Short Luteal Phase

[MayDay27]

Hello! Just looking for a bit of advice after googling far too much! After tracking my ovulation last couple of cycles I have found that I ovulate CD20/21 and my cycle is pretty reliable at 30/31 days. So I think that would mean my luteal phase is 9/10 days. I've been reading that the norm is 12-14 and then seen a lot of info about how short luteal phases below 10 can cause problems. We haven't started TTC yet we're planning to next cycle so I know I'm already over thinking things but just wondered if there were many people with a shorter luteal phase, if there was anything people could advice or if maybe it isn't as much of a problem as google makes out!

Hi @MayDay27

I have a 30 day cycle and ovulate on day 20 too. I have been TTC without success since July. I phoned the Dr's last week and she said to come in for a blood test 7 days after I ovulate so they can can check my progesterone levels. I think there's supplements you can take too but I haven't really looked into this yet.

@Hufflypuf hello! Did you mention to the doctors the length of your luteal phase? I actually ordered a progesterone home testing kit today from Superdrug, no idea how accurate it will be! So you've had four cycles so far? I've been panicking since reading up about LPD I never knew anything about any of this before I assumed ttc would be so easy!

Hi,

I was also worried about this when TTC - luteal phase was always 8 or 9 days at the most... nothing I tried seemed to affect it. I didn't have any investigations and we have conceived naturally - however it did take about 12 months (unsure if that's related) I don't think you should worry I spent a lot of time thinking about it but needn't have done! X

@MayDay27 yep, on my 5th cycle now. I did try to mention it to my Dr but she just brushed it off and said she would talk to me after my blood tests results were back. I'm under 35, healthy weight and have regular cycles so I always imagined I'd get pregnant instantly! I haven't even had to take a pregnancy test yet as AF always beats me to it

@AcceptYourself your post has given me some hope!

Hi @MayDay27 just wanted to say sorry I don’t have any advice but I’m in the exact same boat as you...31/32 day cycles, ovulating any time from day 21-23. I think it’s really common when people first come off the pill. It’s definitely something I’m a bit less worried about since reading loads of threads on here where people have got pregnant with no problems with short luteal phases. I do wonder if it makes a difference having a longer cycle though? Most people seem to have 25/26 day cycles and ovulate on day 15/16. Glad to see there’s someone else like me!
I have a scan booked at the end of Dec for my ovaries (I hastily booked it before my period made an appearance) and I’ve got loads of questions to ask the person doing it...will report back if they can give me any useful info about short LPs.

@CharityRoyall that would be amazing to hear anything the doctors say about it! I've been off the pill about a year now but had the copper coil from March till October but that's not suppose to impact periods too much I think because it's non hormonal. Do you mind if I ask how long you've been truing?

Thanks @AcceptYourself that's good to hear!

@Hufflypuf it's good that the doctors are seeing you I thought you had to wait a year to be seen

@MayDay27 I don't think they will take me seriously until I've been trying for a year but I wanted blood tests done for my own peace of mind!

@Hufflypuf that's good to get the ball rolling! I'm the same, haven't started ttc yet but now I know about my short luteal phase I'm worrying and just want to be checked out!

@MayDay27 my appointment is the 21st so I’ll definitely be asking about luteal phases. Will post any useful info here! Hopefully they’ll say something helpful.
I came off the pill in August, we were having unprotected sex but not actually trying (no idea of fertile window) in Aug and Sept. Properly trying with tracking since October, so it will be my third cycle this month trying, fifth cycle off the pill.
I was always prepared for it to take a while then three of my friends got pregnant this year, two on their first go and one on their second. It’s hard not to be hopeful or feel like there’s something wrong with you even though I know it’s normal and three cycles is nothing! X

I am glad I found this and there are other people like me

Like @CharityRoyall all my friends with babies say they came off the pill and conceived with 1 - 2 months. I don't think the pressure of knowing that helps!

I had a short luteal phase. I would ovulate on day 14 and af would come on day 21- so 7 days later without fail!!! It took 10 months to get BFp with dd and dis was a surprise 2 years later so not sure.
I took Angus castus starting the cycle before dd positive and always assumed that did it!!

Just thought I'd throw my two pennies in... I have regular 31 day cycles and I know for sure we DTD on CD23 so clearly my luteal phase was very short and it still happened for me! So I wouldn't worry too much at this stage 😊

@Hufflypuf agreed! Even my mum said she didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did when she was trying for me 🙄 it’s annoying haha.
@somethingischasingme I’ve been thinking about trying agnus castus but also keep seeing things from people saying it really messed up their cycles! I’m regular as clockwork so am a bit reluctant to try it.
@CodewordIsRochambeau it’s a real relief to hear from someone who has the exact same cycle as me! Do you mind if I ask how long you were TTC for before it happened? Thanks!

@CharityRoyall I was actually extremely lucky and believe it or not I fell pregnant the day we decided to try! I had been tracking my cycles for a while using the Clue app so I thought my fertile window had passed for that month. We stopped using protection anyway and were waiting for my period to arrive so that we could start trying... but it never did! To make matters worse I didn't get a positive test for over a week after my period was due so I had no idea what was going on and thought my body had decided to start playing games once we'd finally decided to TTC! I'm now 19 weeks and I know I'm very lucky, but I honestly don't think that a short luteal phase is as much trouble as people worry about... I do wonder if that's why I didn't get the positive test for a while though so I guess that's something to bear in mind! Good luck! Xx

Before conceiving my daughter my luteal phase was around 10 days. I got pregnant pretty easily but had a miscarriage then another few months trying and conceived my daughter. I think taking pregnacare vitamins can lengthen your luteal phase somewhat. I did have bleeding throughout the first trimester. Don't know if that indicates low progesterone.

I'm TTC again and my luteal phase has only been five days long due to breastfeeding. I started taking a multivitamin this cycle though and now I'm at 7dpo with no bleeding yet so 🤞 my fertility is returning.

@CharityRoyall how did you appointment go?

Hi @MayDay27 it went well thank you - womb and ovaries both looked fine. Glad it went well as I was nervous beforehand. I asked about short luteal phases and she just shook her head and said it’s not an issue at all and it’s one of those things lots of people worry about. She said that it can take a lot longer to get pregnant than a lot of women expect and I shouldn’t worry. She said any further questions to book an appointment with my GP which I took as my cue she was done with the conversation sorry it wasn’t particularly helpful, I did hope she’d give me more info.
I’m currently 9dpo with spotting and bad cramps. Getting fed up now so I’m definitely going to contact my GP again to ask about this bloody luteal phase.

How’s everyone else doing?

@CharityRoyall that's good your womb and ovaries are all fine. Have you been trying this month? I had a really weird period last week, came on but was very light for maybe two days then stopped completely for a day and then came on heavy for the last two/three days! I had started taking vitex and then stopped so not sure that had anything to do with it. I think I have five days to go before my fertile window so for our first month TTC

@MayDay27 yes we did try - I ovulated on day 21 (last Monday) and we did it every day for a week leading up to it and using Preseed. Our third cycle and don’t think it worked. Ah well. At least I can have a drink over Christmas and start looking at what to do in January! So frustrating when everyone else I know seemed to fall first month.
Ooh yes maybe the Vitex messed things about a bit? How come you stopped? Best of luck for your first month!!

@CharityRoyall I'm really new to it all so don't know what I'm talking about but could the spotting you're having not be implantation? I stopped with the vitex just in case it was that that was causing my weird stop/start period. I'm going to stay off it this month and record ovulation and then maybe go on it next month. Have you been taking any supplements, vitex etc?

@MayDay27 I did think possibly implantation yesterday when it was just a bit of pink spotting then brown but today it just feels too much like my period to be implantation...though I’ve never been pregnant or even close to it in my life so I don’t know for sure! I really don’t think it is though. I think in jan I will contact my GP and see if I can take progesterone or something. BBT shows I’m definitely ovulating so that’s good but I think progesterone will be the way forward!
I’ve taken folic acid, vitamin D since august, and this cycle took vitamin C and Omega 3. Do you take anything else?

@CharityRoyall well they say you're not out until the witch shows! I take pregnacare tablets, vitamin C and fish oil and then started taking vitamin B complex when I saw my LP was short. I've also started drinking pomergrante juice as that's suppose to help! I did a home progesterone test through Superdrug and got the results back to say it was normal levels. I just feel so out of control when you don't know when/if it will happen even though we've only just started ttc!

@MayDay27 I reckon she’ll probably show tonight 😒 but can only hope! Ooh I was thinking about the home progesterone test, did you find it helpful?
Have heard about pomegranate juice and been drinking it but only the last couple of weeks, it probs takes a while to make a difference so will defo carry on! Next cycle I’ll take a B complex as well I think.

Hello I’ve been reading this with interest as I started doing OPKs a couple of cycles back and seems like I have a short luteal phase also. My cycles are already short (ave 23 days but 21-25) and seems I ovulate around cd13. My first 2 DC were conceived first month so I was completely oblivious but we’re on cycle 5 now and nothing. I’m wondering if it’s my age as am nearing 40!

Interesting that your were told it’s not an issue @CharityRoyall when Dr Google seems to think otherwise. Hopefully your GP will have more answers?