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

Hello Latinata

Sorry for the spotting/AFs and general miserable feelings everyone seems to have. It is tough ttc. Xx

I start fertility acupuncture this week and am determined to get into a more positive mindset. I reckon I have another ten days until ovulation, but have already started dtd eon in case it is earlier than expected.

Hi Ladies,
I do apologise about always posting and disappearing... I find it hard to keep up but I do want to share my experiences in case it helps.

So after DH's poor SA results in early Jan, we had our first appointment at the NHS reproductive centre yesterday. DH believed it was a free pass for me to get my luteal phase sorted, as they always give both partners a full investigation.

So the conversation about luteal phase (with the specialist!) went something like this:
Me: 'Should only 7-10 days between ovulation and period be something to worry about'
Doc: 'The luteal phase is always 14 days'
Me: 'Not for me'
Doc: (paraphrasing a bit ) 'no person in the history of the world EVER has anything other than 14 days'
Me: 'Er, I do'
Doc: 'You must be calculating it wrong'
Me: 'Well are there any tests we can do to prove it either way?'
Doc: 'Oh yes, we can do follicular tracking (a series of scans), we can start at the beginning of your next cycle. Would you like that?'
Me: 'YES!!!!!'

I feel sad because that's what we're all up against. Even at the specialist. You really have to be on the ball constantly and know what you want, and it's only thanks to you guys on this thread that I've had the courage of my convictions .

Also, just for info, at the initial consultation there were about 10 questionnaires to fill in, the doc went through when you started your period, family history of both partners etc. It also includes an internal scan. This shows I have low egg reserves for my age! To add to everything else!

friendlycav because of the results of my internal scan they strongly advised the AMH test (I have to pay £80) and they said that this might change the treatment between whether they try IUI for a year or jump straight to IVF. So although the results are scary, they might help you get progressed more quickly, and better the devil you know. What I'm most cross about is that this doc said the LH/FSH blood test I did via the GP last Sept hinted at this issue but the GP at the time told me it was fine! . Beginning to feel I can't trust any of them, even though I know I'm lucky to have battled my way this far down the road!

Best of luck to you all.

Hi iambear, thank you for sharing your experiences I found this super helpful. Good luck with the follicle tracking, please keep us updated with your progress. You are so right.. I am really scared to get my AMH tested but it is better to know. I have a telephone appointment with my GP today and I am going to push to get AMH (checks egg reserve) and HSG (checks tubes aren’t blocked) tests done so that I don’t have to pay for them later. The conversation you had with the ‘specialist’ regarding short luteal phase is really shocking, I can’t believe this is what we’re up against...

I have been an emotional wreck this past week and still not convinced I’ve ovulated this month, I’ve had a temperature drop the last couple of days which makes no sense. Maybe this is an anovulatory cycle?

I got an email from my Chinese herbalist who has suggested I buy some natural progesterone cream for my low levels.

DH has his SA test on 16th Feb so waiting for those results and then I’m tempted to go straight to the Lister.

Fuzzyowl - good luck with your acupuncture

Iambear I know what you mean about luteal phase! My doctor said the exact same thing to me. I said I used OPKs, charted bbt and CF etc but she said nope you bleed 14 days after you ovulate...DH was with me and the time. So frustrating.

I'm going back in just over a week to get results of my day 21 bloods and cycle day 3 bloods which I had taken in the same week (the Monday then back on the Friday) due to short LP so we'll see what she says about that.

I can't respond to everyone as I'm tapping this out on my phone at work but really sympathise with what everyone's going through and so frustrated about doctors and their lack of knowledge of luteal phases! They probably think we're crackpots - hope the scans prove 'em wrong!

I'm afraid to go to the loo in case I find more blood. I'm desperate for a wee though!

Thinking of you Oriana.

Thank you for sharing iambear and it is so annoying to hear what your arrogant specialist had to say. I really hope you get somewhere now you are being investigated and your short LP is finally recognised.

Thanks friendlycav and I hope you are ovulating.

Hope all goes well when you go back Sunshine.

Well I just had call with GP and it was a complete waste of time. I pushed for AMH test but she said it wasn't necessary and we should just keep trying! She's going to chat about my case with her colleagues and then I need to call her back when I have DH's SA results.. only then will she decide whether to refer us

friendlycav I'm so sorry, that's shit. I hate phone appointments too. I really hope when she talks to colleagues they can change her mind - it's important to know the full picture as early as possible I think.

Out of interest, where did your herbalist suggest getting the progesterone from? x

I'm still fuming!

Oriana here is the link to the progesterone (Emerita Paraben-Free Pro-Gest - 2 oz. Tube)
www.nhmpersonal-imports.net/acatalog/Natural-Progesterone-Products.html

Bullsh*t ladies that you are having to put up with uninformed doctors like that!

The doctor I saw is a leading expert on fertility and he diagnosed me with luteal phase defect from one scan!

He has an article on LPD on his Twitter actually
humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/long/dev133v1

Thanks for all your comments, yes will update with the results of the follicle tracking and try and vindicate all of us! When the doc mentioned that no one in the world has a short luteal phase I wanted to say, 'there is a whole group of ladies on the internet who do!' but realised that wouldn't help

mrsunsure yes the GP wouldn't refer us without DH SA results as they need a full picture. Do whatever you need to do to get him to agree . He might also need to repeat it 3 months down the line (although I wouldn't tell him that yet lol!) so the sooner he does the first one, the better.
Try not to be too nervous about your appointment. If they don't take you seriously, just ask for the follicle tracking.

friendlycav I think it's normal to have to wait until after SA results. If the results are normal but you've been TTC for over a year (or you if you can round it up and say you have ) then I think they should refer you anyway. Even after referral I'm having to pay £80 for the AMH test so maybe if you say you'll pay then they'd be willing to give you that anyway or you maybe it's available privately?

mrsmugoo thanks for the link, it's good to know there's at least one doctor out there who takes it seriously!

I am annoyed for you too. My private consultant also diagnosed LP defect straight away! And suggested progesterone straight away. So frustrating for you!! Yes, the verdict is still out about the use of progesterone but there are research studies being done now and I'm not saying it works for all but it must work for some!

Gender scan tomorrow Mrs

Ooh my goodness exciting!!

No I can't open either now boo :(

Sorry so many of you have got unsympathetic and unsupportive doctors.

My periods after my mc were horrendous mrsunsure and lasted for much longer than normal with spotting on either side, which was most unusual. I did get pregnant again three cycles later so, horrific as they were, they obviously didn't impact my fertility and hopefully it is the same for you.

Good luck with the scan today!

Has anyone tried using soy to conceive?

I did a cycle on soy isoflavones and I had the shortest LP I'd ever had on it (6 days) and then freakish heavy period. Too scared to ever try it again!

I am really tempted to give it a go but I don't want to waste a cycle if that will happen to me.

8 dpo here, 'proper' spotting started yesterday but no AF as yet and sore boobs #symptomwatch

Might do a FR test tomorrow but I am fully aware this is still within my 'normal' range and I'm highly unlikely to be pregnant.

xx