TTC with short luteal phase. Anyone else?

[Susannach]

Currently TTC#3. Cycles have been wonky since stopping BF my youngest 4 months ago. I’ve only had 2 periods in that time and the last one lasted over 2 weeks!

I’m not looking for advice per se because I think it’s just a case of waiting for things to settle down again, but is anyone else out there TTC and dealing with a short LP? Want to hang out?

I’m currently on CD39 and I think about 5DPO. Last LP was only 6 days and the one before that 3, but I’m not feeling “periody” yet so fx this one will be a bit longer again.

I'm also ttc#3 since stopping bf about 3m ago. I'm on cycle 3 since then but they have been 30 days, 24 days and now on CD29 but never got a static smiley and gave up testing on CD21 after 11 flashing ones so no idea how long this cycle will be.

My LP also seems to be fairly short 10 days and 8 days so far which isn't ideal. Hoping it will lengthen soon, although when ttc#2 it was only 10-11 days and I managed to get pregnant so hopefully it will get back to that consistently.

I've had backache and feeling periody the past few days but not sure what to expect as no idea if or when I ovd

How old are your DC? Were they both conceived easily?

Hi MrsY! Glad to hear from someone in the same boat. It’s so frustrating, isn’t it? I’m not a patient person by nature haha!

My DC are nearly 3 and 1, both conceived easily, though I had similar problems after stopping BF DC1. It took 3-4 months to regulate last time so I’m heading into unchartered territory here.

How old are your DC? How are you feeling about the prospect of having 3? I’m nervous about it but we’ve decided to go for it! I don’t want too big a gap for work reasons.

Fx for a longer LP for you this cycle!

Hi! I'm TTC#1, came off the pill at the end of Dec and am on my 5th month properly TTC, my cycles are around 25-27 days, but my LP seems to be around 8/9 days, I thought over time it might get longer (that maybe coming off the pill is messing up my cycles) I am hoping after a few more months they seem more 'normal' haha
Was your lp short while you both conceived your first 2 children?

It's so frustrating!

DD is 3.5 and DS is 9m. DD was conceived cycle 1, DS took 10 cycles and 2 early mcs during that time so I really have no idea what to expect this time, although really hoping for a small gap rather than a big one...For work reasons a small gap would be ideal for me too! We didn't use any contraception whilst I was bf and I was really hoping for a happy accident, sadly that didn't happen!

I've always wanted 3 so excited & pleased I got DH to agree to try again so soon, perhaps we've not given ourselves enough time to realise how crazy it might be given DS is still quite little! Have you always wanted 3?

Hopefully you get a decent LP this time and your cycles will start to regulate.

I had acupuncture when ttc DS so depending on what happens this cycle I might go and see her again to see if she can help regulate my cycles and lengthen my LP again. I found it so relaxing too!

Rancho Welcome! How exciting to be TTC your first.

I’m honestly not sure what my LP was like before because I was blissfully unaware of all this (and on the Pill) before falling pregnant with DC1. I literally came off the Pill, had absolutely nothing for 3 months, then had one light period and then BFP 6 weeks later.

Before DS my LP was very short (we started TTC while still BFing but stopped at 9m). It did start to lengthen naturally but I also took Vitex and B6 complex for a few cycles before falling pregnant when DC1 was just over a year old. I’m trying to avoid over-medicating this time though, it was expensive and I worried all the time that I might be doing more harm than good. I’m not sure whether the supplements actually helped or if it was just a natural progression over time.

Acupuncture sounds interesting though, MrsY. Surely there are no potential downsides, either. I might look into it myself after this cycle. As for wanting 3, I’d have more if I had endless time and money but we’ll definitely be stopping there! I also can’t face TTC again, I don’t enjoy it at all tbh.

@Susannach thank you, I am excited but also a bit scared, I am taking the normal pre conception stuff, have read of other things to take to prolong lp but like you I am worried to do more harm than good. Just trying to not really over think it, just let it happen when it does! (Easier said than done haha)

What CD are you now Rancho?

I am on cd 6 today
Do you guys use a fertility app? The ones I have tried so far don't seem to like my LP, even if I put a positive opk reading down, they always shift my ovulation date early when I come on, or predict my period to be later than it is. I've tried Flo and glow

Sorry, I haven’t Rancho. I just go by CM, basically, but that’s always been a reliable indicator for me. Weird that they would ignore a +OPK, though. A 9 day LP isn’t that unusual, surely?

Hi @RanchoRelaxo with my 1st I was blissfully unaware of things like LP as we were v lucky and conceived 1st cycle off the pill. With my 2nd my LP seemed to be around 10/11 days once I started using opks but my cycle did seem to take a while to settle down after coming off the pill, so hopefully that is just the case for you.

I use fertility friend app which is very basic looking but good for using opks and temping. It very much tailors to your cycle average for predictions and updates for actual events. Are you temping as well as using opks? I haven't been so far but might try for next cycle. Got a bfn this morning so pretty certain AF will show up soon and we'll be on to cycle 4.

@RanchoRelaxo same situation. Ovia, Flo and FF cannot handle my short LP. Always predicts fertile week wrong. Then always shifts my next CD1 forward by around two weeks. I've been inputting for 10 cycles now so was hoping their algorithm would figure it out by now!

Soooo....I've re-looked at my test and am sure I can see a very very faint 2nd line...but this is after the 10min window to read a negative result....🤔 I'm pretty sure it will turn out to be an evap and I'm just getting my hopes up but I'm sure it's got a pink colour to it. Will test again in a day or two if AF doesn't show before. Can't get a photo which shows it as it's so faint.

Ahhh....I hate ttcing!

Ooh MrsY keeping everything crossed!

I recently read on here that being outside the time window doesn’t actually matter, as long as the line has colour to it. Here’s the thread (scroll down for full text):

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2484961-The-myth-of-Evap-lines

Please keep us posted!

@MrsY87 I don't temp, I think it would cause too much stress with me! Fingers crossed for your line! How many dpo are you?

@Twiglet2353 so frustrating isn't it! And then because it moves my ovulation day back I forget what day I actually ovd on (should start writing it down on paper haha)

I remember reading that post about the myth of evap lines, hopefully there is some truth to it! It does make sense

Hi! I may be in the same boat, not quite sure yet! I am also TTC#3 and started properly trying a few months ago. I got a positive OPK on CD24 this month and then AF arrived 8 days later. I'm hoping this is a blip, but it's the first month I have been using the OPKs this time around so who knows? TTC#2 I tended to ovulate around CD16-18 and have a 12 day LP. I remembered last time that I finally managed to conceive after starting the Seven Seas Trying for a baby things, so I'm giving them a try now just in case. I know some people have had weird experiences on them (mainly crazy long cycles I think), but we'll see! Good Luck to everyone, especially MrsY87!

Welcome to Twiglet and Lithops!

Hopefully it was just a blip for you this month Lithops. Have you also recently stopped BF or birth control? Both really mess me up for months afterwards. I’m a late ovulator too — CD34 or so this cycle, I think I conceived DD from a late ovulation though so I’m hoping it doesn’t matter! Does anyone know anything about that?

Hi ladies. Mind if I join you?

I’m not TTC yet but I am temping to try and get to know my cycle and I’m worried I might have a literal phase defect. I seem to be ovulating around CD24 of a 31/32 day cycle.

Of course, Love, welcome!

How many cycles have you been temping for? It could just be a one-off or teething troubles getting to grips with temping. Hope so!

When are you planning to start trying?

Well I temped for a few months after I came off the implant two years ago but my temperatures were a bit all over the place because I was going out quite a lot so I quite often had high temperatures throughout my cycle due to having been drinking the night before.

I then also decided to get the copper coil after a condom failure, and after that it just didn’t seem worth the hassle so I just used the app to track my periods.

I’ve been temping now for the last three cycles before this one and it looks like I ovulated on day 25/32, 22/31 and 24/30. Currently I’m on CD21 and no temperature spike yet.

I haven’t been temping absolutely religiously so I will try and be more consistent, but I’m not drinking much these days so getting a better picture of when I seem to be ovulating.

Hoping to get the coil out in August or September and start TTC in October, but I’m a bit worried about my cycle!

So I’d be really interested to see if any of you find things which successfully help you to lengthen your luteal phase.

Watching with interest and wishing you all the best!

Thanks I’m just drinking red raspberry leaf tea for now (yup, the stuff that’s supposed to bring on labour — though it never worked for me!) as apparently it’s a great uterine tonic and a gentle hormone balancer, will let you know how I get on. As I said before, Vitex and B6 complex have ostensibly worked for me in the past, but I’m reluctant to go there again if I can be more patient and “natural” about it this time round. We shall see how long that lasts, haha!

Feeling a bit periody today (~6DPO), am fervently hoping AF holds off for at least a couple more days this cycle.

Fingers crossed for you! I might get some of the tea and see if it helps at all! Are you using OPKs?

Nope I’m very low-tech. I find all the tracking too stressful!

Thanks for the link @Susannach it was interesting reading. And turns out to be true in my case as I got a fairly clear BFP on a FRER this morning!

I am so shocked as I didn't get a positive opk at all this cycle and last month my LP was only 8 days. Hopefully this helps to reassure you all that you can conceive even with a short LP! Good luck to you all!

Aah amazing MrsY, congratulations! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

There is hope