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

@paintfairy my GP said that low progesterone can be caused by problems at the ovulation stage, either no or weak ovulation which produces a poor corpus luteum. Or alternatively ovulation is fine but the corpus luteum just doesn't produce enough progesterone. Another thing she said can cause low progesterone is estrogen dominance which is said is basically just imbalanced hormones.

I always used to ovulate around CD14 and now I'm ovulating like CD17-20 but still having 28 day cycles. I am trying my hardest to bring ovulation forward as hopefully if I ovulate early and my cycle stays 28 days I can get a longer luteal phase! Soy isoflavones seem to have had an effect. Last month I tried to ovulate CD13 but it failed and I ended up ovulating a week later. This cycle is my 2nd cycle taking it and I've been having EWCM since yesterday CD11 so expecting (hoping) ovulation tomorrow. Hopefully this isn't another false alarm and it will actually happen earlier rather than later!

I don't think there is a huge issue with ovulating earlier than CD14. They say the one you want to be consistent is luteal phase of ideally 14 days

Hey everyone. I recognise quite a lot of you from the previous luteal phase thread we had going. Just jumping on because unbelievably I have a positive story to share.

We've been TTC#1 since October after having my implant removed, which I'd had in consecutively for around 6 years and the pill for years before that. I'm 29.

My luteal phase for each (really irregular) cycle I've had has been:

4 days
8 days
5 days
7 days

I've been on contraception for so long I have no idea whether my cycles have always been like that.

I stopped coming on Mumsnet for a while because I was getting really upset about it all and was really struggling with seeing people's BFPs after having sex once without even TTC (sad I know) so just cut it off and blocked it out. I also had tests at the doctors last month and he suggested I have PCOS too based on my luteal issues, irregular cycles and irregular hormone levels. So I thought it would never happen.

Well.... on Weds last week I fell and broke my ankle in two places and my period never arrived when expected, I figured it was a no-show because of the trauma. I've also had nausea and high temps which I also put down to my swollen leg and being in a cast etc.

Took a test today at 11DPO and I've had a faint BFP. I'm scheduled to have surgery on Thursday and I've been taking a ton of medication and injections recently so I'm terrified it's not going to stick. But at least I know I CAN get pregnant now, so I'll keep my fingers crossed....

@CooperLooper wow!! Amazing news sooooo so happy for you!!! So sorry to hear about your ankle though that must be awful!!! Thank you so much for sharing and I am keeping everything crossed for you that it all works out 💕💕

@Beau20 I think the ideal ovulation time is 14 days or later. Because the egg isn't mature enough before ideally. And the less mature- the poorer the corpus luteum? I dunno. But still not much on my OPK this morning.

@CooperLooper oh wow! Congratulations!

Thanks both

Also I was taking every supplement under the sun for two months (agnus, b6, b complex, high dose vit c and folic acid) but I stopped those last month because it was sending my head a bit west taking that many tablets every day. So this has been the first month of just taking a a big standard pregnancy and conception multivitamin. Probably a coincidence but maybe worth sharing

Wow! Huge congrats @CooperLooper 🥳 this is so lovely hear and does give us all hope. Sorry about your ankle though. Really hoping it sticks 💗

@CooperLooper congratulations. This is such amazing news. I really love stories from those who have really been through a journey. Rather than the i wasnt even trying or its my first month off the pill stories ❤ gives us all hope. I dont think ill be worrying about my LP anymore. Good luck with everything and so sorry to hear about your ankle. Thats a really strong positive though xx

Thank you 😊 good luck to you all x

@CooperLooper huge congratulations. I love to see this kind of positivity. I am new to this thread but like you stopped bc last year in Nov and my cycles have been all over the show but lp has been 7,8,9 days so I've been freaking a bit. I've had a chemical pregnancy which actually gave me hope I can get pregnant but stories like this made me so happy 😊

Thank you for sharing your story and huge congrats again. I hope so much it's a sticky, happy and healthy wee bean ❤️

Hi all! Wondering if I can join you? Apologies, I haven't quite read the whole thread yet but will try and catch up!

I'm 32 and we loosely tried from Jan last year, a no pressure let's just see approach. Tried some months and not others etc relying on an app to predict my ovulation (now I realise how silly that is!)

Started ovulation sticks in November and get my solid smiley on cd22 usually (I average a 32 day cycle!) so I realise everything we tried before that would never of worked! And here we are now, today having a giant panic about the length of my luteal phase thinking it'll never happen without help.

I definitely need to lose weight and I'm sure I'll be told so as and when I see a doctor so am trying to action this in the meantime - I know of plenty of people who have successfully easily gotten and stayed pregnant with a similar or higher bmi than me so know it's not the only decider but of course it helps.

Anyway, CD3 today (of a 29 day cycle- unheard of for me! And typically I didn't check ovulation this month!) but ready to go with my sticks again.

Sorry for the ramble, I'll try and keep it shorter in future haha

Welcome @sausageface glad you found us!

Morning all can I hop on too please?
It's all so heartbreaking.

I'm 40 TTC number 1 for 3 years now and have had two miscarriages.

I have a 24-27 day cycle and have been using OPKS for three cycles and realise I ovulate on day16. I wish I had used them earlier. We are under the consultant for infertility/ recurrent miscarriage.

I conceived within 5 months first time age 37 and took two years conceive again. I understand only now that it is probably because we were timing it all wrong.

So far I have all the blood tests day 2 and day 21 and ultrasound. I'm waiting for an HSG but I can't organise it at the moment due to covid 19. She has said that all the blood tests are good and she said progesterone was very good, but I don't have the specific figures. I could try and get in touch again and see if we can skip the HSG and aske her what is next.

I am also overweight and struggling to reduce my BMI.

Anybody got any tips or suggestions i can try. Strangely feeling a bit more peaceful now I know what is wrong. Just wish I could shed the weight!!

Hi @raisydenton. Sounds like you're a step further on than me. I also kick myself for relying on an app to know when I ovulate, silly really now I think about it!
As I mentioned last night I'm trying to get on top of my weight as I'm sure this will be mentioned if/when I get to the doctors. Did they mention your bmi to you during your initial appointments or hold out on blood tests because of it? This is a big worry, that I'll be brushed off Cos I need to lose weight!

I'm also interested in everyone's hints and tips that they may have picked up along the way and so relieved to see that all is not lost!

Hi both 👋🏻 some of us have been trying Agnus Castus supplements to try and lengthen our LP. Have you tried any vitamins etc at all?

I've been taking the usual ttc multi vitamins, I've only just really realised what issues a short LP can cause so haven't delved into proper research yet! Will go and look up the ones you mention now, thanks!

@Wearenotyourkind thanks for the welcome. i will have look at the angus castus thank you

@sausageface yes i totally agree how i had been relying on Ovia to predict my ovulation and i could have used OPK ages ago. No one mentioned my BMI at all which is 32. In fact I mentioned it. But ultimately it will stop me from accessing some treatments like IVF.

i am trying to get it to 29 initially and sadly made a BMI spreadsheet (too much time on my hands in the lockdown). I cannot control my age but can how much i weigh! When i mentioned it to the GP he said don't worry about it!? Realistically from my understanding they only want you to be below 30 as that is the level that has impact on health. I think sometimes they are reluctant to mention it. I am also on a lockdown losers thread in Weight loss chat. That is helping. I have 24 lbs to go

Now i realise that i have a short luteal phase i fell much better as it explains both the conception problems - which were all down to timing- and recurrent MC.

Hi all, please may I join this bus. TTC #1. Suspected I have a short luteal phase since coming off the pill last October and after tracking ovulation this month I think it's confirmed, obviously will track every month now.
Ovulated on CD 15/16 (static smiley on clear blue) but came on period today, yesterday was CD25. Besides one at 29 days, all cycles have been 24/25 days long.
Will look through the thread for ideas and tips, it's good to see some good news stories in there too. Will probably buy some Agnus cactus aswell.
Hope everyone's having a fab long weekend x

@natt99 welcome to the group. Hopefully you'll get some good tips from this group

How is everyone else getting on?

I'm a bit more stressed this cycle. After ovulating day 18 for the last 5 months i tried some new vitamins this month and have been worried its going to mess my cycle up. Ive taken vital DHA ,coq 10 and sevens seas conception tablets. I took the first 2 my first couple of months off the pill when i ovulated late but had a 12 day LP so was hoping they will help my spotting. I was hoping i just ovulated late cos my body was settling down after the pill rather than the tablets. No positive OPk yet though and im CD 17 so definitely going to be later but hopefully only a couple of days. I took evening primrose oil as well to help CM but made no difference at all. Ive now stopped coq10 and EPO. Maybe im more stressed as its nearly our wedding anniversary and i imagined being pregnant by now and being stuck at home doesnt help.

Anyway sorry to go on just helps to type it out and get opinions. Fingers crossed i ovulate soon and hope everyone is ok xx

I wondered how you are getting on @CooperLooper ? Did you have surgery on your ankle?

Welcome @Natt99 hope you bring us all luck 💗

Thanks @Wearenotyourkind and @Trying2019 I think I joined too soon though,what I thought was AF turned out to be (probably) implantation bleed- got a BFP on Weds! I'm not sure if I do have short luteal phase now but if so hopefully it stands everyone in good stead. Sending everyone lots of luck and baby dust for next cycle x

Congratulations @Natt99 amazing news!

I'm 11DPO. Please tell me you see it too?

I'm in shock

@Wearenotyourkind congratulations 🥳 definitely a positive there 💐 x