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

I'm never going back on it either. But I think the damage is done.

Hi Thanks for setting up this group @Beau20

Im 34 and TTC #1 this is cycle 9 😭 although took about 3 months for my cycles to regulate. I usually spot from day 10. Last two months its been day 9. I have started temping this month and my temps are still high which makes me think it isnt a progesterone problem. I have had day 2-5 tests and day 21 test all came back normal. Husband has had a sperm anaylsis as well and results were really good. I am going back to doctors next week. Last time i went she said even if tests all come back normal she will refer us due to my age which is great but obviously would prefer to get pregnant naturally first. In terms of sertraline ive only ever read that its effected rat sperm so they werent sure the affect on human sperm. However my husband is on citalapram and his analysis came back fine. I dont think they have any affect on woman. From all the research i did i found nothing xx

@Trying2019 did the GP give you any idea of other things they could do to help you?

@paintfairy @lunamoon1 oh you guys, you've been even longer than me! I agree, I never ever will go on BC again never mind something that's progesterone only! It's weird because I had the implant for 4 years. Then went on combined pill for just over a year stopped and that's when I fell pregnant almost straight away. So why am I so messed up after this implant that I only had for a year?

@lunamoon1 I bought the wellsprings cream. I did speak to my gp about the antidepressants he said nothing about fertility. I am off them now however.

Hi - checking in from previous short LP thread.

I'm 34, husband is 38
TTC #1
Came off cerazette in July 2019
On cycle #8
3 previous gynae surgeries - 1 x explorative laparoscopy and 2 x resection of fibroids.
Cycles have ranged from 25-32 days, with an LP of 7/8 days.
Currently taking: Agnus Castus, Evening Primrose Oil & vit b6, high strength vit c.
Thanks for creating new thread beau!

@Beau20 I'm also on sertraline

@Beau20 she just said if i was younger they would just tell me to keep trying for another 6 months but because im 34 she will refer straight away as the waiting list can take a while. Im going to mention the spotting more this time, although from what i have read gps dismiss it. Im also going to ask if any other tests i can have whilst we are waiting such as a scan to check everything looks ok. Ill let you know what else she suggests xx

Welcome @Wearenotyourkind. Good to hear about you being on sertraline too (I mean that in a nice way 🙈) I've actually been weaning off for the last 2 weeks and had my last 12.5mg yesterday. I needed to come off at some point so there's no time like the present! I've tried before but the withdrawal symptoms are honestly a killer for me!

Thanks @Trying2019 hopefully you get some answers! I'm at the GP next week, mostly because of the chemicals but I'm not sure what they will do if anything after 7 months and only being 28. I'm seeing the fertility specialised GP so I'm just praying she won't just dismiss me!

Me! AF always arrives 11DPO, although last month it was 12DPO! Had my implant removed in july, fell pregnant straight away, had a MMC, then a CP and here I am...I took a 21 day progesterone test and it was 27.9...slightly low so I feel like it's all linked. I'm 26 xx

@ceebee21 you sound just like me! Have you been to your GP yet? I honestly reckon a lot of these issues are down to low progesterone.

@ceebee21 was that a home test type one? Which one did you use?

@Beau20 yeah I actually went wednesday; I have an auto immune condition, so with that and the two MC she said she would refer me. I'm not actually sure to where haha, recurrent miscarriage perhaps! Will wait for the letter and let you know.

@paintfairy yes it was, I have used medichecks and they're really good

@ceebee21 I imagine she will be preferring you to a fertility specialist, it's good that they are getting things moving for you.

I think if I get nowhere with the GP next week I'm going to have one of those tests done too, how much did you pay for yours? Do they confirm ovulation or just progesterone levels?

@Beau20 - yes, will see, just good to be going somewhere I guess!

The progesterone ovulation test is like £29 I think; it doesn't really confirm it, but NHS states that a level of above 30 (not sure of the measurements i.e. nmol) is a clear marker of ovulation.

Mine was only 27.9, but then I have fallen pregnant twice and have very regular periods, so I don't think it is a case of not ovulating, just not enough progesterone x

@Beau20 it's weird how our body responds to things, wish I was more aware of that before choosing to go on birth control in the first place

@ceebee21 your situation sounds exactly like mine, I checked my level a few months ago and it was only 25.7, but then I have read you need to have a couple of readings to compare because progesterone levels can fluctuate dramatically throughout the day so one reading doesn't give a true picture. Think I'm going to test again this cycle. I've been pregnant before too so I know my body seems to cope ok with it but I think it's making it more difficult TTC x

Hi ladies,

Last year I successfully conceived despite of a combination of late ovulation & short luteal phase. My average cycle length was 28 days and I used to ovulate on day 18 so only a 10 day luteal phase.

In the end I think it was luck that did it for me as on that magic cycle I implanted early - on DP08 (I know as got implantation pain on DPO8 and a line on FRER at DPO9).

I used vitex for a few cycles not sure if that helped or not, my gut feel is that I was lucky to get very early implantation.

Just wanted to post words of encouragement & good luck!

Hi @apples24 thanks for sharing & congrats! Your TTC story sounds exactly the same as mine re ovulation day and LP length, also got lucky one cycle and implanted early as got my BFP 9DPO too. What cycle was that for you? We sadly lost our son neonatally but now ready to TTC again, so scared we won't 'get lucky' this time though!

@apples24 thank you for the positive story!! How long were you trying for?

Just jumping on this thread to maybe give a bit of hope to someone with a short luteal.
I have 3 DC.
Two very quick conceptions (my middle child took a bit longer because scar tissue from c-sec had blocked my tube) all with a 28 day cycle and a 9-10 day luteal phase.
It’s honestly fine. Good luck all.

Lunamoon & Beau, 7th cycle was the lucky one so not overly long. Think from cycle 3 onward I started OPKs & temping, before then we hadn't even been trying on the right days as I had assumed on a 28 day cycle I must ovulate on day 14. So you could say that got lucky on 4th cycle where we did the deed on the correct days. We were over the moon and felt really fortunate then (and still do!).

Good luck to you guys and sorry for your loss lunamoon.

@apples24 and @ISpeakJive thank you both so much for coming on to add your positive stories! It really helps not to lose hope when I hear these. Wishing everyone else lots of luck too.

@Wearenotyourkind agreed! Thank you so much girls! Sometimes we need that positivism in our lives!

@Beau20 am I going mad or has your name changed from the other thread??

Hello you guys, I just created a thread about this and then thankfully found you all. I came off pill in Nov and my cycles were a bit all over the place. I have finally had a more normal 28 cycle but my luteal phase was only 8/9 days which has me worried. I am 33 and don't feel like I want to wait months and months before taking action. It could be the pill is still messing things up a little.

I have an underactive thyroid which is stable at the moment and I am taking sertraline 50 mgs which I would be reluctant to come off as it really changed my life in terms of anxiety.

I am ttc #1. I have ordered vit b6 and my hubby some vitamins as I thought it couldn't do any harm. Nice to see some success stories and people who are going through something similar 😊

Hello I used to have exactly the same issue 7 years ago, lp was about 7 days. GP wasn't really interested although did eventually refer me to the fertility clinic.

I eventually had 2 pregnancies (2 Dcs).

Three things happened the month I got pg after ttc for 2 years.

1. my thyroid stabilised after being diagnosed slightly underactive a few weeks before. Had to take low dose of thyroxin (this continues today). Def read about a link between cycles and underactive thyroids though is not properly proven. Worth asking for thyroid blood test. If you are on thyroxin you have to be consultant led during pregnancy as it has to be monitored but in my case it didn't cause any drama or implications for delivery.

1. It was my first and only cycle of clomid

1. (Probably a red herring) I had had a few sessions of specialist reflexology with was supposed to regulate my cycles. Probably a bit "woo" but I at least found the sessions very relaxing. Probably worth a google at least!

Anyway two years later I got pg for 2nd time with no trouble at all. I firmly believe that in both cases the stabilised thyroid was a key factor.