35 and luteal phase

[DreamyCat]

Hi all... just here looking for some moral support really. I've left ttc quite late in life as I'm already 35 years old. I struggled to feel "ready" for a long time even though I love the idea of being a mother. Anyway. I stopped the contraceptive pill in August and my cycles seem to have been fairly regular apart from an initial missed period in September. I've been charting using OPKs and dates when period started etc as well as keeping an eye on bodily fluids etc (won't go into details!). It seems that my luteal phase is only about 9 days. Is this a bad thing? Anyone conceived with a short luteal phase in their mid 30s? I'm swinging between expecting to conceive and getting excited to thinking there's no hope & I'm probably infertile! We've only been "properly" trying for two months but I'm still finding it hard. Looking for encouragement or support I guess. AF due next weekend (3rd Feb) & I'm really hoping she doesn't come and it's our lucky month!

It took me about about 5/6 cycles after the pill to go from 7days luteal phase to 11days, which it's settled on now at 10cycles in. I turned 35 in December so I feel your stress. I'm starting to feel like it will never happen. I was the same feeling like I was never ready for baby, I still wasn't sure when we started TTC and felt like I was gently been pushed into it because of my age. But now it's all I think about. I took b6 which might have helped lengthen my luteal phase, but it could also have been just what happens after the pill.

Also have you tried bbt temping? It's the only way to really know which day ovulation happens (and if it happened) and will give a accurate luteal phase length. Good luck

I am almost 32 and have a L.P. of 9 days. I am starting vit B6 next month as have heard good things about that. AD due on Thursday so hoping I don't have to! Def worth starting B6 though, It won't do any harm and could well help with the L.P. I have heard many people saying it had lengthened their L.P. by 2 - 3 days

@LillyLeaf Good luck to you too! I think it's strange that I spent so many years trying not to get pregnant and never even considering my fertility... and now here I am! Thanks for replying. I am taking a prenatal supplement and it has b6. Maybe a few more cycles my luteal phase will improve then, fingers crossed. I wonder if stress might impact too... X

@LillyLeaf I tried the temp thing for a few days but I'm not a morning person and the whole lying in bed with a thermometer in my mouth before my coffee fix just wasn't working for me!

@Hopehope20 Thank you and best of luck to you this month. I am taking b6. Fingers crossed all will work out!

Totally up to you but have a look at maca root supplements. Maca is basically a Peruvian turnip which acts as a hormone balancer, it's all natural and gentle and I swear it helped my DP and me. We'd both been on it for some time, however the very first month I was on it my menstrual cramps were easier and very soon my cycle was like clockwork, right down to knowing the hour I would come on. I was charting my cycle in preparation for TTC and it lengthened my luteal phase by a couple of days (I think I was averaging around 10 days before that). I was about to turn 34, he was nearly 42, we both smoke and don't do enough exercise but managed to get pregnant in six weeks There's another supplement called Ubiquinol which I swear by too. I read a great book called 'It starts with the egg' (it's on Amazon, can't remember author) which was really helpful as well.
It'll happen, enjoy the journey

I know the pain of a short luteal phase- advice I had was it can easily take 6 months for your cycle to regulate after the pill. So frustrating, I know.

Anyway mine has plateaued at 7 day LP on cycle 4, and that was the cycle I conceived and I’m now 23 weeks! I’m 34 so it can happen and chances are it will for you

I took b-50 complex, 50mg b6 and vitamin E (good for luteal function apparently) the cycle I conceived, obviously could well be coincidence.

Your story is very similar to mine. I have a 23 day cycle with a short luteal phase. I did A LOT of research into it and decided to start taking a daily supplement of 50mg of b6. I don't think the 10mg in antenatal supplements is high enough to lengthen your LP. I was comfortable that 50mg was a safe dose. I now have two children, both conceived on the month I took b6. I took it until I was around 6 weeks pregnant and then reduced the amount over a few days until I was back to just taking the antenatal supplement. Good luck!

@balljuggla Thanks for the tips! I have that book but haven't read it so I will get started! Good to hear how much maca helped you. I did try it in 2015 as I came off the contraceptive pill for a while & wanted something to help with the irregular cycles and the acne I was getting. Unfortunately it didn't help me but I expect other factors were at play so perhaps I'll try again. Haven't heard of the other supplement you mentioned, will look into it, thanks!

@Caspiana Congratulations!! That's such amazing news and a hopeful story for me too. I have just purchased some 50mg b6 - others have suggested this too. I'll take this along with the prenatal supplement I'm already taken. Fingers crossed for me too. The wait to see if AF comes is driving me mad already...

@Givemestrengthorgin Thank you for that helpful information - I've just bought some 50mg b6 tablets to take alongside the multivitamin I'm already taking!

I had a short (8 - 9 day) LP when trying to conceive in my mid 30s. The first gynae i saw was totally dismissive - told me it was actually impossible and that ALL women have a 14 day LP!! After 12 months of trying (using B6 etc) I saw a lovely private fertility specialist who diagnosed a low ovarian reserve. He prescribed clomid, my L.P. lengthened almost immediately to 12 - 14 days and I fell pregnant a few cycles later.

@TheLesserWeevil I'm glad it worked out for you with the clomid! I mentioned my short luteal phase to my G.P last time I saw her and she said "hmm it's usually 14 days" but said to keep trying for another 6 months

Just dropping into this thread as I'm in a similar boat and searching the forum for more information on short luteal phases. It's good to hear people's experiences who have overcome it

Hi @Sylva123 - sorry to hear you are in the same boat. How long is your luteal phase? I only ovulated 8 days ago and AF is here already I think. Have taken some advice from others on here and have just started 50mg of B6 alongside my multivitamin. Have you tried anything to lengthen yours? X

@dreamycat mine is the same! 8 days! It's so disheartening isn't it. I've also been taking vitamin B (I take the one that has 100mg B6 & B12 and some other Bs in it) - I've been on it for just over a month but I think it takes time to kick in. Im also taking vitamin C, omega 3,6&9 and magnesium spray.... Nothing is working yet, it's been 8 days for 3 cycles. I started acupuncture 3 weeks ago and also tried soya isoflavones last month. I think I'm being impatient and need to give the vitamins time to kick in but I'm struggling with that, I just want it to increase a little bit each cycle so I can see something happening...
Have you been to the doc about it?

@Sylva123 Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I also heard Agnus Castus can help but I tried it for 3 days & had to stop it as it made me feel really odd. I did mention my luteal phase the last time I saw my GP but we were running out of time (I had made the appt for something else). She just said "hmm it's only usually 14 days" and told me to keep trying for another 6 months. But I've decided to go back and see a different GP in two weeks and see if they will take it more seriously. I had pelvic inflammatory disease in the past (no idea how as no STDs!) and only found out recently that a history of that can affect fertility 😐 Have you seen a doctor yet?

@dreamycat my acupuncturist said often GPs don't know enough about luteal phases etc so you need to see a gynae specialist if they have one. I've spoken to mine about it - she has been amazing and sent me for tests, but has also said no matter what they show I won't get a referral to a specialist for 7 more months, even though there is an obvious problem with the short LP. I am feeling more positive to see that some people on this forum were able to get pregnant with a short LP, so that is good. I think it's going to take time but I'm finding it hard not to worry about it!

Also @dreamycat, I am just about to turn 35 so sounds like we're in a really similar situation. Do let me know how you get on and if you see a change in your LP

Likewise @Sylva123. I just turned 35 at the end of last year but I'm super aware that I'll be 36 this year and seen as "high risk" etc. Hope you get a BFP soon. Let's stay in touch