Short luteal phase - any tips?

[mumpip]

Hi I am ttc no.2. DS is 13 months and still bf twice a day. Periods returned at 10 months and got pg next period after that but mc at 4.5 weeks. Decided to start charting temps, on next cycle ovulated on day 21 and got AF on day 36, most recent cycle ovulated on day 28 and got AF on day 36 again ie 8 day luteal cycle. I had overactive thyroid for about 6 months after DS born and it is apparently normal now but I cannot regain the weight I lost and currently have BMI of 18.5 despite comitted cake eating!
Am I likely to get taken seriously by my GP yet or will I get sent away to try for a year before bothering them? I am 30 by the way. Any tips on anything I can do do help myself or might it sort itself out?

hiya mumpip,

sorry to hear about your mc.

I have PCOS and only two ovulations a year (if that) I tried charting as I thought with less opportunities knowing when they're gonna arrise would up my chances.

It didn't the charting added pressure to both DP and myself. It wasn't until I changed my diet that I became pregnant!

The best thing you can do for your health and your chances is eat a totally organic diet (that's including the cake! lol)and stop worrying about the length of your luteal phase.

Exercise may help too! sounds daft but it may encourage your body to change the way it metabolises your food also the endorphines(sp) released will keep your stress levels down which can only help you in your quest for DC2

You still have to allow 12 months before and doctor will assist you with conception, regardless of your age (and you aren't that old) as even perfectly normal human couples only have a small chance of successfully concieving even if they do it at the ideal time.

Thanks - know what you mean about charting pressure, it's not healthy! Organic diet and exercise can only be a good thing - maybe will grow my own veg and kill two birds with one stone!

I did that last year, some of my crops left a little to be desired, especially with the heavy rain fall we had, but I got loads of pleasure out of watching them grow!

I only got 4 pea plants out of 20 because my cat thought it would be amusing to dig up the seedlings cause they moved when the wind blew!

Good luck with the Baby making

Hi mumpip, sorry to hear about your loss. I had a mmc in August, which seemed to mess up my cycle - cycle became shorter (24 days) and short luteal phases (8 days) for 2 cycles. I went to see a gynae, who said that my ovaries were not functioning properly (although I was ovulating) and prescribed Clomid (50mg) to take for a couple of cycles to kick-start my ovaries again. I also had a few sessions of both acupuncture and reflexology, which are supposed to be helpful in rebalancing hormones, and am taking vitamin B6 100mg (in addition to prepregnancy supplements). After all of this for the last month, my last cycle was 26 days, and luteal phase has lengthened to 14 days, which is a huge improvement.
I would suggest seeing a doctor, although not all GPs are knowledgeable or helpful, better if you can see a gynae. I also found acupuncture and reflexology helped me a lot - very relaxing and made me feel overall much better, which probably contributed to my cycle normalising. There are a number of threads here on MN that give other suggestions that women have found helpful, including vitamins, supplements and herbs. Generally, it seems it can take some months for your cycle to go back to normal after a pregnancy or mc.

Also, I would not worry about your BMI, I think between 18 and 25 or something like that is normal/healthy. Mine is about 19.

I took B6 100mg and I think this helped. It builds up over time I think so I didn't see instant results. I can't be sure as I was taking other supplements too but I think it shortened my LP down 4 days. I hope this helps.

Can you buy vit b6 over the counter or do you need a prescription?

You can buy it over the counter in different strengths - at Boots or Holland & Barrett etc. Some people also recommend Evening Primrose Oil (but only from AF until ovulation) and Agnus Castus (only from AF until ovulation), but haven't tried either yet so can't personally vouch for it.

I can vouch for evening primrose oil! that's how I managed to accomplish the mega feat of two periods a year (I wasn't having any) so thay helped to balance out my hormone levels somewhat. I took the high strength ones every day though

Just saw a locum gp who prescribed the combined oral contraceptive for 2 months to regulate my cycle to help me conceive. I thought the pill would only regulate your 'cycle' (which is not a real cycle as no ovulation) whilst you are on it so I can't really see how going on it then stopping is going to help at all.
Don't think I will take it! Will try the B6 and evening primrose oil instead.
Anyone else ever heard of this?

Hi mumpip

We are (almost) in the same boat.

I am 30, have a son who is almost 3. We have been TTC for 6 cycles now. So far no luck.

I went to see my GP this week, told a little porky and said that we had been trying for 8. She was REALLY REALLY responsive and said that for our age ( 30 ) the average is 6 months, so anything over that, if concerned there are tests to eliminate possible problems.

I had the 21 day blood test on Monday and also blood taken to check thyroid function.

So....there are GPs out there who will entertain you!

Taking the pill does not seem like the right solution to help regulate your cycle - won't your cycle just be imbalanced again once you stop it? I would suggest seeing another GP or a gynae for a second opinion. And in the meantime trying some natural supplements that have been suggested by people on MN. Clomid definitely helps with luteal phase defect, but it is also a strong drug that you should only take if you really need it and under medical supervision. I took it for one cycle and now want to see if my cycle goes back to normal naturally without relying on Clomid any more (if it doesn't, will take Clomid again next cycle).

I'm with Pinkpeony I really don't think the pill is the answer. I am v. early pg after 15 months and several years of being on the pill before that. In my opinion if you want to get pg the pill isn't the answer.

The locum GP sounds inexperienced can you ask your doc for a referral to a fertility specialist particularly with your thyroid and weight gain history. You need to 21 day test to investigate your luteal phase issues.

I took 100mg of B6 & Evening Primrose oil (first half of cycle) I also took Agnus Castus but this a controversial herb that you would want to research and talk to experts about before taking.

Good luck

Thanks for advice, have chucked contraceptive pill prescription in the bin and am taking B6 (decided to try just 50mg as am still BF and have heard can interfere with prolactin at higher levels) and evening primrose oil. Will see how it goes this cycle and go to a different gp if no improvement.

good luck mumpip

Hi mumpip - I understand breastfeeding can sometimes lead to a short luteal phase. My daughter gave up breastfeeding of her own accord a few weeks ago and my cycle seems to have gone back to normal now, although while I was breastfeeding twice a day I also had a short luteal phase. Also, don't worry about your BMI. If you are naturally slight 18.5 sounds perfectly normal. I think mine was a little less than that when I conceived my daughter. You can also get progesterone creams over the internet which can apparently help with a short luteal phase. Have a google - there is loads of info out there about this. And good luck!

Thanks lucicle, the progesterone creams sound worth looking at but DH says to relax and let nature take it's course, I'm impatient!