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Conception

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.

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Original poster

Has anyone successfully lengthened their luteal phase?

36 replies

tootle · 05/12/2004 08:42

Mine is 9 days long.

Is that indicative of a hormonal problem?

Will the NHS do anything to treat this?

How could I treat it? Agnus Castus (does it work?)

Traditional Chinese Medicine?

I don't feel like my hormones have got back to normal following a miscarriage in June. Or perhaps my hormones haven't been right since I stopped b/f my dd and maybe that caused my miscarriages this year.

I am pretty sure the docotrs will take no notice of me as I have only ( had 2 miscarriages and I have only had trouble conceiving the passed 6 months.

But say I got a year down the line and still no success ttc.... how would they even treat a hormonal problem?

Any advice would be welcome

OP posts:

futurity · 05/12/2004 09:06

Mine was 9/10 days after I came off the pill which was a problem as I ovulated on day 20 but then AF turned up on day 29. This meant even though my temps showed a dip for ovulation and positive looking "pregnancy" temps my period would turn up before any implantation could occur.

Because I took my temps for a few months and knew what was up I was able to go to see my doctor with confidence even though I had only been TTC for 4-5 months. She agreed that yes it could be a problem and that she would take blood tests in the following cycle and that this problem is normally resolved using progrestrone supplements after being referred to the hospital.

However, in the mean time I researched short luteal phase and started taking Agnus Castus as well as using soya products (yogurt and milk) which were also recommended for helping this problem. Combined with this I took evening primrose, vitamin b6 and magnesium..again all recommended for regulating cycle. Lastly I had a few treatments of reflexology which helped me to relax and switch off a bit from the frustration of TTC and the woman worked on my hormone area which she said wasn't right.

And yes..you've guessed it...I got pregnant (am now 30 weeks). I gained an extra 2 luteal days I think in the end which was enough for success.

So I would suggest starting taking temps..take the supplements..and make the appointment at the doctors as you know your body and you know when things are right. I was sure the doctor would tell me to bu**er off as I hadn't been trying long but because I was armed with facts she had no choice but to agree with me and start the blood test process.(Note..good job I didn't need them..they took the wrong bloods in the end so i would have had to wait another cycle!)

HTH

jeddah · 05/12/2004 09:52

I am taking Vit B6 and lengthened from 6 to 12!

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 19:14

Many thanks for your responses.

I meant to write past and not passed

I have taken B6 for the past 10 weeks and it hasn't (yet) made a difference to my luteal phase.

Futurity - What dosage of Agnus Castus Vitex did you take and how long did you take it for before you noticed a difference to your luteal phase?

When you got the blood tests to check your hormones, on which cycle days did they take the blood?

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jingleballs · 05/12/2004 19:18

blood tests need to be done a week b4 your period my dr said CD 21 at first, and when I told him that was 3 days after the day I was booked in for the test, he said it didn't matter as long as I had them done a week before I was due on. (turned out to be in effect day 21 (as I had blood done on day 19 of a 26 day cycle). Angus Catus seems to have made OV earlier, thou by how much i'm not yet sure about, It's also made my cycles shorter by a day. I takw two tablets twice daily of 400mg from holland and barrets. (have just swoped to another brand thou which says two tablets only and they are 500mg, I think i'll take 3 to stay in between, and nearer to the 1600mg i've been taking so far.

jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:07

tootle what dose of vit B6 are you on??

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:15

I am taking nearly 100mg of B6. Half of it in a B6 tablet and the other half of the dosage in a B50 complex.

OP posts:

jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:20

I have a really good article given to me by one of the GPs at work

The dose has to be all VitB6 and you keep increasing until the LP is lengthened...(the safe outer limit is 300mg..I think)
If you are interested you can CAT me and I will send it to you!

How long is your Lp at the mo?

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:28

Hey tootles

Vitamin B has to be taken in high doses .. between 100mg to 200mg

other things that might be helpful are Baby aspirin less than 81mg a day, Vitex Agnus Castus and Evening primrose oil (but only up to ovulation)

I had short post luteal phase (8 days) and tbh my consultant put me on low-dose clomid (to give a boost to system) .. my ovulation wasn't brought forward .. still happened day 24 but it worked 'cos I conceived very first month

Good luck

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:30

Copied and pasted from previous advice

Baby aspirin (less than 81mg) daily throughout cycle

Vitex Agnus Castus from period to ovulation (although some theories that can be taken throughout cycle but should be stopped when pregnancy established)

Evening Primrose Oil (1500mg to 3000mg per day) from period to ovulation (do not take past ovulation)

Vitamin B6 (100mg to 200mg) most B6 supplements have a lot less so should ask specifically for this

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:35

Twiglet - how did you get to see the consultant. Were you ttc over a year?

And Jeddah - I'd love to see that article. How do I CAT you?

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Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:39

My lp is 9 days currently.

Do all GPs recognise a short luteal phase as a fertility problem or do they prefer to take the wait and see approach since some people get pregnant ok with a short luteal phase?

I'm scared to say I have been charting incase tthe GP thinks I am one of those neurotic self diagnosed off the Internet types

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TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:41

Hey Tootle

long and boring story

I have a DS (conceived within 2 months of trying at 32) .. when we started trying for another child we found we weren't conceiving (and DH was delaying taking medication till we conceived) .. I went to GP told him it had been a year (because they can get sniffy)

GP said there's nothing we can do, cos you're 35 and have a child .. resources and all that

I spoke to a friend at local hospital who put me in touch with manager of Assisted conception unit who said that was rubbish and they wouldn't fund something like IVF but if we got a referral from GP saying that we would fund treatment but tests and initial consulation should be on NHS that would be fair

So I went back, to different GP in practice, told her what to write .. she did ..and we got an appointment ..

We had blood tests / sperm tests all OK, saw consultant she said to chart for 3 months (AF, sex, Ovulation with OPKs) and come back, she identified short post-luteal phase (said that once pregnant hormones re-settle any old how) and gave us clomid .. that was that (a GP can prescribe clomid btw)

My biggest piece of advice would be .. don't let your GP put you off .. be insistent and know your rights .. if I'd listened to our GP we would never have had DD (who is now 7 months old)

popsycal · 05/12/2004 20:42

i have a borderline luteal phase - between 10 an 12 days...
I took magnesium for a few months and got pregnant...but i do take a long time to get pregnant anyway....

Fertility friend was useful
good luck

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:43

Tootle .. charting is a diagnostic aid to the medical professionals (say you have a friend who is a consultant )

the minimum recognised length is 10 days

popsycal · 05/12/2004 20:43

just to add - i was about to stat taking agnus castus in my next cycle - but got pregnant

also get dh to take zinc - makes his 'swimmers' stronger so more will get to where they need to be to maximise your chances

jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:44

Tootle, top of the page
'contact another talker!'

Its good that you are charting! most GPs have the age of the person to guide them through the referral or not process!

Don't mind me asking.....but how old are you?
I am 41! we have just had fertility tests in Aug as I insisted! all normal!

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 05/12/2004 20:45

you can only get pregnant with a short post-luteal phase if that cycle you have a slightly longer one if you see what I mean

the problem with short post-luteal phases is even if the egg fertilises it can't implant before the womb lining starts to break away so no pregnancy

but just cos all your last cycles were 9 days doesn't mean your next one won't be 10 days .. that is what they might try to fobb you off with .. don't let them .. unless you are happy to take your chances when the decks are already loaded against you

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:50

I'm 31. I have a dd who is 2 years old. Conceived first month trying. I got pregnant twice this year - first month of trying but both ended in miscarriage.

Have now had 6 cycles of trying and cycles showing no signs of getting back to normal on their own. Seems strange to me. Thanks for the support. It's what I need. I'm a wimp about seeing doctors.

My doctor is about my age with a 2 year old son so am hoping she'll be more sympathetic. She's actually a friend of a friend.

OP posts:

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:53

I'll try not to let them fob me off.

OP posts:

jeddah · 05/12/2004 20:53

tootle come and join us on ttc thread 15!
Theres loads of support there !

Original poster

tootle · 05/12/2004 20:55

I always intend to but it moves so fast for me!!

I will try harder to spend more time on the Internet much to my dh's dismay

OP posts:

jeddah · 05/12/2004 21:05

Tootle as soon as you CAT me I will send this article

Original poster

tootle · 06/12/2004 07:53

I think I CATed you last night

OP posts:

jeddah · 06/12/2004 10:10

Sorry tootle it didn't work!

I have tried to CAT you and it keeps coming back that you don't want to be contacted

Original poster

tootle · 06/12/2004 10:17

I'll try again. That sounds strange. I DO wnat to be CATed!

OP posts:

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