication which makes it easier.

Regarding the lining my doctor made no mention of it at all! I only know there is potentially an issue because my doctor gave me a copy of the scan write up where all that was detailed. At least my endo isn't back for the moment. As a result I am going back to see the surgeon who treats my endo next week to see what she says about it, as surely that is a problem! I also had a blood test which showed I did ovulate but my TSH Thyroid levels are 4.83 which the GP said is fine, but Google (always a bad thing to do I know) says is slightly too high. It's all so worrying. My instinct is telling me something is wrong but I do tend to worry at the best of times.

I've never had a problem with spotting before mrsrose. Your lining does seem to be thin and I think I've read somewhere it should be around 8mm. Hope you get some answers next week.

Sunshine I had a smear the day before ovulation one month and no BFP for me but I had heard that too.

Are you having an internal ultrasound? I had one a few months back after ending up in A&E with excruciating AF. My scan was CD2 so AF was in town. I was told everything looked fine but I had ALOT of fluid in my pelvis so I was referred for a second scan which I have booked just before Christmas.

This is with the NHS.

Scan itself wasn't painful just felt odd but was over quicker than I thought too.

Sunshine I just saw this and thought of you. news.sky.com/story/1599807/google-patents-needle-free-blood-draw-system

Needle free blood tests but somehow I think this sounds worse haha.