Short Luteal Phase

[Beleeve]

Does anyone here have experience of a short luteal phase and how to get it fixed?

My period is always split into 2, a small bleed for a day or 2 and then a break followed by a heavy sometimes crampy bleed a couple of days later. I also tend to only have around 8 days between ovulation and bleeding so pretty sure i have a luteal phase issue.

I also had an early miscarriage 2 weeks ago which i believe may be due to my luteal phase.

Do i just call my doctors and ask for a blood test? I did do this about 18months ago and they took one blood test and said my progestorone level was normal. They didn't ask where i was in my cycle though, don't they need to know this? Really want to try again so want to get to the bottom of this.

Argh, MN just ate my message! Ok, take two... @Beleeve, so sorry to hear about your mc - I hope you're doing ok and looking after yourself.

I have LOTS of experience of short LPs. And I have a lovely 20 month old daughter so it can be overcome!

Firstly, are you sure the 8DPO bleeding is your period? It may just be spotting and lots of women have this and conceive. Secondly it doesn't necessarily mean low progesterone. And also my short LP (9-10 days) didn't seem related to progesterone, I got a nice high result when I was tested.

Secondly, you should def chase the GP if you've been trying for a while and you feel something is wrong. As well as getting your progesterone checked again (7 days post ovulation ideally) then you should get your thyroid levels checked - TSH, T3 and T4.

Both times, get the actual results. Particularly TSH - "normal" can be 4 and for conception you're really aiming for about 1. Higher TSH means an underactive thyroid. It's v common and so easy to fix with a simple daily pill (levothyroxine). It was a battle to convince the GP but I managed to see a private endocrinologist and got a prescription.

You can also try taking B6 complex and high strength vit D - both can support progesterone and your luteal phase. I also swear by Vitex (Agnus Castus) but it's a bit more controversial so I can talk you through it if you like.

Thank you for your response @Shortmamashortcycles Good to hear from someone who has similar experiences.

I'm not sure what the first bleed is at all, in fact i still had that bleed on my last cycle when i was in fact pregnant. Just weird thay it seems completely seperate from my 'proper' period as i usually have a couple of 'dry' days inbetween.

That's interesting i assumed luteal phase issues were linked to progestorone, maybe i should ask about thyroid levels then. I find it's hard to get a doctor to take you serious. Now to sound like a hypochondriac but sometimes you just know somethings not right.

The doctor did actually refer me a fertility expert/gynaecologist. I've waited months for an appointment which was booked for tomorrow and they've now postponed it to end of July 😞

I did try B6 but didn't find it made a difference, unless i didn't give it long enough, think i tried for 2 or 3 cycles. Definately willing to try again though if it can't cause any harm.

Hah your comment about the spotting even when pregnant is giving me hope - before DD, I'd launch into full AF at 10dpo until I was on thyroid and vitex. But since DD, I get exactly the spotting you do - a bit around 8-9DPO, then mostly nothing for a few days, then AF around 13DPO (thank you vitex and levothyroxine!)

I'm always telling myself that the spotting means I'm out for the month - maybe not!

If your spotting isn't heavy enough to fill a pad / isn't bright red, I'd count that as not your period and then your LP is actually ok.

But I'd still see an endo - so frustrating about the delay. Is there any way you could go private? You have a referral from your GP anyway, so that's half the battle. It's not cheap (maybe £200 for the consult) but perhaps an option for you?

I have a lp of 8 days (between 7 and 9) and conceived dc 1 on month 6 of trying, dc 2 on month 4 and dc 3 by accident so although I stressed about it lots my short lp turned out not to be an issue

I ovulated for the first time since my miscarriage on Fri/Sat and i've now got slight red/brown spotting 5 days past ovulating!! So much for misscarriage re-setting things, seems like my luteal phase has got shorter!!

Aww @Beleeve, I wouldn't necessarily take that to mean it's a short luteal phase. I am now 5 weeks pregnant after having spotting 7, 8 and 10DPO. And also the month after an mc can be funny, cycle-wise!

If you can, try to speak to your GP about your concerns, but please don't worry too much about it - things may still be ok!

Absolutely try the vitamin B complex, I have a short luteal phase and used this in preparation for each of my pregnancies, conceived within four months each time when taking the vits. Prior to taking them I was trying for two years and I am sure that the lining of my womb was breaking down too soon due to low progesterone, flushing out the egg whether it was fertilised or not. Worth a try and best of luck !

Also don’t rule out implantation bleeding if it’s five days after ovulation!

I've just been to the loo and when i wipe there's bright red blood now! So looks like this is my period rediculously early.

I knew the first period would be difficult but i thought if atleast my cycle had improved i could take some positive from it. I've just found myself getting really upset about it all. Feel like giving up honestly.

I know i'll probably fee different in a few days and i appreciate the advice (i probably should give B6 another go) but do you ever feel like you're forcing your body to do something it doesn't want to?

Oh and congratulations @Shortmamashortcycles so nice to hear x

Yes, I totally understand that feeling. I felt exactly the same every month when spotting would start - in fact this cycle when I conceived, it started so early I asked the GP for tests to check things were ok. I was convinced there was something wrong.

Maybe just take a month or so off consciously TTC - book lots of massages or other chilled things and let your body relax a bit.

There'll be another month down the line when you and your body feel more up to working together on this. Try to be kind to yourself, I know it can be so hard. ❤❤❤

Thank you @Shortmamashortcycles you have made me feel so much better. I had a bit of a freak out lastnight and was acting like a spoilt brat. I feel a lot calmer today. I still feel a bit sad but i know there are people in a much worse position than me (people in my own family even)

We're all full of a cold in my house so maybe my body did just need a break from it this month.

I will try the B6, can i take it right away or is there a certain time of your cycle it should be taken?

Ah it's not spoilt to be sad and worried! Glad you're feeling slightly better today.

B6 complex-wise, I took it through my cycle. I found the super high strength ones made me feel a bit weird, but others swear by them. No harm in just taking the normal ones and seeing if they sit well.

Oh my god! I'm 9dpo and....

I'm panicing now. Still got off/on brown with some dark red so felt stupid even testing! That is def positive isn't it?! My hcg level was 1 when they discharged me 2 weeks ago so it's not from the miscarriage is it?!!

I took a cheapie test this morning that was negative so was not expecting this!!

Amazing! I am not an expert on miscarriage or HCG but that looks like a positive to me! I had spotting at 10DPO, didn't test until 12DPO, so it's definitely possible. All my fingers are crossed for you, just keep breathing and think happy thoughts if you can... 🤞😁

Ah thank you @Shortmamashortcycles

I think cos of the short luteal phase issue i've convinced myself i can my mc was due to hormonal issues and maybe if i catch it soon enough something can be done to stop it (that's probably crazy i know)

What did you do when you had your spotting and then realised you were pregnant? Did you just call your doctor and ask for some tests?

I haven't done much, to be honest - I just notified the GP that I didn't need the swabs (was meant to be done alongside a smear test I had booked) because I was pregnant then bought a bunch of pregnancy tests to make sure the line was progressing! I've been feeling tired and nauseous so figured that was a fairly good sign... 🤞

I did keep going with all of my vitamins e.g. the b complex and also a vitex once a day which is prob not recommended but I just felt would help support my progesterone levels. Will stop taking it once/if I get to 7 weeks... (I have an early scan booked for then.)

Good luck for your early scan, they'll be able to hear the heartbeat then, will be so reassuring for you!

I did have spotting from week 3 through til 7 on my 2nd pregnancy which resulted in a huge bleed and clot at 7 weeks but turned out to be fine. So i know if i was anyone else i'd be telling me to calm down, think the mc is still quite fresh so it's obv still on my mind.

Hey @Shortmamashortcycles have you had your scan? Hope all is going well x

Looks like i'm having a chemical I had amazingly strong positives on FRERs all last week (9-12 dpo) but today, which would make me 4 + 2 weeks the line has faded to barely there. Not bleeding yet but got a blood test tomorrow so i'm going to ask them to test my progestorone levels at the same time as my hcg. Do you think they will? And do you think i can go straight on progestorone supplements then or do i have to wait to misscarry?

Oh no, poor you! I am so sorry to hear that. I have no idea, to be honest - the most likely thing is that they'll suggest you get your progesterone levels checked in another cycle, generally 7 days after you ovulated. There's not much they'll be able to do at this point, is my understanding. I am so, so sorry.

I'm doing ok - dealing with some quite severe nausea which I am taking as a good sign but isn't much fun, frankly. Thanks so much for asking!

Glad things are going well, sickness is good (in terms of having a healthy pregnancy but not much fun for yoy?

I thought maybe to test now would be better as they will be able to see that my levels are not where they should be for someone who is pregnant. I'll ask tomorrow and let you know x

@Shortmamashortcycles Me again,sorry you're my guru on short luteal phases now

Did you say you were tested for thyroid levels? I've just been told by the doctors they can test progestorone levels but can't prescribe me anything if there is an issue as a specialist has to do it! They are checking my thyroid levels though and i couldn't remember whether it was you who said you'd had that test?

Hope to god it is that or i'm pretty much on my own!

Hey, yeah thyroid is very standard. If you look at my first post on the thread I give a whole bunch of detail about it - the main thing is that you want your TSH level to be around 1-2 for conception, but "normal" is anything up to 4, so if they say it's normal, get the actual levels from them.