Does cyclogest/progesterone help for a short luteal phase?

[Lily1990]

Hi everyone,

Since I had a MMC at 12 weeks in March, my luteal phase has been 7-8 days consecutively. I'm taking metformin for PCOS, which helped bring my ovulation forward, but my luteal phase is still really short. I have been prescribed cyclogest and used it last month but still didn't get pregnant. So wondered if I have a "weak ovulation" which causes the short luteal phase, and maybe cyclogest won't help.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone else has tried cyclogest (or progesterone) for a short luteal phase, and if it helped get a BFP or not? If not, was there something else that helped you get your BFP?

Thanks so much for any advice shared.

Watching this as it looks like my next cycle I will also need to use progesterone as my luteal phase is between 7-10 days! x

@Ldougal92 we can be short luteal phase buddies! x

Yes. After my miscarriages my luteal phase was between 6-9 days for months and no BFP.
First month prescribed cyclogest I got pregnant. Sadly miscarried again but then got pregnant again on my second cyclogest cycle.

Following as another short LP buddy. I start spotting at 9 dpo. I have a doctors appointment coming up for hopefully a progesterone check 🤞🏻 I had fertility acupuncture tonight and she says she's going to try and focus on extending this phase but in the meantime I have to keep my uterus warm!

Hi all,

Jumping on here as I also have a short LP - last couple of months have been 7 and 8 days. I've started taking vitamin B6 and looking for any other recommendations. Has anyone looked at over the counter progesterone creams or soy isoflavones? Have heard those can help but haven't tried (yet, anyway).

Would be great to connect with other ladies with short LPs.

Thanks for your responses all! It's great to be connected with others with short LPs.

@PeanuttyButter that's so reassuring to know you were in the same boat, and then cyclogest helped in your second cycle on it. Sorry about your miscarriages too <3

@pomdownunder1 that's really interesting you're trying acupuncture and she said to keep your uterus warm! I wondered about doing acupuncture too - please keep me updated on how it's working. Also do you take your BBT? That can be indicative of your progesterone levels too.

@DesertSnow I've been taking B6 as part of a vitamin B complex for the past 3 months and not noticed a difference. But I would be interested to hear whether soy isoflavones worked for others too!

I'm in a slightly odd limbo phase now as my period lasted for 7 days, which is weird for me so took a pregnancy test yesterday and today and got extremely faint BFPs. I'm sure this is a chemical as had a similar experience a few months ago, and got negative tests a few days later. Hoping it resolves quickly and doesn't delay my next cycle.

@Lily1990 keep us updated on your bfp. Fingers crossed for you that it sticks 🤞🏻

I think I will start doing my temp, I'm just so rubbish and keeping up with it every day.

The acupuncture was really interesting. Not sure how much it will do but for overall health as well, seems like they really look at the root of the problem. Like why the progesterone is low etc and if it could be related to something else like kidney or liver? I'll keep you updated anyway. She wants me to go back a week after ovulation to try and prolong LP

Hi,
My LP was 7/8 days - saw a consultant who diagnosed Luteal phase deficiency and prescribed cyclogest. Started taking it from 5dpo as directed by consultant and was pregnant first cycle. Always thought this was my issue but could never get a consultant to listen and had to have IVF for DD1. Turns out I was right and 9 week old DD2 is asleep on me now.
Wish I’d found him sooner tbh as it would’ve saved me a lot of money! 😂

@MrsMo21 that's amazing! Were you spotting from day 7/8 or that's the day of AF?

@pomdownunder1 id spot for 1/2 days ish then full AF

@Lily1990 how are you doing, any update? I've only been taking B6 for one cycle, 50mg. Will see how long LP is this cycle but if I don't see a difference I will up it to 100mg I think. Then considering soy insoflavones as the next step.

@pomdownunder1 Really interesting to hear about the acupuncture - I'd really like to give it a go but it's so pricey! So will try a few other things first. I temp and it is a slog but provides useful data.

@MrsMo21 That's great to hear, congratulations! I mentioned low progestrone to my GP and they just weren't interested. How did you go about finding a consultant?

I don't spot before AF, just get the full flow too soon after ovulation. I'm very confused, last few cycles my LP has been 11, 10, 9, 7, 8. And here was me worried when it was 11! I'd read that LP was consistent so it's a bit weird to have such a variation of 4 days.

I've been bleeding much more the last 2 days and my pregnancy test was negative today :(. I knew it would be a chemical but feeling pretty rough so am taking the day off. Although it was very early, it's technically my third loss so I hope I can have some tests to see what's going on. Not sure if it's caused by low progesterone (as I didn't take the cyclogest this month) or something else - there are so many potential causes.

@DesertSnow I went to a private fertility clinic in London to get progesterone, and the first consultant I saw was happy to prescribe it. I can private message you the details if you're based nearby?

I'd also like to try acupuncture (for relaxation too) but it does seem pricey! If anyone knows of a good/relatively cheap one in London, let me know :)

Hi all, sorry to jump on. I have a 12 day LP BUT I spot from 7dpo and I feel this could be due to low progesterone. I’m wondering where I can obtain this from to try? I already have a LO so don’t think a GP would help?

Thanks!

I used to have an 11 day lp with two days of spotting before, every cycle, so fairly short lp. Then suddenly last few cycles it jumped up to 13 day lp with no spotting, I don't know why. But since we have been trying for a year and not getting pregnant (I have one 2yr dd who took a while to conceive as well) my gyno prescribed me gepretix (progesterone 200mg) and this is the first cycle I'm on it. Currenlty 10dpo. I don't actually know when to expect my period this cycle because of the pills and recent change in cycle length, but cheapie yesteday was negative. With my dd I got a positive at 8dpo and my thinking has been that if you have a short lp, you HAVE to implant early to even have a chance. So if I don't have a positive by 10dpo I already consider it a dud cycle.

@Lily1990 I'm so sorry about your loss. I hope you're looking after yourself and taking things gently. I'd have thought that with 3 losses you should definitely be able to see someone to try and get some answers. I'm based in London so that would be super kind of you to private message me the details of who you saw, thank you so much!

@Fran919 I've read about progesterone creams you can buy over the counter but I'd rather consult a professional so haven't gone for that option.

@BakinABaby Yes that makes sense about having to implant early. I'm scared that even if an embryo implants, the lining will just break down and bring it out with it and I won't have a chance. Great that your LP has jumped to 13 days! Fingers crossed you get your BFP soon and the gepretix helps!

@DesertSnow yeah mine wasnt interested either and I even had an NHS consultant tell me there was no research or evidence to prove progesterone would help or that Luteal phase deficiency was even a thing.
I found my consultant on social media oddly, I searched for Luteal phase deficiency as a hashtag on Instagram and found a post by my consultant about it taking it seriously. He’s a consultant on Harley Street - booked an appointment and yeah the rest is history.

@MrsMo21 ah thanks! I actually find a lot of useful info on instagram.

@MrsMo21 id love the details of your consultant too if you don’t mind sharing? You should start working on commission 😂

Hi ladies! Just jumping in here as I’ve booked an apt in January with a Harley Street Dr who is one of the few I’ve found online who specialises in Luteal defects. Happy to PM on details and also keen to hear from other ladies if they are seeing other or even the same consultant to hear how things get on.

part of me is looking for success stories to give me hope, but part of me is also relieved to connect with people who are experiencing similar struggles - feels very lonely when lots of women around you seemingly easily get pregnant! X

I know this is an older thread - did anyone have any luck conceiving while on cyclogest?

I have a short luteal phase (8 days) and my doctor said she could prescribe cyclogest but sounded doubtful it would result in pregnancy.

I haven't had any miscarriages (thankfully) but I think I'm not conceiving because any embryos do not have time to implant.

Hi @SilentNightDancer . I personally haven’t had success in cyclogest, however i have come across a number of ladies on this forum who have. It did give me a normal length 14 day Luteal phase and normal level progesterone when tested, so it can certainly fix the progesterone side of things.

It seems like if the key / only fertility issues is progesterone then women have been able to get pregnant.

I’d definitely recommend it as it’s a lot cheaper and less invasive than IUI or IVF and may well do the trick of the only issue you have is with the Luteal phase - good luck!

Thanks @Carlotta27

I hope things work out for you soon!

I was on on clomid so a little different but my luteal phase was also 7-8 days and my first round taking cyclogest I was pregnant x send me a message if need a chat. x

@SilentNightDancer Yep, worked first month for me.

Just coming back to update - I conceived on my third cycle of Cyclogest!

Very early days (only just had the result, so I'm barely 4 weeks gone) but after nearly a year of trying and absolutely no hint of pregnancy, this is definitely the best news I could hope for.

I just have my fingers crossed that everything goes to plan and to term.