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

Mrsunsure, I'm so sorry to hear this and I would also be a mess, but I'd like to repeat what Dizzy has said re acupuncture. I was sceptical at first but having just had my 3rd session I really do feel like its starting to relax me (and stress plays a huge part in fertility) and my acupuncturist is almost like a life coach in that she is helping me to think positively. It is normal to have an odd anovulatory cycle, but please remember you can still try with increasing the dose of clomid etc and if all else fails there are in the long term options such as IVF. Don't give up hope yet. xx

I hear you mrsu it took us 3 years with DD and it's now been 2 years ttc#2 with a mmc late last year. It's the most difficult thing ever at times to gather all our strength and keep going but we do it. You will find the strength to keep going and there are lots of options still open to you as sunshine has said.

Sunshine it's great you find acupuncture relaxing, I do too. Keeping my fx for you.

Mrsunsure, they didn't say you wouldn't ovulate but that it could be later? Maybe the timings are all wrong? Have the tests and pin down that ovulation.

I've had annovulatory cycles, they can happen once/twice a year. I would have been just as upset but hopefully today you can see that it might not be as bad as you first thought. I had a progesterone level of 6 when I found out was pregnant the first time and had the early mc, but I was also told I wasn't ovulating at all. I know it's hard to not jump to the worst conclusions but it might not/probably won't happen.

Friendlycav, any news? X

I hope you're feeling better today Mrsunsure

I'm 16dpo and still BFN. I have some spotting so pretty sure AF on way today. Gutted as I was so hopeful that the progesterone would work for me but at least my luteal phase has been extended

BFNs always suck Cav, but you're on a level playing field now at least so fx for that BFP very soon!

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't popped in to say hello for a while.

I've been reading everything and i just wanted to say to Mrsunsure that from what I understand, clomid improves the whole cycle, so even if you don't ovulate until cd19, you should still get a luteal phase after that iyswim. So I think you'll ovulate late but your AF will also be later than in months without the clomid. Fx that's the case anyway!

I've stayed away because I've been feeling very sorry for myself. I'm going to write what's happened as it will make me feel better but not expecting anyone to actually read it all!

Last month I had natural follicle tracking, so I know I ovulated, I know we got the timing spot on, and we even tried the sperm friendly lubricant. I honestly don't know what more we could have done and still nothing.

On the scan on cd22 they saw that I'd ovulated 1 or 2 days previously, and guess what, they wanted me to have cd21 progesterone there and then because it was 'only 1 day out' (in terms of cd21 and cd 22). I tried and tried to explain (these are the people at the fertility unit at the hospital!) that it was too early and eventually just thought 'eff it' and had the blood taken on that day. Surprise surprise, the results said, I 'hadn't ovulated'. I said I had a scan showing I had and she accused me of coming in for the bloods on the wrong day! . Eventually she admitted something strange was going on and asked me to book an appointment with the doctor there. I phoned the reception - 18th May!!!! I was so upset.

Before all this the GP said the target was 10 weeks to have a 'treatment plan sorted'. Well my first appointment was on the 4th Feb. I tried not to get cross with the receptionist but she tried to tell me that by their rules my treatment had already started because I was having scans. I thought to myself, how can my treatment have started when they haven't even diagnosed me with anything yet!!

So, the upshot is I already had a HyCoSy (very similar to an HSG) booked in for 16th March so the receptionist said I should be seeing the doctor as part of that. So I am going to sit there and refuse to leave until they've decided what the issue is and suggested some treatment! Luckily my DH will be there too and he's so much better at keeping calm and getting what he wants!

I thought that once we'd got a referral it would all be ok but it's worse than ever!

In terms of my luteal phase, since I've been tracking it is slowly getting longer: 7,7,9,8,10,11,11,11. I haven't been doing anything different, and only take folic acid. Maybe in a year it will get to 14 days lol.

Wow I feel better for getting that out of my system . Sorry! I'm thinking of you all xx

Mrsunsure - thanks so much for taking the time to read and respond. It's good to know that there are doctors out there that will help! Yes the docs I'm referring to are all at the clinic, I haven't had to go back to the GP either. The clinic is one of the best in the country for IVF (which I'm bracing myself for as we also have male factor issues) so I want to stick with them, but I am happy to be seeing a different doctor next time so hopefully will make some progress.

I have had the AMH test... I believe it's a test of ovarian reserve as the dormant/immature follicles all give off a certain hormone - so if someone has fewer follicles left then they will have a lower AMH value. I think it can change which treatment course they send someone down, for example if there are fewer follicles they might not try IUI and go straight to IVF.

So my AMH is another saga, am thinking about complaining to this same clinic as it cost £80! I had mine after the nurse doing my first internal ultrasound said I had fewer follicles than expected for my age. The results came back at 'the higher end of normal' which is consistent with PCOS! So I questioned it at my second scan and she said one of my ovaries looked polycystic and she couldn't understand why the other nurse had said she was worried about the number of follicles! Really feel like I've been had! Mind you during the third scan that nurse said she couldn't see any evidence of a polycystic ovary and couldn't explain the AMH results. Ugh I hope I turn a corner with this fertility centre soon! I have to laugh about it or I'd cry.

Really feel for you iambear you must really have thought you were getting somewhere having now been referred but it all sounds so frustrating. At least the length of your luteal phase is moving in the right direction! I got a call from my GP saying that an NHS reproductive clinic have agreed to see me but think I'm going to continue along the private route as well. I'll be interested to hear how your HyCoSy goes this week. AF arrived for me at the weekend so I've just booked in for an HSG on 22 March.

Friendly, that is the same day as I have my NHS appointment, but like you I am going to continue privately as far as we can afford. When I saw my private consultant he did say it is worth going to any NHS appointments as well, as although it may feel you are duplicating things that it will be worth it should it come to needing IVF etc. I will be interested to hear how your HSG goes, as I wasn't sure about how long it takes or going back into work after. Hopefully I will be able to book mine in next cycle.

Hi mrsunsure I quite often have an OPK buildup. The tests say not to count it as a positive until the test line is good and dark so that's what I've been doing x

NB to clarify yes I'd expect it to get darker so DTD loads! Are you using a sensitive one?

The Clomid will be affecting your cycle so even though the spotting normally happens at that time it may not this time.

I have cheapy internet OPK tests but they are apparently the sensitive ones (20mlU). They always pick something up for me but it may well be a weak ovulation for all I know. Once I had three positives in a row, one each day. On Amazon they just seem to sell those so I don't even know if you can get less sensitive ones.

Are you testing with them several ones a day? x

No Mrs not positive it needs to be the same or darker. Looks like it's on the horizon though x

Mrs just keep DTD. I never get on with those I never seem to get a really strong line so perhaps I miss the surge but I only ever use first urine of the day.

9DPO for me today which is better than last months 7 day LP! No symptoms and no sign of AF yet. Also no spotting which I usually have for one or two days prior. Didn't think we had much of a chance as I ovulated the day before DH SA and we withheld for a few days. Bet I've jinxed it now

I have my NHS referral with the gynaecologist tomorrow. Any tips on what I should say? Obviously going to mention low progesterone, short LP and painful periods plus family history of endometriosis. Really hoping to come away from tomorrow feeling positive

Really great news Mrs! Fingers crossed for you x