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When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Short luteal phase?

577 replies

JuniperandI · 25/10/2022 17:24

Hi ladies

I have a short LP, about 9-10 days. Anyone else in the same boat? Have you managed to get pregnant with a short LP? Any advice would be very welcome!

OP posts:
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EmmRach · 25/10/2022 20:00

Hello!!

First post on here. I came here to try find out more about a short luteal phase. My luteal phase is 8 or 9 days. Have been tracking my cycles for over a year and have been consistently 8 or 9.

Googling can be quite grim and has me quite down hearted to be honest.

I have a normal -ish bmi (slightly over weight!) and had my thyroid checked recently and my period comes like clockwork with no spotting. So I don't tick any of the boxes google gives me.

Just wondering people with a short luteal phase, when do you take a pregnancy test? How quickly did it show for other people who have been lucky?

Any success stories would be so welcome to bring me out of this doom and gloom I seem to have got myself in....

Sparklythings1 · 25/10/2022 20:38

I’ve stopped the pill recently but ever since have had a short luteal phase. This is my third cycle so I’ve really upped my game with the research. I’m taking vitamin C, pregnacare (was already taking it), ashwagandha as I think stress could be the cause of it - cortisol blocks progesterone receptors so it’s physically stopping it from increasing, I’ve got agnus castus that I’m going to try taking only from 2dpo (just to make sure I’ve definitely ovulated first as it can potentially alter it). Also planning to try and relax a bit (ha) 😂 Going to do meditation and yoga starting this week as I do think stress is probably the cause of it for me!

Hopefulhoney6 · 25/10/2022 20:59

Me!! My LP has always been 10 days (I track BBT).

this month I started on 1000mg Vitamin C and then the Solgar B50 complex….. 12DPO today and I have done a FRER and I think it’s positive?! So hopeful!! 5 months TTC.

Short luteal phase?
EmmRach · 25/10/2022 21:01

@Hopefulhoney6 oh that's brill. Thanks for sharing. Hope everything continues smoothly for you. Gives me hope!!

EmmRach · 25/10/2022 21:04

@Sparklythings1 good luck with the de-stressing! Let us know how you get on?

glamourousindierockandroll · 25/10/2022 21:06

I always had a short luteal phase of around 9 days and have been pregnant 4 times with two miscarriages and two very easy pregnancies.

Once it became clear that I ovulated around day 22, not day 14 like the standard apps told me, I was able to get pregnant on the first time of trying every time.

glamourousindierockandroll · 25/10/2022 21:08

@EmmRach i always got positive pregnancy tests any where from I think 11-14 DPO using the cheap Amazon One Step tests. I also used that bramd for ovulation tests and never had a problem with them.

EmmRach · 25/10/2022 21:21

That's great to know @glamourousindierockandroll thank you. So you got the positive pregnancy test when you were actually late as opposed to on the day of days before your missed period?

Sparklythings1 · 25/10/2022 21:22

@Hopefulhoney6 congratulations 😊 definitely positive! whats the solgar B50 complex supposed to do? I’m taking vitamin C but haven’t got it

glamourousindierockandroll · 25/10/2022 21:31

@EmmRach yes, I was always a bit overdue. It just takes that long for the HCG to be at a traceable level for the test. Having a short luteal phase won't make that level rise any quicker, but I guess it means that you have an early clue when you don't come on as expected.

Having said that, I often had a little bit of spotting, presumably from implantation, so I never really knew for certain until I got the line on the test.

EmmRach · 25/10/2022 21:38

@glamourousindierockandroll I feel like that's armed me with some good info. Thank you. And I feel like it will stop me obsessively testing too early. So you've not only saved me peace of mind but also cash!

glamourousindierockandroll · 25/10/2022 21:48

Seriously, get the cheap amazon ones and then you can test to your heart's content. I used to do them loads. You can splurge on a Clear Blue digital when you think you've got a squinter.

EmmRach · 25/10/2022 21:50

I definitely will!! Thank you!!

Original poster
JuniperandI · 26/10/2022 07:56

Thanks for the insight ladies.
@Hopefulhoney6 congratulations!

OP posts:
Hopefulhoney6 · 26/10/2022 09:09

@Sparklythings1 I did lots of reading and 50mg vitamin B6 is meant to lengthen luteal phase (if you google “Luteal Phase Defect”)…. But it is absorbed better alongside other Bs…. So I bought “B50 complex”, which also contains 400mcg folic acid which you obviously need when TTC in any case!! Hope it sticks…. I’m very nervous now, doesn’t feel real. First pregnancy!! Let’s see.

good luck to everyone else…. This month was my first of VitC and B50 complex so who knows if it helped or was luck!

EmmRach · 26/10/2022 09:40

I also read that @Sparklythings1 I've started on both of those this month. Just ovulated.... So I'll see in around a week if it made a difference!! - one advantage of a short LP, two week wait is only one! Ha!
Got my fingers and toes crossed for you. Will you keep us updated?

Ldougal92 · 26/10/2022 10:22

I have a short phase 8-10 days and have been given progesterone pesseries to take for 14 days after I ovulate :) x

EmmRach · 26/10/2022 10:24

That's interesting @Ldougal92 where are you based? If UK was this private or NHS - via your GP? Hope it works for you. Fingers crossed

Ldougal92 · 26/10/2022 10:27

EmmRach · 26/10/2022 10:24

That's interesting @Ldougal92 where are you based? If UK was this private or NHS - via your GP? Hope it works for you. Fingers crossed

It was from my fertility consultant - NHS but my actual GP prescribed it after the letter from my consultant x

EmmRach · 26/10/2022 10:34

Cool, ok. Good to know. I've heard docs can have differing opinions on what's needed. So that's interesting. Thank you! Fingers crossed for you. Would love to know how you get on with it...

DesertSnow · 26/10/2022 12:27

Hi ladies, I was actually going to start a thread on this and then up this popped! Really great to hear about some successes as I'm - like many of you, I suspect - so worried about this.

I'm on 3rd cycle ttc, LP of 7-8 days. I've been trying a few things and last cycle I nearly reached 9 days (AF arrived after 10pm instead of waking up to it first thing that morning - could be coincidence but will keep going and see.)

I'm taking 1000mg Vitamin C and 60g vitamin B6 (spread across a b complex and the 50g Solgar B6 tablets). This month I'm going to up it to 110mg b6 and see how that goes, as I've heard most women need 100mg to see a difference. I'm also starting on 1000mg evening primrose oil (up to ovulation).

Other things I've heard are vitex (though am a bit nervous about that so on the back burner for now), acupuncture, a good probiotic, over the counter progesterone cream (again, nervous about that one).

Would be really great to follow your journeys! Hopefully lots of BFPs to come for this thread.

EmmRach · 26/10/2022 12:57

Hi @DesertSnow

We sound very similar! I'm also on cycle 3, but I've been tracking my bbt (natural cycles) and LH testing for a year, so it seems much longer - ha!

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 35, so I knew I needed to get a move on as soon as we were married and back from honeymoon hence the years worth of cycle tracking in preparation. Only just realised about the short LP issue recently. So feel annoyed I should have been doing more to prep beforehand. Anyway.... I'm also on high dose Vit C and B complex. Although I'm going to review the dosage of the B complex as I'm not sure it's enough.
Thanks for sharing. Fingers crossed for you, let's keep in touch? Where are you in your cycle at the min?

DesertSnow · 26/10/2022 13:06

Hi @EmmRach great to meet someone in the same boat! Somehow makes this all feel a bit less daunting!

I've been tracking since April (BBT + OPK) so can imagine how long it's felt for you! I know what you mean about wishing to have started looking at the LP issue earlier.

Congrats on your marriage! I'm actually getting married next week so we really are in similar positions! ☺️ I'm 31, also have endometriosis so am concerned that be behind or at least contributing to the LP issue.

How long have you been on the Vit C and B complex? What dosage are you taking?

AF has just finished for me, CD5. Fertile window will be shortly after the wedding next week - I ovulate between CD19 and CD22 so a little wait before we try for this cycle. How about you? (And yes keen to keep in touch).

Sparklythings1 · 26/10/2022 13:43

Just watched a video and she mentioned Maca root to help you ovulate sooner. This would probably help me so I’ve now ordered maca root to take until ovulation and I’ve got agnus castus to take from 1Dpo on. Vitamin C every day and my pregnacare which seems to have most other vitamins in it. Vitamin D had also been mentioned a lot but I think it’s in the pregnancare too. Got ashwagandha to keep me chilled since it could be cortisol blocking the progesterone. Honestly feel like I’m going to be rattling about this month 😂

Mugascauld · 26/10/2022 15:02

Hi everyone! I'm in the same position as you all and so pleased to find this thread! My cycle only recently returned as I'm currently breastfeeding my 1yo which is causing my short luteal phase of about 9 days. I've started on the vit c and B6 and also really working on stress reduction, but we'll see how that goes! Currently CD5 and last month ovulated on CD22.

Out of curiosity - how are you all calculating your luteal phase? I've seen some people count ovulation day, and others don't - so I'm not sure if I've counted mine correctly!