Long cycle / short luteal phase

[Bows85]

Hi all,
I was just wondering whether anyone might be in the same boat as me and can offer some advice/success stories?!

My DH and I have been ttc for several months now without any success.
Unfortunately my cycles have been really irregular (ranging from 31 days to 51 days) since coming off bcp last summer.

I have tracked ovulation and I do appear to be ovulating on my own but to add a big spanner into the works, it looks as though my LP is only 9/10 days.

I can find a lot of info about short cycles with a short LP, but not so much on long cycles with short LP. Anyone able to help?

Fingers crossed for you 😊

Well I've made it to dc40/dpo10. Longest LP since I started tracking. But only just. Very light pinky brown cm started last night so don't think I'll make dpo 11!

I mean cd40!

Rubbish that AF looks to be arriving, but great about your LP! Ooh, I wonder if your B50 had anything to do with it... Interesting 🤔

CD27 for me and still no +ve OPK. Annoying, but I'm trying not to dwell and looking at it as one day closer to seeing the gynaecologist.

Hope your results go ok tomorrow @boatrace30

So B50 is no great shakes. LP of 9 days instead of 8. Think I'm going to stop all supplements this month and see what happens (apart from folic obviously)

So I'm yet to speak to doctor but the receptionist gave me my test results. Progesterone was borderline
apparently. Not really sure what happens next

That's frustrating @boatrace30 Have you been able to get an appointment to see your doc to discuss the results? Could they have caught the reading on the way up/down? I am guessing that could cause the reading to be borderline.

Has your DP had sperm analysis done? That might be the next step for you as a couple.

Your doc might want to refer you to see a specialist. That's what mine has done. Hopefully then you can get some advice about what the next steps are. Clomid? Progesterone? I'm only going off things I have read but that could be a good shout.

How long have you been ttc?

Hi ladies.....sorry to hear about your blood results Boatrace, can you get a doctors appointment/phone call to discuss. Like Bows if its a case of your progesterone dropping too early then I think there are things they can give you to help raise the levels or give a stronger ovulation to promote progesterone. Was it a b50 complex you were taking?

Any luck with the opk's Bows? As much as i found them really useful last time to give me a clearer indication of my lp, I found myself properly scrutinizing them for any hint of a colour change!

CD7 here and so probably a long way until ov. Who know's maybe my body will surprise and ovulate next week.....yeah right!!!!! Decided to take a vit c/zinc supplement to see if this does anything. Ive heard Vit C can help with progesterone. Surely it cannot hurt anyway?! Well at least it might help ward off any colds!

Hi @CatMum87 Good to hear from you!

Nah, just been doing today's OPK and it was another -ve. The +ve OPKs in previous cycles have been really dark and clear, so I'm expecting the same again this cycle. It's just a matter of when!

I have ordered some zinc (was actually taking them a few months ago so shouldn't do any harm to restart). I might tag some vit c onto that order now you've said that!

Hi catmum and bows. I have just spoken to the doctor and nearly had a breakdown when she said I needed to keep trying until I had been TTC for a year (technically we started trying last march but periods came back in August when i stopped breastfeeding so she said we had to start from then). I then said that as I have a pre-existing condition (pcos) could I not be referred sooner and she relented.
She seemed to think the short LP isn't a big deal and we should just make sure we dtd later in my cycle than day 14. As if I hadn't worked that out!! Again, the problem is we know more than them and I am not surprised given my obsessive researching. So anyway she reluctantly referred me. Waiting time about two months so won't be far of a year when I actually see someone!!
I'm going to take the B50 all month and also have Vit C+zinc
When I had dd U had bleeding throughout the 1st trimester and was referred to EPU and treated as a "threatened miscarriage". I look back on that now and think a) I bet that was low progesterone and b) DD really was a miracle baby!

That's rubbish you had to almost beg for a referral. But pleased you have got there in the end.

Let's hope you get your appointment through quicker than 2 months, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Then you can get some specialist advice rather than you telling the doctor what you know!

Did the doctor say what your progesterone reading was?

It was 15

Not far off what mine was so I can understand how you're feeling . Did they suggest it might be useful to do a repeat test this cycle?
I was thinking of asking for that to be done knowing that it was a borderline result last time.

No my GP wasn't interested in doing anything further at all! When I questioned this she said "do you really want me to refer you and I said yes!" A bit frustrating

Aw Boatrace I am glad that your doctor eventually agreed to refer you. I think the most frustrating thing is knowing that there is something not quite right, that there are things out there that could hopefully help, but having to tick all the right boxes to get that help! It's never just straightforward is it.

2 babies born to close friends of ours in the last two weeks :s. As much as I am happy for them, I also feel jealous. But then I feel bad for feeling that way!

On a positive note, i know i harp on about acupuncture but after my recent appointment she said it was an improvement that i had very little spotting this time around. But she understood that 7/8 day lp is far too short for implantation and she wants to extend it by at least 2-4 days this cycle. Not sure how but hey lets see!!!! And well at least I can drink on my hen do at the end of the month!! x

Exactly @CatMum87 enjoy your boozy hen do! Every cloud...

I'm in the same position. DH's best friend have just had a baby and my SIL is looking lovely and pregnant at the moment. I've got a major case of the green-eyed monster, but trying my best to continue to smile through it.

Still no +ve OPK here at cd30 🙄 Although I'm trying to convince myself that other signs are suggesting it might be imminent (cm etc). But tbh, my OPKs have never looked so negative so I think I'm clutching at straws!

I'll be so interested to hear about this cycle's LP @CatMum87 I hope your acupuncturist works wonders for you.

Hope you're feeling a bit better today @boatrace30 😊

Bloody bold text strikes again. Sorry! 🙈

Yep, managed to pull myself together today and haven't cried!
Bows it's so hard with pregnant people and babies. Just so hard.

Catmum - interested to know what happens with the acupuncture. I had appointments booked a couple of weeks ago but DH and I had a major argument as he thinks it's all bollocks and a con.

I thought it wasn't worth pursuing if it was going to cause stress at home

Glad you're a little better @boatrace30 It's always good to get the tears out but we have to think positively. You're doing everything you can at the moment so just need to keep going. Everything will work out, I'm sure

Just done today's OPK and it's almost positive so I think that I've caught the start of my LH surge. I'm quite impressed with how well I have got to spot the signs before it happens!

Ooo that's great! Good luck with that. How many days are you into your cycle?

I'm day 31 today, which is just ridiculous 🙄 but if ovulation happens soon it'll be better than last cycle's day 41!

Decided to do another OPK this evening thinking it was going to have a stronger line, but it didn't. So now I'm thinking maybe I've jumped the gun... will see what tomorrow's test shows. Fingers crossed...

I ovulated day30 on my last cycle. Shame about AF on day 39

On the plus side I got a letter about my referral today. Booked for 22nd May, IF the consultant accepts it.

Bows when is your appt? Are you planning to take your DP

Any chance you missed the surge? It can last only four hours I'm told

I caught my surge! Must have just been creeping up yesterday but here's a definite positive (control line the lighter of the two). Likely to ovulate tomorrow, I think.

That's fantastic about your appointment. Much quicker than mine. I'm due to go on 18th May (which will have been 12 weeks since referral). We've been told we both have to go along. Had to fill in forms for both of us - medical history, lifestyle etc.

Have they recommended you both go?

Oh I've been really lucky then, mine will be just under six weeks.
Only had a generic letter so far telling you how to book an appt online. I think I'll get a further letter confirming it all. So maybe that will tell me to bring DH. Thanks!