elderberries thank you, I'm feeling calmer and in a happier mood today. I'm now about 6dpo, and today's puzzle has been whether the sharp twinge-y pain in my lower right side I've had for most of the day could, just maybe, be implantation pain, or whether the similar twinge-y pain in my lower left before that could be - Ovia said the lower left pain could be. Who knows? Each month I start off tww resolved to stay calm and not symptom spot, but fall into the trap anyway. Maybe it's the reproductive equivalent of trying to resist crisps, get motivated to go to the gym and cut down on work .. all of which I probably should do, but get pulled into or out of anyway.
albus I'd think more likely that the OPKs aren't catching it, but if you use them for a few cycles you'll probably get a better idea? Have you followed the instructions exactly? I only ask that as I didn't realise initially that I should limit my fluid intake and not pee for 4 hours before doing my tests, or that late afternoon/early evening was weirdly the best time to do them. They do seem like a temperamental species ..
fed up the luteal phase is the part of your cycle between ovulation and that start of your period. During that time your body releases progesterone which is needed to sustain the pregnancy. Average luteal phase is 12-14 days, if it's less than 12 days there's a chance you won't have made enough progesterone to make the pregnancy stick, so that's why prescribing progesterone would be thought to help. Or that's my understanding of it anyway. I'm still trying to assess my own luteal phase each cycle to work out if mine's worth thinking more about or not - last cycle was the first time I was able to measure it (was either 11 or 12 days, 11 being on the short side, 12 being OK) so it's early days.