Short Luteal Phase #3

[FuzzyOwl]

For everyone ttc with a short LP.

May 2016 be our lucky year!

Link to last thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2490627-Short-Luteal-Phase-2

Thank you, that is really good to hear. I think I will try the NHS route and see how things progress - so glad things have moved quickly for you iambear and mrsunsure.

iambear good luck with the follicle tracking and proving your short luteal phase! I am also thinking of telling my boss about ttc.. As much as I'd really prefer not to, coming in to work late and going to appointments over lunch just all adds to the stress!

sunshinegirl12 your progesterone levels sound great and really don't worry about high prolactin, I'm sure that can be fixed.

Friendly you'll have to let us know how you get on. I think the progesterone is the way to go if you can get it! Seems people have had success on it.

And I spoke too soon about being pain free. Last night was the first time since I was prescribed morphine by my GP last june for painful periods that I took some. Normally I push through the pain as don't like taking things when trying to be healthy but pain was so bad last night I thought I was going to throw up.

That's the thing which bugs me is that I've told several GPs my mum had endo and had trouble conceiving and could this be the cause but they don't seem bothered. It's not normal to be in that much pain I'm sure.

Whether I'm TTC or not I think that should be looked in to. I was out on the pill at 15 with my mums consent as AF used to make me faint and be sick at school.

Sunshine, I would definitely agree with you that the pain is not normal and something that your GP should be taking seriously. I hope you are feeling better today.

I have been reading up on high levels of prolactin, it is the hormone responsible for lactation. Symptoms of it are that it can stop periods / ovulation and can cause lactation when not pregnant (i've never had this), and it is linked to infertility. High levels are also found with PCOS, and I also read that even if it doesn't stop ovulation the eggs released may not be mature enough. It does say that stress can raise levels, and as I'm terrified of blood tests I'm hoping this is the reason (my level was 515, think 500 is the upper limit it should be). I'm such a worrier!! x

sunshine15 definitely go back to the GP! Ask to see a different one if you need to, I can't believe the GP would prescribe you morphine but not look in to the cause! Maybe an occasion to insist on a female doctor?

I've always had concerns about my heavy periods (although weirdly they've been better since coming off the pill) and managed to get an external pelvic scan after only a couple of months TTC - by not mentioning TTC in the appointment (a tip I learnt from another thread on mumsnet)! Talk only about your period (and not whether the pain is related to not having conceived yet, iyswim), and take in some notes with a history if you can. I think 'heavy', 'painful', and 'irregular' are all flags. I think during the scan they were looking for whether the bits and bobs were all present and correct, signs of PCOS and endometriosis.

I hope you feel better soon.

I've received my NHS gynaecology appt for 22nd March, suppose I will see how the private appt goes first as not sure it will be worth going to this too?? It's all addressed to DH though. x

Hi everyone and sorry to see you are all still struggling. Hope everyone is as OK as you can be apart from ttc struggles.

Thanks for the update on your appointment Friendly. Useful to know and I hope the next stage isn't too far away for you.

Sunshine15 sorry about AF and I have to also say I am appalled a doctor would prescribe you morphine without looking into the cause of the pain. I have endo and I don't have or need such a strong painkiller for my periods. Although I read an article today about period pain being worse than heart attacks, I don't think what you are describing as normal. Please do go back to your doctor and I find it helps to start the conversation by asking to be referred.

Thanks for support everyone. I've seen several doctors when I've lived in a city, then at uni, then to a different borough in the city and now in the country and have mentioned to the two sonographers at my pelvic scans about pain but always fobbed off. Feel I'm making progress now though.

Got my letter for gynaecologist referral today and only saw GP Tuesday (male GP as I thought I'd try a different doctor) so will see what gynaecologist says but yes not normal.

Good luck Sunshine and glad the referral came through quickly for you. When I got my gynae appointment it included information about how I would have any tests that were necessary done on the day (I didn't in the end as I was pregnant) so hopefully you will see the gynae and have a laparoscopy at the same time.

Fx for you Mrsunsure. I got my peak on the OPK yesterday which is a bit early for me, only CD9, but I did have a very odd AF last month so think its probably messed me up. x

Thanks Fuzzy. Gynaecologist appointment booked for mid March which is all a lot quicker than I thought things would move! Very impressed as it was only Tuesday GP said he'd refer me!

Feeling much better and more positive. Letter didn't say anything about what to expect though just that I needed to go online using a username and password in the letter to log on and book an appointment from a list of possible dates and times.

Get a print out of all your tests from your gp and take them with you. Write down all your questions and your theories! So glad you have referrals coming up ladies, I will continue to lurk.

Mrsunsure that sounds like your hormones are doing what they need to, fingers crossed x

It's so exciting that so many people have got their referrals! Assuming that the 'gynae appointment' you refer to are the same as fertility appointments, then my experience a couple of weeks ago was that they give you and your partner a reeally long questionnaire about general health, lifestyle, and also cycles.

Then they gave me a form for some more blood tests, sold me an £80 AMH blood test, did my height and weight, did an internal scan and some swabs, and gave my husband a sperm test bottle to do another sample in a couple of months. Oh, and they also gave me a form to hand in to reception to request a HyCoSy (HSG).

Hope that helps! Oh, and in terms of what to ask, be aware of your options and ask for them... e.g. in terms of luteal phase, if you want more 21 day bloods, or follicle tracking for a month, then ask for it. I felt like if I hadn't have asked she would have sent us away for 2 months until the HyCoSy was complete and DH latest SA was back.

I can't stress enough that day 21 bloods need to be done 7dpo so for those with short LPs or short cycles this is not usually day 21! It's because progesterone peaks 7dpo and its your peak level that's needed.

Follicle tracking would be even better though! I was lucky enough to have my appointment on the day I ovulated and he performed a scan so I saved myself the bother of a whole cycle of tracking - the egg was right there and it was day 20.

Mrsunsure, how many DPO are you today?

My private appt is weds when I'll be 5dpo. Having an internal scan too, hopefully everything will look ok though I am a bit worried as most cycles I get a dragging / pulling feeling from about 2dpo until AF. I don't think I'll be given progesterone as my luteal phase is usually 10/11 days and my progesterone level was over 60 at 6dpo, its the high prolactin level I'm more concerned about now.

Bear, have you had the HyCoSy yet?

I've also got an NHS appt for March but I'm not sure its worth going to that too?? x

Sunshine you must go to both! I did and the nhs ended up prescribing as a result of what my private appointment said.

My nhs appointment was a gynae one not a fertility appointment with a specialist gynae nurse. They were dismissive as I'd just miscarried as I'm 'obviously capable' of getting pregnant but I was armed with facts and wanted the consultants opinion and they did budge and prescribe cyclogest. I wasn't offered any further investigations just the progesterone if I got my bfp (I told them a few weeks later I got my bfp and they sent the prescription through the post - I hadn't). Then when it ran out I told my doctor they hadn't prescribed me enough and they suddenly wrote my a prescription (after telling me they couldn't previously)

Don't feel fed up Mrs, one week until your appointment is great news! One week until my scan now too

Mrs in terms of questions, I'd probably say you are not overly concerned about getting pregnant in your case but your bodies ability to withstand the pregnancy given low protesterone levels and you have read cyclogest is something which is being trialed (see the Prism trial), ask if this can this be prescribed to see if it makes a difference. Also make reference to the fact that you have sort advice of others with similar issues in which cyclogest has worked and would like to try this route. Accept to them that this may not be the answer but for what the price of the drug is worth you would like to give it a try (preferably after ovulation).

Also have you got an app that you record on? Make it clear you use opks (say CB) and that you ovulate on X day and AF comes on Y day and state the luteal phase and any pg blood levels you have had...