Short luteal phase cycle #2

Aquarius923

My first cycle pp occurred 4 weeks after my stillbirth on 12/10. I bled for 10 days starting 3 days post ovulation. Now my second cycle, I started my period at 4 days post ovulation.

Is there any hope this will right itself by next period? We were supposed to start ttc, but it's obviously not going tow or with my body like this.

RiverSong15

I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't have any experience with this, but I have seen other people post on the boards that their LPs were short for the first few cycles PP. hopefully others can chime in with their experiences.

catiecatp

@Aquarius923 - I think that there is still hope it will right itself on its own. But perhaps making plans in case it doesn't would help? For example, if it doesn't right itself by the next cycle you could plan to talk to your OB or PCP about something that could reset your cycle?

Aquarius923

That's my plan, but u fear they will tell me more time I feel like this has made me feel so helpless again. I'm grieving all over again.

What can they give? Progesterone supplement?

cjs260

@Aquarius923 I'm so sorry your cycle hasn't been cooperating. my experience wasn't quite like yours, but I did a round of progesterone to stop constant spotting. It seems to have worked so far. At the very least it has made me feel more in control. I would go ahead and talk to your ob, I waited almost 10 weeks and was kicking myself in the butt for waiting so long. 

BornReady

I am right here with you. I am on my 4th cycle post miscarriage and have had too consecutive short luteal phases, I think 5 and 9 days. I have my yearly appointment on Monday and plan to ask about it then. 

DinosaurJumper

I have no helpful knowledge on this, but I wish you good luck on seeing your OB and getting back on track

Aquarius923

@BornReady Good luck! If you get any answers, I would love to know what your ob says about it.

AL_TwinCities

@Aquarius923 how frustrating! I'm so sorry your body isn't balancing out and giving you a normal LP. I agree with PP - talk to your OB and you may be prescribed progesterone to help. 4 days is ridiculously short so if you went in I am guessing they'd want to address it.

One additional option is to start go to acupuncture. I've read many stories on various boards on TB where women have been able to lengthen their LP wih the help of an acupuncturist. This is actually something I am working on with my acupuncturist but it is my first cycle AL so I can't say yet if it has helped. Good luck!

m6agua

Sorry for your loss. Just thought I would ask. How do you know when you ovulate, are you temping?

Aquarius923

I am looking into acupuncture but it can't fit in the budget right now.


@m6agua yes I do bbt. I have always ovulated around day 21, which is pretty late.

m6agua

Aquarius923 said:

@m6agua yes I do bbt. I have always ovulated around day 21, which is pretty late.

Hmm, then my best guess is that your body is probably still trying to regulate itself. It sucks. Maybe attach your charts? I used to have a 14 day LP. Now ever since my MC in November it has been 11/12 days.

Aquarius923

Aquarius923

Does anyone have experience with taking Vitex and red raspberry?

BornReady

I have looked into vitex, only because I was researching the short LP issue. From what I have seen it can take up to 6 months for people to see an impact. I am always pretty leary of taking supplements anyways, so I am going to talk to my doctor first tomorrow before I do anything. I was always told I would need to go on progesterone half way through my pregnancy, as I have a history of premature birth (PPROM) so I'm wondering if my progesterone is possibly an issue here. I am also breastfeeding still which can impact progesterone, so I think it's worth checking it out. I'll let you know what the OB says tomorrow.

Aquarius923

Thanks! A veterinarian I work with practices Chinese medicine so I'm going to see if she has material on it as well.

AL_TwinCities

I also take vitex. It is one of the recommendations for my fertility type from the book Making Babies, which I read a couple months before getting my last BFP. It was co-written by an RE and an acupuncturist, so it covered both the Eastern and Western perspectives. Not sure if the supplements and other recommendations from the book helped, or the acupuncture that I had just started the cycle I got my BFP, but whatever it was, worked! This is the book: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Babies-3-Month-Program-Fertility/dp/0316024503

Aquarius923

Thank you for the book link! I read vitex is often for women with PCOS, but also read it could fix short LP. I figured it wouldn't hurt right now.

DinosaurJumper

@Aquarius923 I have been on a liquid vitex for about a year, off and on. I noticed some changes when I am good about taking it regularly, my pms and ovulation cramps are less painful and I acquired some new pms symptoms here and there, but I never had a difference in LP length. Mind you I was stressed to the limit, so it might help in that aspect. I think it's just something that just effects everyone differently.

@AL_TwinCities I keep hearing about fertility acupuncture, how exactly does it help lengthen ones LP?

AL_TwinCities

@DinosaurJumper It is apparently all about balancing your hormones and the flow of your body systems. Between food therapy, herbs and acupuncture the thought is that after a few months your body can get to a better balance. For me part of that balance will hopefully include an LP that is longer. We'll see! 

GoldenTMama

@Aquarius923I'm sorry for your loss. I have heard of some people's cycles taking a few months to get back to "normal." I had a short LP too and, like @AL_TwinCities suggested, I am going to a acupuncturist to work on it. I started going to the acupuncturist because I had 2 MCs in 2015, but she found that my LP was short and my temperatures were low. She has helped with both. I have gone from low temps and 10-day LP to higher temps and a 14-day LP, so I would suggest acupuncture, if a talk with your OB doesn't provide a solution. FX your cycle gets "back to normal" soon!

Also, @DinosaurJumper I think @AL_TwinCities gave a perfect answer to your question about how it helps. In addition to the actual acupuncture, I take the Chinese herbs my acupuncturist provides me (different herbs for each phase of my cycle) and I try to stay away from cold drinks.