Short Luteal Phase Gang!

[Beau20]

I started a thread a while ago asking for success stories but now I would love to get all the girls together who are struggling to conceive with their short Luteal Phase!

Here's a little bit about me -

TTC #1
Cycle 7
28 years old
Luteal phase average 9-10 days longest being 11 days.
Ovulation CD17-18 cycles 26-28 days long

I have had 2 pregnancies before (both termination please no flaming) both conceived without even trying, one with my current partner of 6 years. I also had a chemical in January. My last contraception was Nexplanon for 1 year and before that I was on the pill for 10 years or so (which was when I conceived previous). I have been taking 50mg sertraline for 6 months then 100mg sertraline for 6 months after that and have just stopped completely today. This is the only thing I have been doing differently since I conceived last time so part of me thinks this may affect fertility.

I'd love to hear about everyone else's journey! x

Snap, we got a domino's too. Enjoy 🤤🤤🤤

@Proseccoprincess33 sorry I completely missed your message last month.

So I did start on AC when my last AF came but so far it seems to have delayed ovulation, it could be unrelated but I only got a peak yesterday on CD21 and am pretty sure I am ovulating today. Its been an odd month as I am sure I picked up a strong LH surge earlier in the month on CD 14 on my cheaper one step tests. I was also using the digital clearblue I had high fertility from CD 8 to 21. I am just waiting to see now if AF will also be delayed.

Haven't had bloods done yet but after my last AF started I had a call with my GP and told her what was going on, she just said there was nothing they could do yet but a week later she called me back saying she had emailed the fertility clinic in the meantime to ask for advice because she wanted to do something and they replied that because of my very short LP that they recommended hubby and I get tests done already. So will go for mid luteal bloods in a couple of days I think.

Can I ask what progesterone cream you are using? I wasn't sure how to get it.

No worries at all @KateMCL it's easily done. Great that your gp seems motivated to help you 😊 be great to get those bloods done and see what your progesterone is like. I'm getting mine on Fri but don't feel like it'll make a difference as many GPS are not v clued into lpd and many don't deem it an issue. They'll prob see its within Nice guidelines (ignoring fertility guidelines) and say it's not an issue.

I got the wellsprings serenity progesterone cream. I really don't think it did much at all. Maybe an extra half day but nothing noteworthy. When I put it on it gave me lightening boob lol but that was it. I'm trying seed cycling this cycle lol always trying something new. Keeps me sane and helps me I'm thinking I am doing something positive towards supporting lp.

I've also cut back on alcohol as covid lock down had me reaching for the gin most nights and have increased my fruit and veg intake. I have also been taking high dose of vit c daily as it is supposed to help lp.

Mostly each month I just pray for early implantation 😂😂😂

How are you all doing? I am having cramps thick and fast tonight at 7/8 dpo.... Sigh. Af will prob arrive on Sunday morning or Sat during night. I am getting so fed up and so frustrated with short lp. I think I could accept not getting pregnant if I even knew my body was doing what it needed to do..... Eurgh!!! Hope you are all okay and feeling more positive xx

@Proseccoprincess33 sorry to hear you think AF is on her way 😢 I don’t even know why, but I struggled so much when she arrived for me last week, I had such a feeling of hopelessness and cried all weekend, some months just seem to be worse than others.
It’s now cycle #10 and I’m on CD8 so starting my fertile week, I’m using the CB advanced tests this month for the first time (and probably last as I can’t justify almost 30 quid to pee on 🙈) so hopefully I can properly see my fertile days.
I’m getting to the point now where I can’t even imagine getting that BFP at all 😫

@Nat4392 thank you. Every month just gets that bit harder. Af not here yet but will be today. Had a massive temoerature drop. When I got my bloods done at gp on Fri my temp was still high so I'm hoping it doesn't show really high prog levels as that's clearly not accurate 🙄

I have everything crossed for you this cycle 🤞🤞🤞 I always use the cb advaned ones. Such a rip off but they are accurate. Hopefully you'll only need one month of them as you'll get your bfp ❤️

Hope you have had a lovely wkend xxx

Hi guys. How are you all doing? Sorry for being absent. Last month really knocked me so I needed some time away from here to try and stop obsessing. All the Bfp's were just making me upset and angry.

@Nat4392 sorry to hear AF arrived, sounds like this month has been tough for you too. Really hoping you're feeling better now and ready to take on this cycle. Fingers crossed for your bfp this time month. I use the clear blue digitals each month just because it takes away guess work but you're right, they're so bloody expensive!

@Proseccoprincess33 really hope AF doesn't arrive for you! Pleased for you that you're having your bloods done too. If this cycle isn't successful then I'm going to contact the gp. I'm stuck between wanting it checked/knowing where I'm at but equally not wanting to face up to it if there's an issue you know? Silly as it sounds, I was the same when I decided to start using opks.. stressed me big time incase it told me I didn't ovulate/get an LH surge!

Thanks @Proseccoprincess33, cycle 10 just seems like a big deal now with me finally hitting double figures, fingers crossed! Has AF made her appearance? I’ve never tried temping, I worry that it’ll just be something else for me to fret over and that I won’t sleep properly as I’ll be worried about doing it as soon as I wake 🙈

Hey @sausageface how are you? Where are you up to? I know what you mean needing a break from here, as much as BFPs are the aim, it’s tough seeing others post them, especially when it coincides with AF arriving.
Feeling better now, AF just hit me hard this month. Fingers crossed cycle 10 is my lucky cycle!

I'm much better now thanks @Nat4392. I was obsessive last cycle and it just wasn't healthy! Feel more settled. Glad to hear you are too :) I'm CD16 today, due to get my positive opk on Saturday - usually CD22 so always feels like a lifetime til it rolls around. This is cycle 6 officially, 6th cycle of tracking ovulation and actually trying, but spent most of last year having sex at the wrong time, thanks to my unknown late ovulation 🙄 so I write that all off.

Hey ladies, so glad you are both doing better. Af came in full force today. I was expecting it as my temperature dipped yesterday but it went back up today which had me worried as that never happens and I was scared i was experiencing another chemical pregnancy. Cramps are hideous today! Hopefully temp goes back down tomo and then onto cycle 7 as if its another cp I'll screan. @Nat4392 temping does get a little obsessive as you can see 😂😂😂 but I am glad I have my charts so I can show them as evidence of a need for some intervention/support.

I have actually just booked an appt for acupuncture. Have any of you tried it? I have also registered my details with a fertility clinic and plan to ask my gp to refer me on once I get bloods back. I don't think I can do another 6 months of this. You start to wish your life away, get af over, get to next ovulation day, 2ww or rather 1 and a bit then af arrives and the cycle Continues. I don't like who I've become since ttc, I feel like I'm Constantly pretending to be okay and I'm not.

@sausageface I totally get wanting a break from the forums. It's all consuming at times. And I so get the not wanting to know if there is anything wrong, it's scary to think there might be. And hopefully there isn't, most couples do take a year to conceive.

I've just got to the point where I want to know where I stand. Hoping that acupuncture helps me chill a bit!

I think if I had chance to book a holiday or go out for dinner or love normal life it wouldn't be as bad. Rona has made ttc a million times worse!

Sorry for being a downer. I always am at beginning of af. Then I become hopeful once more 😜 I think I need some ice cream lol xx

@Proseccoprincess33 sorry to hear she arrived 👎🏼 Don’t apologise for having a moan, we all need to do it!
I know what you mean about putting your life on hold, every month I think “well we can’t go on holiday then because I may be due around then”. The TWW is so mind consuming it’s horrendous.
I’ve not tried acupuncture but it’s something I’d definitely consider. I was having regular fertility reflexology before the lockdown happened which I really enjoyed x

So I’ve been using the advanced tests, CD9 I had blank circle, CD10 was flashing smiley and got a static smiley today on CD11, that escalated quickly!! I seem to have ovulated much earlier this month, it was CD15 on my last cycle.

Oh @Nat4392 that's great news. Hopefully that'll mean a longer luteal phase 🤞🤞🤞maybe AC is finally doing its job 😎 I'm excited for you 😁 xx

hope everyone is doing okay, @Proseccoprincess33 sorry you have been having such a tough time. It really is so hard, I think especially right now when we can't do as much and be planning exciting things. My AF came on Monday night, I can usually tell because my boobs always go from being really really tender to almost feeling like they deflated in one day just before it, I also don't really get a temp rise, if I do it doesn't last beyond a day. My temp is always highest during the first half of my AF. Its odd though because I know I do (at least sometimes) ovulate because I had a scan in January for endometriosis which showed I had recently ovulated, it also showed no evidence of moderate or severe endo. I was on AC last month and did have a 28 day cycle but I didn't get peak ov until day 21 so didn't ovulate until 22 if I did at all. So it was even later than normal. I don't know whether to keep trying with the AC they do say it needs a few months. @Nat4392 how long have you been on AC?
I don't know if any of you have seen this but the European Medicines Agency did a review of Agnus Castus/ Vitex and on page 34 they give details of some of the scientific studies done on it specifically for short luteal phase. www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-vitex-agnus-castus-l-fructus-revision-1_en.pdf

Because my LP is so short and my GP had been advised by the NHS Fertility clinic to refer us for tests already we decided to go ahead with seeing a private fertility clinic already. Because we are London based we are going to see Dr Anil Gudi who is a bit of an expert in luteal phase defects I think. Here is a youtube video he did: . Appointments not for a few weeks but I will share if I learn anything particularly helpful from him.

I'm also really keen to try reflexology, anything to help with stress!

@KateMCL thank you so much for sharing this. That's fantastic you are moving forward with provwte options. I have signed myself and dh up to a fertility clinic and awaiting appointment in midst of covid 19 regulations etc. I got my prog level back today.... I went 6dpo and it was 13.3.......from what I read that is dire 😂 going to ring gp tomo and ask for referral now for fertility treatment. My result indicates I haven't ovulated but I know I have as I got positive ov test and rise in temps over 7 days.

I am going to ask if they will give me progesterone but I doubt they will. Did you ever have your day 21 bloods done? Or have they referred you without it? And did they ever offer you progesterone? Thanks again for that great information. Hope you are keeping well xx

@Proseccoprincess33 I haven't had any bloods done yet. So my GP referred us for the initial tests which we haven't done yet. I had a call appointment with my GP in my last cycle and mentioned we'd been trying for around half a year and that I noticed I have only roughly a week between ov and AF. She didn't really know much about short luteal phases or prescribing progesterone and just said there was nothing they could do yet because of covid etc. I think she also thought it was too soon to be referred as the advice is after a year. But without telling me she actually went and emailed the clinic after we spoke to ask them for advice and then rang me back a week later and read out their response which advised because of the short luteal phase that me and DH should be referred for tests already. They always test the man anyway as its an easy one but my hubby will get that done privately as the testing for that on NHS has a huge backlog, the NHS booking line said they were just taking the March tests now. I was referred for a mid-luteal blood test checking progesterone, FSH etc and another blood test for early in the cycle, day 2-4. I wasn't able to get my mid luteal one unfortunately but am getting my other one tomorrow so will at least have that by the time I have my private appointment.
I am really lucky that I have such a great GP, and that she actually followed it up. I've ended up going private anyway but the fact the NHS fertility clinic advised that we should get referred for tests already helped make that decision. I think you need to be really firm with your GP that you want a referral particularly because of the backlog now because of Covid.

@kateMCL your gp must be unreal. I plan to speak to gp tomo and say I want referral made and that I won't take no for an answer. I am telling them we have been properly trying a year but had been trying before that... Not entirely true but I need them to move. I have registered details privately but it seems there will even be a wait privately.

How long a wait do you guys have? Great you are getting things moving. Worth every penny. It might be as simple as a progesterone pill or some Clomid and you'll hopefully have your bfp.

My gp is not great. I asked for prog bloods for a short luteal phase and she was like 'a what?' Maybe I just say I only have a week between ovulation and period and that's not okay...! Because prog of 13 is probably normal in the NICE guidelines so my gp would just say it was fine and no action 🙄

I hate having to fight them for everything. It becomes tiring 😴😴😴 who knows maybe we will get our bfp in the mean time 😱

Hello all, spoke to gp who was as useful as a choc tea pot but I stated my case and she has referred me to fertility clinic. Said no to prog as that's a specialist prescription, blah blah.

In mean time I have an appt at fertility clinic on 10th June, paid privately for my bloods, DH's sample and my scans followed by a phone consultation on 18th June. I'll ask all I can about lpd as well and report back. Hope you all have a fab wkend xxx

@Proseccoprincess33 I’m dreading trying to speak to my GP (who I’ve never even seen since changing surgeries). Let us know how you get on privately, how much do the tests cost privately if you don’t mind me asking x

Of course not. For my 2 blood tests for amh and tsh, DH's sample test, my scans (not sure what scans act entail) and the consultant appt it is £580. Dear enough but priceless if it can give some answers and possibly actions and/or piece of mind.

My gp really tried to fob me off and say I didn't need referral but I did not back down, said I'd be tracking cycles for ages and lp was way too short. She said some people just have a short lp 🙄 dead on! She's made referral now and so I hope to have premilimary tests done before it's picked up by NHS. If I have to pay private for a while I will, although it's less than ideal due to cost xxx

*peace of mind

Thanks that’s good to know, like you said, it’s priceless if it can give you answers. I’m going to see my GP if nothing has happened by August but definitely need to consider private if u get fobbed off x

*if I get

Hi all. Pleased to hear some progress is being made for some of you, I'd be really interested to hear what info you're all given from the specialists etc. You've spurred me on to speak to my gp sooner rather than later so I'll do that over the next few weeks to get initial bloods if nothing else. Do you think I should say I've been trying officially for a year to get this actioned?

We're waiting on what could be some pretty life changing medical results for my dh so that's taking some priority right now (so we've not tried this cycle which has been tough if I'm completely honest) but praying for the best and then I'll progress with the gp after that. If it's worst case scenario it changes our plans/takes control of our options completely but trying to not to think too much about that yet.