Short Luteal Phase advice

[AppleCrumble96]

Hi everyone,

I have been tracking my cycles for a long time, and have been actively TTC for the last 4 months. I have noticed I have a short luteal phase, it can be 11 days sometimes but more often than not 10 days and I do expierence spotting for 2 days leading up to my period, which obviously isn’t great as would suggest my progesterone levels aren’t high enough and isn’t giving my body enough time for an embryo to implant.

I chart my BBT to confirm ovulation with increased temps and use LH strips to find my peak. Also trying to lose some weight healthily as I do have a high BMI. Considering getting in touch with my GP to discuss my luteal phase and see if being prescribed progesterone is an option to use after ovulation.

Does anyone have any expierence with receiving this kind of help before 12 months of TTC? Any other advice with what helped lengthen your luteal phase or raise your progesterone would be appreciated. Thank you ☺️

You should take vitamins especially vitamin B6 that seems to help regulate cycles. Also Vit D and folic acid

Currently trying to figure out the same op
I've been spotting in the week before af for nearly a year now
Apparently you have to take a large amount of b6 with supporting b12. So I've got the high potency B complex from Holland and Barrett with 100mg b6
Seems so much though and I've only been taking them maybe a week or so and already think I'm getting the pins and needles associated with high b6 intake so I've been snapping them in half

Thank you both!

@Anonaust I am currently taking Procieve conception which contains those vitamins. It has the recommended amount of folic acid but will look into the amount of B6 and VitD that’s in them!

@solice84 its so frustrating, i never noticed it before I tracked my cycles and just assumed it was normal. Thank you for that advice I will look into getting some and see if that helps. Will make sure I don’t take too much as don’t fancy that feeling! ☺️

You've mentioned lowering your BMI - this will make a big difference as fat cells produce excess oestrogen, which then creates a hormonal imbalance/ diminished progesterone. One of the reasons many women with PCOS can restore ovulation with weight loss.

Your GP won't prescribe progesterone but they may be prepared to test your mid luteal phase level.

Good luck!

My luteal phase is around 12 days would spot in the 7/5 days up to period and am currently pregnant and there was no spotting on the lead up that time so it’s very possible that you can still conceive

That's reassuring
This only started for me last year and never had spotting at all before that so something has definitely changed for me .
Had cervix checked and deffo nothing to do with that

I haven't heard of GPs prescribing progesterone because of short luteal phase. Usually they'd only consider investigating if your cycles are very short or long (below 21 days). I only know people who've had progesterone prescribed privately. Weight loss and focusing on getting a range of nutrients in your diet can benefit your cycle. I've had spotting during luteal phase of some cycles before, and currently pregnant, so I wouldn't see that alone as a barrier. 4 months really isn't a cause for concern, a year is normal. The year is quite strict in my experience, and my GP told me the year is reset if you have a miscarriage.