Short luteal phase?

[JuniperandI]

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!

@JuniperandI miraculously it seems to be going well thanks, I had a 2-3 weeks on a digital today! How are you feeling?

@BCxx amazing! I'm ok, AF is due on Tuesday. I reckon she's on her way 🤷‍♀️

@LS888 I'm usually a big tea drinker but right now can't stand it, it's so weird! Also been trying to eat little and often. Don't usually like crackers but had some today and they didn't make the nausea worse, so that's a revelation!

@EmmRach Totally made it feel more real! Also have my booking appointment and early scan next Monday.

@JuniperandI Fingers crossed AF stays away for you!

How is everyone doing?

I’ve got my private gynae referral for investigations, woo. Does anyone have a recommendation for a London based consultant? Needs to be someone who is listed as a gynaecologist but can also give me fertility advice… if it’s a fertility specialist AXA won’t cover it, but hoping I can get as many tests as poss through this route first.

I’ve also started clear blue advantaged digital testing for the first time. Got blank circle yesterday, and to my happy surprise a flashing smiley today CD9. Can anyone else share when they first get a flashing smiley, and then how long til static smiley? I’d thought this month we’d be apart through fertile days, but I’m hoping this might mean we actually have a chance!

Hi @Sierra26

Great news about the referral that's brilliant. Hope they can answer some questions for you.
No help on the London consultant but I can help on the clear blue tests.

So in my successful cycle I got my first flashing smiley on CD14 and got a solid on CD17. I then stopped testing as I also had a positive OPK on CD17 too. For ref my cycles were 24/25 days. I do remember that sometimes I would get flashing smileys for a day or so longer than in my last cycle. Hope that helps?

@EmmRach thanks! That’s so interesting. Im already glad I switched to these tests as I now already have one more piece of data, my estrogen starts to climb on cd9, or at least that’s what’s happening this cycle. Shows I’m not completely broken 😂

I told my DH, to which he responded ITS GO TIME and a few hours later DTD at lunch time which we NEVER do 😳😂 Don’t have the heart to tell him I could still get many more days of this reading until the peak/static smiley.

@Sierra26 ahh what a cutie 🤣🤣🥰🥰 bless him. Yeah the enthusiasm might wain but enjoy it for today!!

And I'm sure your not broken lovely. You just might need some time, or perhaps a little prod in the right direction. Xx

@Sierra26 great news on the referral! And laughing at 'It's go time'. Top marks for enthusiasm! My DH was obviously delighted we conceived when we did, but I think he was looking forward to a few months of intense DTD 😳

Hey everyone! How is everyone getting on? @DesertSnow was it your early scan on Monday?

@Sierra26 did you get your solid smiley?

How are you getting on in your first few weeks @BCxx and @Mugascauld ?

@JuniperandI I'm guessing AF turned up... how are you doing? I hope you're excited for 2023 to be your year!!

@buttercupbee how are you getting on? Where abouts are you at the min?

Sorry if I've missed anyone!!

I'm doing well. Still v minimal symptoms which I'm telling myself every day is not a bad thing. I have my next reassurance scan on the 22nd. And then my '12 week' scan on the 5th Jan. Although I'll be more like 13 weeks by LMP by then hopefully 🤞🏻

@EmmRach yeah, AF turned up this morning 😕 DH has started taking some more vitamins, I've got a blood test to check for progesterone in January and DH is going to make an appointment to see the dr about starting testing for him too. On to cycle 5!
sigh at least I can enjoy my Christmas wine I guess!

Good to hear you’re doing well @EmmRach ! Let us know how your scan goes :)

Still no solid smiley for me. Been testing twice a day to catch if I have a ‘rapid’ surge (technically 3-4 times as I’m also using Premom tests/app too) and still no peak on any of it… plus adding temps. it could still come. I’m just dying to know when I actually ovulate! We DTD on CD6,9,11 but that’s it for this cycle as we’re apart now for Xmas.

Anyone else feel like they can never just drink water normally and have a normal wee?? Constantly wondering if I’m meant to be holding or testing 😂

@JuniperandI sorry AF turned up :( I wonder what the progesterone test will say. I’m hoping to get one of those in Jan if this cycle doesn’t work out. Xx

@EmmRach glad you’re doing well, I hope everything goes well at your next scan 🤞🏼thank you for asking about me.

I went for an early scan on Sunday, I should have been 7+5 based on LMP but she dated me at 6+4 which matches up perfectly with when I thought I’d ovulated (CD23). I told the sonographer this and she said us women know our bodies :) I’m so glad I was tracking ovulation though otherwise a) I probably would’ve been dtd at completely the wrong times and b) if I did manage to fall pregnant I’d be really worried about the lack of growth at the scan!

I’ve got my booking in appointment with the midwife this afternoon so looking forward to that (minus the blood test as I’m terrified of needles 🙈).

@JuniperandI so sorry AF arrived :( I hope you get some answers from the testing. Yes definitely enjoy a few festive drinks!

@Sierra26 it’s such a minefield to know when to test! I did the easy@home tests which said not to test first thing in the morning but I always got my peak when I tested first thing. I drink a lot of water so found it really hard not drinking and trying to hold my wee 🙈

Eughhh this morningggg!! @JuniperandI sorry lovely. That's frustrating. Have a glass for me please and I'll keep my fingers crossed for a NYE baby for you!! 🤣🥰
Blood test is promising though, it's progress isn't it, ticking stuff off the list. So hopefully that feels positive.

@Sierra26 oh noooo I'm sorry you're apart for Xmas. Crossing everything you caught it whilst you were together. I never did OPK testing in the afternoon. So I didn't have to think of my wee then. But I'm not going to lie between OPKs and then pregnancy tests to show my line progression it took a while to get out of the habit of not peeing in a cup first thing in the morning hahahah. God the things we do!! Hope you can pin your O down this month. That's definitely a huge part of the battle!!

@buttercupbee EEE how lovely! Great that you matched up perfectly with your own dates. I was two days behind my own dates and over a week behind LMP at my early scan. But I tried not to worry too much, it just be millimetres to make the difference between one day and the next. I'll be sure to update on Thurs!! Loveedddd my booking in appointment. It felt so indulgent to speak about my baby for a whole hour with someone and to find out how the whole process would work, when we've been pretty secretive about it to most of the rest of the world! Hope you enjoy as much as I did. (And good luck with the needles!)

Hello! @EmmRach So glad to hear you're doing well and avoiding most of the symptoms! Good luck with the scan this week - how far along are you now?

@JuniperandI sorry AF turned up, really hope tests show a positive way forwards.

@Sierra26 so frustrating re. solid smiley!

I had my booking appointment yesterday and it rather took it out of me! Still feeling rough with nausea and fatigue, but so happy after we had a scan last night. By LMP I was 8 + 2 but as ovulated late was expecting to be measure about a week behind, but measured bang on 8 weeks 🥰 With a strong heartbeat. We're delighted, although they also told me to check out a sizeable cyst and they also said there are a couple of areas with free fluid. Trying not to Google 🙈 Also found it fascinating to find out which side I ovulated from!

@DesertSnow 8 weeks with a strong heartbeat is absolutely wonderful!! Statistically the risk of bad things happening are so much lower now. That's really great!! Congratulations!
Mmm yes I've no idea how a cyst or free fluid might affect things? Will you speak to your GP? EPU? Or was it more an FYI thing?

I'm around 10 weeks. Depends if you go by my early scan or as per the midwife and LMP.
I'm hoping I get a better idea on dates when I go on Thurs. I'm rather nervous, haven't seen the heartbeat since 6w+1. I feel like if everything is ok on thurs. It's v unlikely to go wrong after that... so feels like a big step. Will report back!

@EmmRach glad everything is going well! It seems to be flying in for you (probably not on your end) 😂 it really won’t be long at all. Do you think you’ll tell everyone from 12 weeks? Did you book a package with two early scans? I’m kind of wishing I’d done that. I’ve got my first scan on 31st at almost 7 weeks, 5 and a half just now. No symptoms at all this week and even my extreme hunger feeling has gone but I’ve had covid for the last few days so I think that’s why! I’m really glad the scan is in amongst all the festivities so I won’t count down as slowly to get to it!

Good to hear about your positive scan@DesertSnow I have mine in 10 days time. So it’s a day before yours @BCxx A lot of festivities to get through before that date creeps around. Feeling a bit apprehensive about it but trying to stay positive. Feeling very sick and nauseous and also have a cold which isn’t helping. Spent a few hours dozing in bed this afternoon. Hoping to feel better tomorrow as I’m not one for being sick! 😂

Hi everyone,

I have been lingering through my whole TTC journey of various posts and I have finally plucked up the guts to post and looking for some reassurance really.

Its been 14 months now and it is really starting to effect my mental wellbeing.

I track my cycles with BBT and OPKs and I have noticed my luteal phase is 10 days. I am use curious and wondering… I used to have very bad PMS but have been on a journey with that with acupuncture and lifestyles changes. I tend to however still start to feel crampy about 7 days before my period starts and I’m just trying to logically think if my PMS crampy feeling start that early can I get pregnant?

I was wondering if anyone else has felt like this and got pregnant? I always am like well I am out this month as I can feel my period coming but this is only around 3/4DPO of my 10 day luteal phase. This really then gets me very down.

Can anyone shed any light please?

Thank you x x

Hi @Vyvyan13, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. If it helps, I would always feel my PMS symptoms and feel like my period was imminent throughout the luteal phase (which for me was 7-8 days). I'm now 8 weeks pregnant. The hormone causing the PMS is progesterone, which is dominant in the luteal phase, but don't despair if you feel those symptoms - they're the same as early pregnancy symptoms, because again it's progesterone at play. The cycle I conceived I was utterly convinced my period was coming - had all the symptoms including the usual cramping. So don't lose hope! Also I would say that a 10 day luteal phase, while shorter than average, isn't too bad when you look at those of us for example with a 7/8 day phase (like me). You said you've been trying for 14 months, have you had any investigations done?

@EmmRach fingers crossed you get a better idea of dates with your scan tomorrow! Totally get your nerves, I was so scared before my scan, but so exciting you'll get to see baby again, and it will look so much more like a baby this time!
I've done some googling and looks like a bit of free fluid is ok. Cyst I think will be a wait and watch situation - apparently they can grow and be more troublesome in pregnancy. But they were quite casual about it and said I should just mention it to NHS at next appointment so I'm trying not to overthink/overgoogle. If it posed a serious risk right now, I'm sure they would have said.

@BCxx @LS888 sorry you're both poorly! Might help mask the pregnancy if you're not planning on telling people though? I have a couple of social events next couple of days and not sure how I'm going to manage my symptoms in front of them! Plus with my bloat I look six months gone 😂

@DesertSnow

Thank you so much for your response. I really appreciate it! Thank you for sharing your experience it really is reassuring. Congratulations to you to! That is lovely news 🥰

I do understand my luteal phase isn’t as short as others I am just at my vulnerable part of my cycle and wanted to speak with people who understand the journey.

Yes, we have had all sorts of investigations done. My parter has lower morphology at 3% so this could be contributing to the time is is taking. He has tried 6 months of supplements that haven’t unfortunately improved his parameters so is seeing a urologist in the new year to see if there is anything else going on.

I also had a Ureaplasma infection that I have now been treated for so hopefully this will help our chances to!

I am just trying to get to the bottom of everything really. Remaining hopeful 🥰 x

@Vyvyan13 oh of course, ttc is an incredibly vulnerable place to be, I'm so sorry if I sounded dismissive of your luteal phase, I didn't mean it to come across like that at all - I was trying to be reassuring that 10 days isn't so bad and gives you a chance! Glad you are having investigations done and you're having the infection treated. Hopefully the urologist will have some other suggestions too. Getting as much info as you can is the best place to get to I think, then you can weigh up options and find a way forwards. Fingers crossed for you! Important to remain hopeful - remember it just takes one 🤞💗

@DesertSnow

You absolutely didn’t, apologies if my message came across as if you did!

Thank you again for your lovely messages and reassurance 🥰 x

hi ladies,

in feeling awful as I did something we discussed in here - taking vitex / Agnus castus - and now I regret it! My husband has little sympathy for me self medicating and I’m really angry I did as it may have mucked up my cycle!

for about 5 days at the end of my last cycle i took super strength tabs (convincing myself it was helping my LP which did reach 8 days from 5 that month) … however I’m now due to ovulate and have no signs 😢there are awfully scary tales online of women whose ovulation is delayed or doesn’t come and I’m so angry I may have done this to myself. There doesn’t seem to be a quick way to get it out my system and I hope the fertility Dr I see in Jan will still be able to help.

sharing so others don’t take risks - the mental regret is not worth it if it doesn’t work out as you expected !

sharing lots of hopefully wishes for you all xxx

Welcome @Vyvyan13 , glad you were able to share the load with us!

I don’t get PMS symptoms as such, but get early spotting which I think might be down to low progesterone and my concern is similar, that even if I achieve implantation that I won’t be able to support it behind there. I’m only on cycle 2 of trying but have actually no idea if I’m even ovulating as OPK and BBT has been inconclusive for me so far. I also had Ureaplasma a few years ago and I’m embarrassed to say I can’t actually remember if I took the antibiotics for it, so I’m wondering if it’s still lingering or had an effect. I’ve got a gynaecologist appt booked for 19th Jan, hoping to kick off investigations from there, and I’m dosing up on high dose vit C in meantime.

@Carlotta27 ive been eyeing up the agnus cactus on my shelf but haven’t taken it yet. Hoping you still get that peak this month! Xx