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

@GlassLily I know the first few weeks are so long, hopefully the progesterone will keep that lining in place. Try to relax and not be anxious, I know it’s easier said than done. I’ve heard really good things about taking progesterone in leutal phase and having a successful pregnancy so I’m very hopeful for you!!

I’m 3 DPO and taking progesterone cream been taking it from 1 DPO morning and night. Still got mildly tender breasts though so not feeling very positive this month, as that’s normally a sign of low progesterone for me. :( I’ve been referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic now so that’s a positive and they’ve said I should come in to do my bloods on CD2 of next period, but I’m secretly hoping I don’t get a period lol! I’m so impatient.

@Slk3558 thank you! I'm hoping too, still having cramps but just resting a lot and hoping for the best. It's so hard to stay calm, I can't stand the thought of another miscarriage.

Really hope AF doesn't show up for you! I wouldn't read too much into tender breasts as it could even be a sign of pregnancy, or just normal hormone fluctuations. Good luck with the recurrent miscarriage clinic!

@GlassLily thanks..how are you getting on? cramps are quite normal. I’ve heard you can get progesterone pessaries over the counter in countries like Spain and the US, why is it so damn hard to get them in the UK?

@Slk3558 Oh wow really! I hope you can get a prescription soon. The whole "3 miscarriages" rule makes it really hard.

I actually wonder if this pregnancy might have been ok without the progesterone, as it seemed to implant really early! But I'm still taking it up until I see a heartbeat on a scan.

Things are going well thank you, I'm 18DPO and got a dye stealer on a cheapie this morning! I'm planning to save my CB Digi until next week in the hope of getting a 3+ weeks.

Following on from the cramps saga - I had lots of naps and extra sleep, and the cramps went away after 2 days! Which seemed miraculous since with my CPs they just got worse and worse until I miscarried. So it was so weird when they just went away. But still got sore nipples and bloating. Now just waiting a couple of weeks til I can get a scan and hoping to see a heartbeat 🤞🏻 I'm a bit terrified of having a MMC, really hoping for more symptoms to kick in to ease my mind.

How are you doing, how long is your LP now? Are you feeling hopeful or miserable?

Oh forgot to attach

@GlassLily that’s a beautiful strong line! Looking good and glad your cramps have eased off! I’m 7 DPO today. I had tender breasts post ovulation so I felt really deflated as normally a sign of low progesterone for me. But after taking high dose vitamin E and using the progesterone cream the soreness seemed to disappear yesterday and they’ve been fine today! The same thing happened in December when I first started taking B6 I had sore boobs and then stopped 6dpo and got a BFP 10 dpo so I’m praying for a miracle.. I am happy with the progesterone cream I think it’s definitely making a diff but won’t know how long leutal phase is until I get AF. AF normally comes 11 or 12 dpo.

@Slk3558 thank you! Oh that's great that the progesterone cream is working 🎉 keeping my fingers crossed for you, we both had a CP in December so maybe you're in for a BFP this month too! 🤞🏻

How's it going @Slk3558 any sign of AF?

Hi @GlassLily I got my BFP on Thursday at 8DPO! I’ve just been on pins since then because I was terrified of chemical pregnancy and was spotting a little on Friday so I called the EPU and explained everything to a senior doctor who agree to trial progesterone. I’ve been taking the pessaries for 3 days now and the spotting seems to have stopped and FRER lines are getting stronger. But I’m still more terrified than I’ve ever been! I’m also taking low dose asprin everyday as I’ve heard good success stories.

I’m in shock still and haven’t even downloaded any pregnancy apps as I’m just taking it one day at a time !! How are things with you ?

@slk3558 Amazing! Congratulations 🎉 haha we are so in sync! I know exactly how you feel, I have been on constant knicker watch since BFP. Am now 23DPO and had 3+ weeks on a CB Digi, and feeling a little bit more relaxed! I'm on progesterone and aspirin too, and still taking b complex. We can do this.... Come on sticky beans! I had some cramps about 13/14 DPO but they stopped after 2 days.

So so happy for you!!

Thanks @GlassLily, I’m so grateful to have fallen so soon after my last mc in March i know some women are trying for months and years without luck .

I know what you mean about knicker watch, it’s awful isn’t it. Im constantly checking, especially as my last mc started as a spontaneous bleed without any sort of warning. How do you find the pessaries ? I’ve found I’ve had less cramping/ niggles since being on the progesterone. Hope that’s a good sign ? That’s great you got your 3+ and things are progressing well, I think I will be most on edge around the 5 -6 weeks mark. If I can get to heart beat that would be a milestone.

How do you take the low dose asprin? I’m taking 2 x 75 mg one in the morning and one in the night . Do you think be better taking both doses at night ? Xx

@GlassLily I know I shouldn’t have but I tested today 12DPO. And I’m panicking now I don’t see much line progression from 10DPO.

This pic is 8,9,10,12 dpo.

I really wish I hadn’t have tested now I feel like it’s not progressing.☹️

@Slk3558 it definitely looks like it's progressing!! Don't panic! My 12 and 13 looked very similar, I had a moment too. It will look even less different if one is wet and the other is dry from yesterday. AND even if there was no progression (which there absolutely is) you are only meant to compare the line 2 days apart and they are soooo much darker! Seriously your lines look perfect and are just like mine too.

I take 100mg every evening for the aspirin, and the pessaries just make me spotty and bloated! But since I've been pregnant the spots have calmed down.

The most annoying thing with the pessaries for me is that I worry I need to lie down for ages after inserting it, so I do one at night which is pretty easy, but then one in the morning where I set my alarm early just to get up, pee, put the pessary in... and then I go back to bed and lie awake for 30min-1 hour to make sure it's all absorbed!

Yeah . I’m exactly the same. It takes 20 mins to absorb so I’ve heard. I’ve just attached another pic That’s after an hour or so 10 and 12 dpo , do you think it’s progressing? I was expected it to be as dark as the control line because my 10 dpo was so dark x

I’ve not had any spotting at all but I was worried that the progesterone might mask a failing pregnancy by preventing bleeding ? I wish I didn’t have to be so negative but I just can’t help expecting the worst..know what I mean?

@Slk3558 Yes I thought the same, but the progesterone doesn't even stop my period from coming (just delays it for 2 days) so I think surely it won't do any more than delay miscarrying bleeding by a couple of days.

I definitely think yours are progressing, I've attached my 10-11-12-13 for reference!

@GlassLily thanks so much for the reassurance. I’m going to try and resist the urge to test over the next few days and just try and take each day as it comes. I’m still so nervous. Do you have any symptoms yet? I’ve have sore boobs and feel sick when I brush my teeth that’s it lol xx

@Slk3558 it's so hard, isn't it. I have had terrible bloating, sore and dark nipples and tender boobs.... But my sore dark nipples went away yesterday and they look a bit normal, so I'm panicking. I don't really feel pregnant anymore. Hoping for some morning sickness to reassure me...

@GlassLily Don’t worry you’ve done the best you can with progesterone and asprin, as I keep telling myself there’s nothing we can do to change the outcome except hope for the best and remember that we have a good chance of success. Also I’ve heard symptoms are not reliable.. Symptom spotting is the worst. I’m always prodding my boobs to check if they’re any sorer and make sure they’re not going hollow!! I feel like I’ve had less cramping and bloating this time compared to the last two and that makes me nervous.

I can’t believe am only 13 dpo today. That’s the downside of getting a BFP on 8DPO!

@Slk3558 yes I keep telling myself there is no reason to think this will go wrong. I am 25 DPO, it all seems to go so slowly, doesn't it? But I think the last few days have gone quicker.

@GlassLily Yeah 25 dpo you doing good nearly 6 weeks! I’ve been having aches pain on and off in the inside of my thighs. Any idea what this could be?