LPD and pregnant, Is it doomed?

[minitrip]

Hi

I have been TTC for 10 months, but after charting my temperature since March I realised that my luteal phase is usually only 8-9 days. My temp stay high, but AF starts early (usually light for first few days). As well as that I have irregular periods (between 24 and 31 days).

Following normal blood tests (including normal progesterone on day 21) my GP referred me to a fertility clinic and I am just about to undertake a series of tests (scan, x-ray, DH semen analysis etc). If these tests are ok the gynaecologist was talking about starting my on Clomid to even out the cycles.

So I got BFP this morning. Sadly I'm not as excited as I should be because I have read that people with LPD (not diagnosed in my case, but I think very likely) cannot sustain a pregnancy. Even if they do get pregnant they are very likely to miscarry early.

Has anyone got pregnant with LPD?
If so did you sustain a pregnancy?
When is the 'danger period' over? 6 weeks? 12 weeks?

I haven't told my DH yesterday because he's abroad in a different time zone. I'm feeling a bit confused so would appreciate some advice.

Congratulations!

How many weeks pregnant are you? Assuming you are over 4 weeks (since you got BFP), the fertilized egg is already implanted. Miscarriage is rare after 12 weeks.

I know all you want to do is worry and Google every single ailment you can think of but don't. Best you can help your body sustain this pregnancy is to relax and enjoy it.

By the way, it is not uncommon for people with undiagnosed fertility problems to suddenly conceive once the pressure is off - tests about to start as in your case, or giving up on IVF and looking into abortion as happened to a friend of mine.

CoteDAzur, thanks for your kind words.

I know I'm being negative, but this is my way of coping with the strong suspicion that this is not going to last.

Whenever I have read about LPD it says that people with this condition will not sustain a pregnancy and early miscarriage will happen.

I am just hoping that someone can prove me wrong by saying that they have sustained a pregnancy despite LPD!

Minitrip I think the issue with LPD is that the pregnancy has no time to implant and establish before your period comes. If you've got a BFP already, it's like 99% certain you've already implanted and you're kicking out the hormones to tell your body to not have AF. If the LPD was going to cause you a problem, what you'd have had was an inability to get pregnant despite ovulating and BDing at the right time.

What you've read about LPD and early miscarriage, I believe that's talking about VERY early miscarriage, like where it's too early to even know you've conceived.

Good luck.

Thanks for your advice Sarah. It has given me a bit more hope.

I did measure a bit of a drop in my temperature this morning, but this may have been because I have a cold, so might have been sleeping with my mouth open. It's still above the coverline, so I guess that's a good sign...

MINI, SARAH76 is right - it's very early on that short LP can effect implantation. You wouldn't get a postive HPT until after implantataion has started, so I'd say you're in the clear re: that particualr worry! Here's to an uneventful 9 months

Mini I had an lp of 9/10 days, consultant thought it was too short to conceive on and gave me clomid to take following cycle. Following cycle never arrived and I'm 39 wks pg! I got a bfp 10 dpo and was at the consultants office 12 dpo trying to convince him to give me something to make the little one stick around. He said congratulations and to come back for an early scan if I wanted. It was the longest wait of my life but had a scan at 7 weeks showing healthy little baby.
I know how difficult it is when you've got lpd and I remember thinking there was no way I'd get to that 7 week scan. Try and think positively and congratulations on such lovely news.
Ps - ditch the thermometer you've had a bfp taking your temp is probably more likely to stress you out. Also don't keep testing like I did as around 10 wks I only had the faintest of lines on one test and convinced myself it was all over. I ended up having another private scan which of course showed that all was well.

Thanks so much buttercupbabe. That has really given me hope. I can't get my head around the idea that I am properly pg again after months of trying.

Obviously I stupidly ignored CoteDAzur's earlier advice (I blame the hormones) and spent a big chunk of the day Googling LPD and early miscarriage. I've also looked on another forum where someone told me that I possibly would lose the baby.

I ate an entire easter egg which has been sitting in the cupboard for months last night, before I found out I was pg. So I already have a craving. I'm sure that's a good sign...

PS. buttercupbabe good luck with your delivery! I hope it all goes well. x

minitrip

I hadn't had a period or ovulated (or so i thought) for 6 months when i fell pg with dd1 and like you was about to see a consultant gynaecologist a week after i got a BFP. Again when i fell pg with dd2 my cycle was more regular 25 to 45 days .

I just wanted to update this thread, I haven't posted for a few months.

I remember being anxious in the first few weeks of pregnancy because I strongly suspected I had luteal phase defect. I had started attending a fertility clinic and was about to receive treatment when I got pregnant. However, I had read on lots of websites that:
a) it was unlikely that I would get pregnant without treatment; and
b) it was most probable that if I did get pregnant with LPD the pregnancy would end in miscarriage or still-birth.

Just to let you know, I gave birth to a very healthy baby girl last Thursday.

Here's a bit of advice to anyone with the same worries... If you are trying to get pregnant with suspected LPD do seek advice - it's better than worrying, which just makes you even less likely to get pregnant. If you do get pregnant, try to avoid the evil Googling - a lot of advice on the internet is only half-right or completely wrong.

minitrip - that's lovely, lovely news and so kind of you to come back with a positive update!

Incidently my GP told me that a short luteal phase "as long" as yours wouldn't be much of an issue - but she told me there are some ladies who have an entire cycle of just 14 days - that of course is a far greater problem.