Follicular Phase Question

sorarose

I have read ways that people try to increase the luteal phase, but I was curious if there are natural ways to decrease length of follicular phase? 

wellinaustin

I don't think so, unless you have a really long one and work with your doctor for certain medication. How many days is your total cycle? I think anything around 24 to the low to mid-30's or less is normal.

sorarose

Mine is not normal, which is why I asked the question. I was curious if there was anything (like a vitamin or something e.g, B6) that anyone has heard of, as I've never really thought about it until recently with TTC.

bsckgb7

Nope.  Don't take anything without doctor supervision.  They are lots of things that are marketed for stuff like that, but most ladies says it messes with their cycles more when they take supplements.  Are you saying yours is too long?  What makes yours "not normal"??  

sorarose

Yes, mine is longer than normal. I don't plan on taking anything without consulting a doctor, I was just curious as I have only read people discussing luteal phase and never heard anything about follicular phase. I guess there is clearly a reason for that. 

IB113

The concern with LP length is that you need it to be long enough for a blastocyst to implant in the uterus. If your LP is too short, you could be losing fertilized eggs before they have time to burrow in there.  Follicular phase length can be annoying, but doesn't impede your ability to get and stay pregnant as long as you are actually ovulating.

sorarose

IB113 said:

The concern with LP length is that you need it to be long enough for a blastocyst to implant in the uterus. If your LP is too short, you could be losing fertilized eggs before they have time to burrow in there.  Follicular phase length can be annoying, but doesn't impede your ability to get and stay pregnant as long as you are actually ovulating.

Yes, it is mostly just annoying, and I recognize that it doesn't affect ability to stay pregnant, so it isn't comparable to LP in that way, but it can certainly impede someone to get pregnant when a cycle can take, in my example, an extra 2-3 weeks each time so only 8-9 periods a year. 

lalalorelai

Deeny14 said:

IB113 said:

The concern with LP length is that you need it to be long enough for a blastocyst to implant in the uterus. If your LP is too short, you could be losing fertilized eggs before they have time to burrow in there.  Follicular phase length can be annoying, but doesn't impede your ability to get and stay pregnant as long as you are actually ovulating.

Yes, it is mostly just annoying, and I recognize that it doesn't affect ability to stay pregnant, so it isn't comparable to LP in that way, but it can certainly impede someone to get pregnant when a cycle can take, in my example, an extra 2-3 weeks each time so only 8-9 periods a year. 

But that's not an impediment to getting pregnant. That just means you have fewer chances each year. 

wellinaustin

I think the best thing you can do is make healthy food choices, exercise, and take a prenatal vitamin! B6 I believe lengthens the LP. You can chat with a doctor or maybe go to an acupuncturist to see if they can help regulate your flow! I love my acupuncture! If you're recently off BC you may also just need a few more months to regulate! FX that it shortens for you sooner so you have more opportunities to TTC!

Also I would read up on anything you may be consuming that could delay ovulation. I'm not sure on this end, but I think I recall seeing alcohol can do that!

sorarose

lalalorelai said:

Deeny14 said:

IB113 said:

The concern with LP length is that you need it to be long enough for a blastocyst to implant in the uterus. If your LP is too short, you could be losing fertilized eggs before they have time to burrow in there.  Follicular phase length can be annoying, but doesn't impede your ability to get and stay pregnant as long as you are actually ovulating.

Yes, it is mostly just annoying, and I recognize that it doesn't affect ability to stay pregnant, so it isn't comparable to LP in that way, but it can certainly impede someone to get pregnant when a cycle can take, in my example, an extra 2-3 weeks each time so only 8-9 periods a year. 

But that's not an impediment to getting pregnant. That just means you have fewer chances each year. 

I'm using the word impede to mean delay. We all agree it's not going to prevent getting KU like LP, and I'm not trying to equate the two. I was just curious if there was a way to shorten that delay, as it's never discussed (outside of medication). 

Sarafuss

Do you have PCOS?  I don't have a cycle at all if I'm not on Metformin.  And the longer I take Metformin the shorter my cycles (follicular phases) become.  For example my first cycle on Met was 42 days, the second cycle was 34 days, and this cycle looks like it should be around 28 days.  I've only been having 10 day LP's though.  Met isn't a "natural" solution though.  Low carb/low glycemic index diets are recommended for women with PCOS and that can help shorten your cycle.  I'm assuming healthy eating would help even if you don't have PCOS.  

sorarose

Sarafuss said:

Do you have PCOS?  I don't have a cycle at all if I'm not on Metformin.  And the longer I take Metformin the shorter my cycles (follicular phases) become.  For example my first cycle on Met was 42 days, the second cycle was 34 days, and this cycle looks like it should be around 28 days.  I've only been having 10 day LP's though.  Met isn't a "natural" solution though.  Low carb/low glycemic index diets are recommended for women with PCOS and that can help shorten your cycle.  I'm assuming healthy eating would help even if you don't have PCOS.  

I've been tested for PCOS, and I don't have it. I've just had irregular periods my entire life, except when on BC pills, which I stopped using about 5 years ago due to bad side effects. Mostly, as PPs have pointed out, it's mostly annoying, and unless it or something related to it is actually preventing pregnancy, I just have to wait it out. Until this time trying to TTC it's never really affected me before, so I thought I would ask about it. Now I know the answer is no.

Edit: Words are hard.

Litterateur

Deeny14 said:

IB113 said:

The concern with LP length is that you need it to be long enough for a blastocyst to implant in the uterus. If your LP is too short, you could be losing fertilized eggs before they have time to burrow in there.  Follicular phase length can be annoying, but doesn't impede your ability to get and stay pregnant as long as you are actually ovulating.

Yes, it is mostly just annoying, and I recognize that it doesn't affect ability to stay pregnant, so it isn't comparable to LP in that way, but it can certainly impede someone to get pregnant when a cycle can take, in my example, an extra 2-3 weeks each time so only 8-9 periods a year. 

This part would be incredibly frustrating!  I hope you can find some answers!