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

Last cycle I ovulated on CD13, I have now had 3 days of flashing smileys on the CB advanced. However I have just done an IC opk and it's white with no second line. So I'm a bit confused by the flashing smiley. Has anyone else had this?

I have just started taking the vitamin B complex at the beginning of this cycle, so maybe this has pushed ovulation back a bit?

We're ok thanks @Proseccoprincess33. Husbands diagnosis has changed a lot since we first found out and long story short he's now due to start chemo next week so is in the process of freezing his sperm. They checked his first deposit under the microscope and said it's fine- slightly below average numbers but apparently that's not uncommon to have in one of the deposits so could be a one off but they weren't concerned by it so wouldn't of been causing problems.
We're not allowed to try naturally for a year (6 months of chemo and then for 6 months after) so I'm going to spend that time to get me to my peak health and get all my tests done myself etc but at least we know he's ok in that regard! Also there's such a High cure rate with his cancer that we feel fairly stable overall.

So pleased for you that you got your BFP!! I feel so invested in some of your journeys that it makes me so happy to hear ❤️

@Molly3456 I have been taking complex b vitamin from boots this cycle, and then after I (presumably) ovulated upped it with extra b6 and b12 every other day. So far I'm on CD 23 and no spotting, so that is officially an improvement over last month. Will see how long this cycle lasts for, and whether it is a one off or continues to improve... Next issue: how to improve endometrium.

@blossom428 I have heard b vits can push back ov a wee bit. When I was taking b6 last month i wasn't getting my usual signs at ov time and stopped it for 2 days and ovulated.

@sausageface thank you. I know it is so lovely when you see bfps, esp when you know for some people it's been a Journey. Just wish I could relax a bit and enjoy it.

That's fantastic that your hubby's cancer is the highly treatable kind. Such a worrying and scary time for you both but that is great news. Also great that they are freezing sperm and it looks to be okay. So many factors can affect each sample, they can change so much and so if they are happy then that's great.

That's a good idea re getting into peak physical shape. It gives you a goal and a focus and then hopefully by time you are ready to ttc it'll not take long as you'll be a super healthy machine 💪

Please keep us posted on how you are getting on xxx

@Proseccoprincess33 aw just seen you got your BFP amazing news so pleased for you. I'll definitely be requesting progesterone when I go x

Thanks @Proseccoprincess33 I have stopped the vitamin B yesterday. So hopefully it will peak soon. I had another flashy smile this morning.

@whilstwewait thank you ❤️ definitely do request it. That was first month using it. Still early days, although got 2-3 weeks on digi today which was nice. Wish I could enjoy it instead of feeling so anxious 😭 I hope you are keeping well? Xx

@blossom428 those flashing smileys are the worst, I remember one month I had 7 and I was ready to throw it out the window. They're so menacing lol your static should come along soon 🤞🙏 xx

Haha they really are @Proseccoprincess33 . I am using the IC OPKs so will continue those through out the day too see if anything changes.

Good luck on your new journey 😊

@blossom428 thank you ❤️
I used the ics as well in between times just to keep an eye. I could usually tell when static was coming from looking at the stick when I took it out of cb monitor. If the lines are nearing the same concentration I knew ov was close. Good luck and keep us posted xx

Are you not supposed to be on b6 over ov then?

I got my static 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼- jumper on OH this morning haha!

Well @Boc86 I heard for some people it can push it back and they just start b6 after ovulation due to it can push it back. But I was taking vitamin B complex... so possibly did the same. I'll probs start it again after I get the rise in bbt, so see if it lengths my LP.

Jumped* he didn't have his jumper on 😂

@blossom428 yeeeyyyy I'm so happy for you. Such a relief when you see that static.

@Boc86 you are supposed to take your entire cycle. It can push ov back as it supports progesterone production but I think after a few cycles it regulates. I took it one entire cycle and my lp went from 8/9 to 10/11 days and there was no change on ov. I kept taking it and this past month I noticed around ov I was t getting usual symptoms. So stopped it 2 days before ov was due and ov came on time. I did try one cycle taking it just for lp and it did nothing. Sorry this prob complicates things more for you. Although your lp is 10 days which is fine and should hopefully not cause an issue. Have you had your day 21 bloods done to check prog levels? xx

Currently 11dpo and absolutely zero sign of period. Last month I would have been thrilled with that, but now with the possible PCO diagnosis I am concerned my cycle is no longer short but becoming irregular...! I kind of just want to get my period now so I can get the bloodtests done? (But at the same time what if I got lucky?!)

Thanks ladies
Yeah that could be a pain for me as I’m using it to lengthen LP so cant exactly start taking it after ov as it wouldn’t have time to take effect during LP
No bloods done yet, is that CD 21? I ov cd 17-21 x

Hey everyone ☺️ I've posted on here before and wanted to ask your advice. Does anyone take Vit B 6 to help with their luteal phase? I'm 3DPO and had a big fallback rise with my temps yesterday and lots of EWCM today, which I think sugguests low progesterone? I'm still getting to grips with things as this is my third cycle since coming off the pill, and everything is pretty haywire.

If you do take B6 do you take it throughout your cycle, and if so what dose? I've read that it can help 'regulate hormones' but at the mo I guess my body is struggling to get my estrogen up as well as I haven't been ovulating until CD33-37. I'm currently on CD 40.

Any experiences/advice would be much appreciated x

@Boc86 they call them day 21 bloods but that is based on a cycle of 28 days with ovulation at day 14. The 21 day bloods should be done approx 7 days after you ovulate so that varies for every woman. I got mine done taken on CD 24 as I ovulated on CD 17. Hope that makes sense xx

@MintGreenLife how are you? Sorry to hear your cycles have been so erratic. The month I used b6, I used 50mgs and it extended lp by 2 days. This month I had my cyclogest and thankfully that did the trick. But as you are newly off the pill it may just take a while for things to settle. B6 is known for regulating hormones but I would start at 50mgs, some ladies take more but if you od on it (like 200mg) it can cause tingling and nerve damage. If you lp Continues to be short maybe get your prog tested 7 days after ov to see if it is the issue xx

@Proseccoprincess33 thanks for your reply ☺️ I'm not too bad thanks, just feeling a bit fristrated with everything today! Did I see you got your BFP recently? Huge congrats 😀 I'm on CD40 now - cycles seem to be getting longer and longer, but with potential ovulation later. To be honest I really can't work out if I'm not ovulating at all, or if I'm ovulating really late and then having a really short luteal phase. This cycle and last cycle my temp has gone up higher than any of my other temps around when I've had EWCM and/or a positive OPK, and then last cycle it dropped back down after 3 days and AF came. Possible 3 DPO now and waiting to see if the same thing happens. I guess I just felt like I did everything right this cycle in terms of healthy eating, exercise and supplements and it's possibly made things worse. Think I'm finding it tricky as everything I've read states 'most' women will go back to ovulating and cycling as normal after the pill, and I really can't come up with any reason why I'm not in that group. Think maybe I'll try b6 if I do get AF soon and then possibly looks like a short luteal phase again. Just a little worried about it making ovulation even later, but then surely it can't get much later 🙈 Xx

Awww @MintGreenLife that's so tough. Is it CD 40 with no sign of ov? Some people. Go back to normal straight away after pill for me it took 3 months and then the first normal month I had, I had a chemical preg which threw it off again. So I do understand the frustration with irregular cycles and the emotions that come with it. It's not a nice place to be.

Great that you are healthy eating etc that can only help in long run. Yes I got bfp last week. Still early days though and I'm too scared to get excited yet. I'll be 5 weeks tomo so v early, will def get early assurance scan all been well 😊

Accunounture is great for balancing hormones. I also did that and really. Enjoyed it. It def balanced me out and made me less anxious. Might be worth looking into as well 😊 xxx

@Proseccoprincess33 I'm not even sure to be honest! I think I possibly may have ovulated three days ago as I had EWCM and a BBT rise, but then BBT dropped back down on what I thought might be 2DP0 and went back up to the same level as the initial rise today. I've read about a 'fallback rise' so am hoping I see a high temp again over the next few days, but if I did ovulate, I had EWCM again today, so I guess could sugguest estrogen is still high. I also had three seperate occasions of EWCM for a few days at a time during the cycle, so seems like my body is giving it a good go but not quite getting there. When you say it took you three months after stopping the pill, was that three months to start ovulating? Or to get into a regular cycle? I feel silly sometimes for getting frustrated, but our wedding was postponed because of Covid and we sort of have a window for TTC to fit in with our new wedding date next year. I'm not putting pressure on it timing wise, and I don't think we will stop if it doesn't work out in the timeframe, it would just be nice if it did, but right now my body isn't even giving us a chance at it which is annoying.

Well a huge congrats again. When can you have the first scan?

Brilliant thanks, maybe if things haven't sorted themselves out for my next cycle I'll give acupuncture a go ☺️ Xxx

@MintGreenLife I came off the pill 7th Nov and has my first real period 16th Dec. I thought I ovulated as I got a static smiley on Jan but I think it was a false start as I didn't get my period for another 46 days. That was a rough 46 days. Then the next month I ovulated day 21 and I used bbt to confirm it. So that was first time I knew for sure I had in Feb. That was month I got pregnant but had cp very quickly. Then I didn't ovulate until day 27. So my cycles didn't settle into a routine until March April and then they were clock work. Like 26 days but not ovulating until day 18. So I knew my lp was my next hurdle. But consultants were not seeing anyone due to covid and gp was next to useless so I had to wait it out until I could get an appt and demand my prog. I feel stressed even writing all that 😂 xx

And re first scan, you can go at like 7 weeks. I am 5 weeks tomorrow but as I ovulate late I'll prob leave it until week 8 all bn well, to be sure. As if I went and there no hb I'd be a mess xx

@Proseccoprincess33 ah bless you, it's strange isn't it as you come off the pill feeling all hopeful, and everyday seems to set you back when nothing is happening or it's not happening like it should. It's like a slow realisation that it's not going to be as simple as you thought 😕 My temp went up again this morn to 36.7, so I'm now thinking I perhaps did ovulate, which makes me 4DPO ☺️ I only got to (potentially) 3DPO last cycle before AF came, so at least that's a small win! Still not feeling confident I can confirm I have ovulated, but hopefully I'll get at last a few more days of high temps.

Ahh that's not too long to wait then! Although I appreciate it'll go slowly xx

Oh that's great news @MintGreenLife. Confirmed ov is a great sign things are getting back more on track. Hopefully your lp will be longer and you'll settle into a good cycle length. Well if we are hoping for things it is that you're pregnant 🤞🤞🤞 really hoping for a good long lp for you xxx

Thanks @Proseccoprincess33 ☺️ Only thing slightly concerning me is I'm still getting lots of EWCM! Which I think could mean low progesterone or estrogen dominance? Probably not great that I still have EWCM after ovulation, but will see what my temps do over the next few days. Thanks so much for your advice, it's really lovely being able to speak to someone that has experienced similar with the haywire cycles Post Pill! Xxx