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?

My luteal phase was always 7-9 days prior to using the cream. Then this gradually began increasing to 10 days and last month 11 days. I'm not quite sure what worked in the end but I was at the stage where I was willing to give anything a shot! Xx

Thanks for the message cookie and congrats on the bfp!
Really nice to hear that you got there in the end. I tried agnus castus for three months but it made no obvious difference. Which tablets were you taking?

How are you doing bows?. You must be quite a few dpo now?

Hey @boatrace30 I'm 8dpo today and feeling a bit apprehensive! According to previous cycles, if AF arrives, I think I should start spotting on Wednesday before Thursday being back to CD1.

I'm trying my best to not think about it and not symptom spot but easier said than done! Went for a run yesterday and felt a tiny bit crampy on one side but that could have been anything (obviously I'm thinking it was implantation 😂)!

I'm actually not obsessing as much over the "symptoms" as I have been the last few cycles though. But tbh, I don't think I've actually felt anything. I don't tend to have any symptoms in the lead up to AF so it's probably just that!

How is everyone else?
@boatrace30 are you still trying to be relaxed?
@CatMum87 were you able to confirm your ovulation day?

I'm just going to stop apologising for the bold text now. I think it's happening when I go back and add text to the message. Wish it showed the bold when I was typing, then I wouldn't keep making the mistake 😂

Hi Ladies, hope you've all had a good weekend :)

Congratulation Cookie! It's always good to hear storied with a positive ending. I think i remember you from a previous thread when I had just come off the pill many many months ago! Can I ask.....did your doctor etc recognise your short luteal phase as an issue and was there any treatment/recommendations?

Bows- took opks Saturday and Sunday and both were negative. So I reckon it happened sometime this weekend. I wear a fitbit and my resting heart rate went up yesterday which- just another thing for me to obsess over! So i reckon im around 2dpo........

Really hope AF stays away for you! It is so hard to not think about it isnt it......its constantly at the back of my mind. Just curious- are you doing anything differently during the tww?! I'm all into my fitness and love my running, spinning etc but I am thinking of toning it down a bit and just sticking to swimming, pilates gentle weights etc to see if it makes my lp longer. Although I do love my cardio........surely my body should be able to train and get pregnant! Athletes do it all the time!

Oh wow! That's great news @CatMum87 You're going to fall within the 'normal cycle' category this month!

I have been in two minds about continuing to exercise at the level I normally do but you're right. Top athletes (which I a NOT!) can get pregnant and I'm sure they don't stop training in the tww.

Just remembered another symptom. I was really sweaty this morning when I woke up (sorry!) so maybe my temp is still high. Stopped temping last week so don't know for sure. Maybe it was just a hot night!

Ooh, I'll be interested to know whether you got any recognition of your short LP from your doc, @Cookie22

Hi both, good luck now you are both in the TWW.

Well done on being more relaxed Bows and not symptom spotting!
I reckon carry on with your usual exercise regime. If anything it will surely help with hormone balance.

I'm currently trying to get back in to exercising. I used to be pretty fit, then DD came along and it all went to pot!

Bows. I'm just impatient at the moment - want to get to the sharp end of the cycle and that will test how relaxed I really am!

On the plus side I just got a call from hospital and my referral has been accepted and appointment confirmed :-)

That's great news @boatrace30 Not long now!

Hopefully we'll both get some answers around the same time

Lots of ewcm today but a totally negative opk. My body is teasing me!!

What CD are you on @boatrace30 ?

You never know, this cycle could be a shorter one for you too

Cd15. I'm hoping!!
But looking at past charts I often have an odd day here and there.

Thanks everyone! The Agnus Castus dosage I was taking was 1000mg x 2. Catmum, I do remember you! How are you & How long have you been trying for now? Regarding the doctor's opinion on luteal phase defect, it's extremely frustrated me! At my last infertility clinic appointment I came out crying because I felt like it was just swept under the carpet. They wouldn't even prescribe clomid and just went straight for the ivf! I do think I must have implanted extremely early this cycle and that's why I've been successful. I was getting squinters at 8/9dpo. So now I wonder if I was actually conceiving on quite a lot cycles but losing it because of a later implantation. I must have implanted at about 7dpo! Xx

Hmm, looking back I wonder if that's what happened with DD.
Frustrating re the infertility clinic though. I kind of hoped experts would take it more seriously.

@boatrace30 they were so dismissive. I'd done a lot of research and was practically on my knees begging for progesterone or anything that could extend my luteal phase. My day 21 bloods (which was actually day 27 because of my long cycles) only came back at 26.1, which I felt was borderline. Catmum, I don't want to freak you out but increased heart rate was my first bfp symptom. I ended up coming on this board and googling the symptom and found lots of ladies had similar feelings! Fx for you xx

My day 21 bloods were 15! The gp said it was "low but didn't mean I couldn't get pregnant" - which I thought was ridiculous!!

And the ewcm was just teasing me. None today and another negative opk.

@Cookie22 you have really given me some hope! So all i need is that little egg to get down there super super quick!!! We have been trying on and off now for just under 18 months. We had to take a bit of a break last year as we are getting married abroad in June so had to be careful, but we are now back on it!

I cannot believe that they were so dismissive of your short luteal phase. So they just jumped straight to IVF without making any other suggestions?? Surely IVF would be the last resort? Its so frustrating when you know you own body, your gut instinct and have done all the research only to be poo pooed by the professionals.

DP and I have agreed to go back to the doctors after the wedding to move things forward. She said at my last visit in March that she would refer us, but we thought we'd give it a few more months, and to check back in with her in June. I asked about post ovulation bloods but she said there was no point at my cycles arent really regular! My progesterone at CD4 was 2 but she said that didnt mean anything at that point in my cycle.

Sounds like progesterone cream could be a help!

@Boatrace30- great new about your referral acceptance! That must make you feel a bit more relaxed, knowing that there is that coming up. Oh my body teases me also with the ewcm, but keep dtd!!! That egg could be popping any time soon!

How are you getting along @Bows85? Any updates?!

So I've been swimming this morning but trying to stick to my less intense exercise this week.....who know's if it will make a difference, we shall see!

Grrr!
Letter today to say appointment cancelled. Apparently they want me to see someone else instead and will "be in touch". So frustrating!!

Yes, bows how are things??

Just managed to find out that my new appointment is in September 🙁. Gutted.

@boatrace that is sh*t, how can they just do that? One thing to change the appointment but by 4 months, did they say why??

So sorry :( One minute we are up, next down, this TTC is so hard!

Yep, basically the first appointment was booked with the wrong consultant. I thought a 6 week wait was too good to be true!
The actual fertility guy has a longer waiting list hence the four months.

I guess all I can do is hope I don't need it by then.

cookie - I hope you don't mind me asking - where did you get your progesterone cream from? I'm tempted to give it a go now I have to wait so long to see the consultant (and I am not at all hopeful that that will be useful anyway). I'm always a bit dubious about buying drugs etc online.
Thanks!

Actually ignore me cookie. I just looked back up the thread and realised you'd said before

Hi all 

I'm so sorry to hear that @boatrace30 What a nightmare. So unfair. I know it won't feel like it but, it will fly by. I thought our appointment was waaay in the future when I got referred, but all of a sudden it's only 3 weeks away. But you're right. You might not even need the appointment! Fingers crossed.

10dpo for me and what do you know, like bloody clockwork I have started spotting. Expect full AF to arrive tomorrow. Really gutted as we put everything into it this cycle! Even got to thinking it might worked when the spotting hadn't appeared by lunchtime. But no 

At least we have the appointment to go to and I can get some answers and hopefully a sympathetic, proactive consultant.

Got to book my fsh and LH blood test now. Think they're meant to be done on day 3 which technically would be Saturday, when the surgery isn't open  So what do I do? Try and book for Friday or Monday? Anyone had these tests?

Well done for your swim @CatMum87 Hope it works