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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

anyone have luteal phase defect?

35 replies

wishing1 · 05/01/2007 07:02

I have to start on progesterone because my cycle tends to start 4 days early and then stop and then start again, so I have drop in progesterone. Hope this works in getting pg anyone use progesterone suppliment, cream, etc. and have any success?

OP posts:
Artoo · 05/01/2007 07:49

Your luteal phase is the time between ovulation and your period starting. It is considered short if it is less than 10 days, and most doctors like to see it being 12 days or more.

Are you monitoring your ovulation? In which case, how many days is it between your ovulation and first AF?

If you're not monitoring your ovulation, you may not have luteal phase defect.

You say your cycle starts, stops and starts again. Does that mean you have two seperate bleeds? That sounds unusual to me, and you may want to get medical advice (some of the more experienced ladies here may be able to advise better though).

I had luteal phase defect (7 days from O to AF), and the progesterone creams made no difference to me at all. I got better results from just taking 50mg of vitamin B6 daily. I got some progesterone suppositories from my consultant and they work wonders though!

If you suspect luteal phase defect you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

Hugs,
Artoo.

LatenightOwl · 05/01/2007 09:02

I agree with Artoo, I too self diagnosed a luteal defect when I started to chart. My consultant kept saying that I ov'd 14 days prior to my AF but this was wrong - I ov'd on day 10 - 13 depending on the month and then luteal phase was anything from 10 - 13 days depending on the month. So by charting and then supplements (B6) I am now a steady 12 - 13 days luteal phase and trying to increase this to 14 days to give max chance of implantation. hope this helps!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/01/2007 09:14

If you are having bleeds that stop and start I would get this medically looked at. It is often not serious but you need to find out what the underlying cause is.

Who has suggested the use of progesterone?. Progesterone pessaries and their use is much debated; some people think they are helpful, others not.

I was also provided with progesterone suppositories to use but only after I conceived (used these up to 12 weeks).

Do you have a diagnosis of the underlying problem?.

You can temp chart but if your bleeds are like this I would not use such a method. Would instead rely on blood tests to give a more accurate picture of what your hormones (not just progesterone) levels are like.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/01/2007 09:18

You may find this interesting as well:-

The three main causes of luteal phase defect include poor follicle production, premature demise of the corpus luteum, and failure of the uterine lining to respond to normal levels of progesterone. These problems occur at different times during the cycle but can also be found in conjunction with each other.

  1. Poor follicle production occurs in the first half of the cycle. In this case, the woman may not produce a normal level of FSH, or her ovaries do not respond strongly to the FSH, leading to inadequate follicle development. Because the follicle ultimately becomes the corpus luteum, poor follicle formation leads to poor corpus luteum quality. In turn, a poor corpus luteum will produce inadequate progesterone, causing the uterine lining to be adequately prepared for the implantation of a fertilized embryo. Ultimately progesterone levels may drop early and menses will arrive sooner than expected resulting in luteal phase defect.

  2. Premature failure of the corpus luteum can occur even when the initial quality of the follicle/corpus luteum is adequate. In some women the corpus luteum sometimes does not persist as long as it should. Here, initial progesterone levels at five to seven days past ovulation may be low; even if they are adequate, the levels drop precipitously soon thereafter, again leading to early onset of menses and hence a luteal phase defect.

  3. Failure of the uterine lining to respond can occur even in the presence of adequate follicle development and a corpus luteum that persists for the appropriate length of time. In this condition, the uterine lining does not respond to normal levels of progesterone. Therefore, if an embryo arrives and tries to implant in the uterus, the uterine lining will not be adequately prepared, and the implantation will most likely fail.

Original poster
wishing1 · 05/01/2007 14:08

Thanks so much for your advice, I have an appointment with doc next week and 2 friends have had the same prob that's why I thought of the progesterone lack. I have a 25-26 day cycle, I ov on day 12 and day 22 I start to bleed which is 10 days past ov and I bleed for half a day then stop then the next day I bleed then stop until day 25 or 26 and then I start my 7 day flow of af! I have used opk and it varies from day 11 to day 12 each month so I get the positive on day 10 or 11.

OP posts:
Fingerscrossed2007 · 05/01/2007 18:53

What Atilla, Late night and Artoo say makes alot of sense. I used to regualary vary from 26 - 28 day periods but then started on vitamin B complex and it stabilised to 28 days. At the time I wasnt ttc it was more for being able to plan when on earth I would have AF. I travel with work and had been caught out once too often with AF which wasnt great - sorry of TMI.

incidentally my AF is a lot like yours stopping and starting. I tend to get a day then it stops froo a day. starts for 2/3 days then stops for a day then starts for a final day. I always count day one as the sign of the first bleed and ov at about day 12/13.

Original poster
wishing1 · 06/01/2007 03:09

fingerscrossed2007

Thanks, it sounds like I"m not the only one having this issue. My doctor said that if your progesterone drops too soon it makes you start too soon and that can affect carrying a baby and implantation and everything! I have my apt on Thurs so we'll find out what happens then. I was caught on the last two months traveling and there it was 3-4 days early, sucks!

OP posts:
Original poster
wishing1 · 06/01/2007 03:09

fingerscrossed2007

Thanks, it sounds like I"m not the only one having this issue. My doctor said that if your progesterone drops too soon it makes you start too soon and that can affect carrying a baby and implantation and everything! I have my apt on Thurs so we'll find out what happens then. I was caught on the last two months traveling and there it was 3-4 days early, sucks!

OP posts:
Original poster
wishing1 · 06/01/2007 03:09

fingerscrossed2007

Thanks, it sounds like I"m not the only one having this issue. My doctor said that if your progesterone drops too soon it makes you start too soon and that can affect carrying a baby and implantation and everything! I have my apt on Thurs so we'll find out what happens then. I was caught on the last two months traveling and there it was 3-4 days early, sucks!

OP posts:
Original poster
wishing1 · 06/01/2007 03:09

fingerscrossed2007

Thanks, it sounds like I"m not the only one having this issue. My doctor said that if your progesterone drops too soon it makes you start too soon and that can affect carrying a baby and implantation and everything! I have my apt on Thurs so we'll find out what happens then. I was caught on the last two months traveling and there it was 3-4 days early, sucks!

OP posts:
Original poster
wishing1 · 06/01/2007 03:09

fingerscrossed2007

Thanks, it sounds like I"m not the only one having this issue. My doctor said that if your progesterone drops too soon it makes you start too soon and that can affect carrying a baby and implantation and everything! I have my apt on Thurs so we'll find out what happens then. I was caught on the last two months traveling and there it was 3-4 days early, sucks!

OP posts:
cityangel · 07/01/2007 23:30

Have been charting and using a fertility monitor and a short luteal phase is likely for me...

What are people trying other than B6?

Thanks for your help

Twiglett · 07/01/2007 23:34

I was given clomid .. worked first cycle

cityangel · 08/01/2007 01:35

Thanks Twiglett (my favourite snack) did you have to wait a year to get it perscribed?

Twiglett · 08/01/2007 14:11

it was prescribed by consultant at ACU at hospital so took a while

but GPs can prescribe too

I'd just tell them you've been trying for a year and have charted for 3 months and its showing a defect personally .. they'll probably give you blood tests and want semen tests too just to check but at least you've identified issue

mine was secondary infertility and I was ovulating fine so bloods were fine .. I had to argue to get a referral to ACU cos I already had a child .. and in the end roped in friend at hospital to advise me in getting referral

good luck

Hillbilly · 12/01/2007 10:35

I've just been reading this thread as am TTC after MC in August with no success. My cycle is 23 days OV at 16 days. Never heard of luteal phase defect before and now worried too.

Should I see the doctor about this?

blondie1711 · 24/07/2007 17:13

can anyone give me some advice?
i have been to my Gp she was very unsympathetic and brushed me off with no help at all.(angry)
i have been TTC since last september,with no luck!i know this does not seem like ages to some as its now july but i have never had a problem before.i have 4 other children and have had 8 miscarraiges which seemed to be down to low progesterone levels.my consultant prescribed CYCLOGEST to use as soon as i fell pregant last time and it did the trick.that was 5 years ago though and i suspect that now i have a lutuel phase defect.my cyle always starts 9-10 past ovulation without fail.and i know exactly when i ovulate because i feel alot of pain.
would anyone else think that i have a LPD??
any advice would be helpful.thanks x

AGD · 18/08/2008 09:38

Hi

Could someone explain what 'AF' stands for?

These threads are really helpful, so thanks to everyone for posting.

Twiglett · 18/08/2008 09:41

AF is period ("Aunt Flo")

10 days is not considered a luteal phase defect I'm afraid .. try high dosage vitamin B6 (100 to 200mg per day) .. you need to ask for this as standard supplements are lower

Twiglett · 18/08/2008 09:42

ovulation 'pain' while symptomatic is not a precise indicator of ovulation though .. I would try testing with OPKs for a while too .. it is just the pain can start before or after the actual ovualtion IIRC so you might be slightly misjudging and when we're talking a couple of days could make a difference in conception

AGD · 18/08/2008 09:50

Thanks Twiglett

Out of interest, do you know if it's common to get LPD even after you've successfully conceived once without any issues at all?

I've noticed weird things with my cycle the past 6 months or so, have been charting the past two and both times have felt sick / sore boobs for first 3-4 days after temp goes up. Last time period came 9 days post temp rise, this time day 6.

feeling quite upset by this as potential issue. as for so many people I'm sure, now we're trying I really want it to work and not to get obsessed by it all, or to have to go through a really stressful/emotional experience for months / years. no one wants that do they. but the reality check is proving hard given how easily we conceived the first time. I want our daughter to have a playmate close in age, not with a huge gap. just have to resign myself to being more patient - only a few months in after all.

good to read there are things to try at least. off to get high strength B6 now...

sounds like i should also use ovulation kits so I know exactly when I ovulate. have a good idea now but signs not 100% obvious.

Twiglett · 18/08/2008 10:03

when you're pregnant your hormones get thrown up in the air, when you're no longer pregnant they land .. any which way .. at least that's how it was explained to me (because that's what happened to me)

I think secondary infertility is more common than one might imagine and also fairly consistently written off by GPs because they see you've already got one child so no problem ... I also had the added whammy of you've already got one child and you're 35 this year and NHS resources are limited .. I had to fight hard for a referral and in the end took it out of GP's hands (ie went in and gave them name of person to write to and wrote the letter for them)

anniemac · 18/08/2008 10:20

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buttercupbabe · 18/08/2008 15:10

Hi I was sure that I had a luteal phase defect - bleeding 8/9 dpo, my consultant gave me 3 doses of HCG injections. Didn't work for me because I actually had adhesions and a hooked fallopian tube (resulting from the c/section I had having ds). Once these had been dealt (consultant did lap and dye and hysteroscopy and repaired damage he saw whilst doing the 2 procedures) I had follicle tracking which showed I only had at best a 10 day luteal phase. Dr told me to come back next cycle to start treatment but fell pg! My friend also had luteal phase defect - was ttc for about a year and now has 2 ds' after having the hcg injections. Her luteal phase was about 9 days.
Before I saw consultant I tried using B6 but it made no difference. Have you been prescribed progesterone?

anniemac · 01/09/2008 11:40

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