TTC with short luteal phase

[Willsoo]

Hi. I would like some advice please in conceiving with a short luteal phase. I have around 10 days roughly after I have ovulated until my period arrive. I get a positive OPK usually around CD17, my cycles are roughly 28 days. I have conceived my two children using clomid. I had a miscarriage back in Jan- surgical procedure.

I have left over clomid, a few years out of date which I'm tempted to use. I recently paid £200 to see a private consultant who has asked me to take a serum progesterone test. He didn't sound keen on giving me clomid as I told him I get headaches (my bad!!). I am tempted to take the old clomid soon when my cycle starts but I'd be unmonitored. I also have some pessaries left of cyclogest. So thinking of using this to extend luteal phase to try and conceive. Does anyone have any thoughts for me please? It's really starting to get me down x

Hi

Firstly, so sorry for your loss. And I understand the frustrations of having a short luteal phase.

I consistently had a luteal phase of 9/10 days. My consultant recommended letrozole with trigger shots to improve ovulation. When that didn't resolve the short luteal phase we added progesterone into the mix.

The first few progestogens I tried extended my luteal phase, but my period still started around 13dpo despite taking the medication, so after some trial and error we landed on utrogestan.

If you get headaches from clomid, perhaps you can give letrozole a go? It might just take a month or two to find the right does.

With regards to going unmonitored, personally I'd be very cautious. How did you respond to the clomid before (assuming you had monitored cycles)? Over the 10 letrozole cycles we tried, I very consistently had 1-2 big follicles, so I don't think going unmonitored for a month would have been a major risk. But if you had more follicles or more variation month to month, I definitely would not take the risk of going unmonitored.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it. I'm thinking maybe as I have cyclogest progesterone pessaries left over I might extend my luteal phase this cycle as opposed to taking the clomid unmonitored, what are your thoughts on what's best? Does clomid produce a better egg? The last two times I took clomid I was monitored yes, had a scan and it said I produced two eggs but only one fertilised both times.

As far as I know, both clomid and letrozole can help produce a better egg. But as long as you ovulate on your own, you have a shot without it