Short Luteal Phase?

Junebug060609

As I mentioned in another post, I'm expecting AF to show herself tomorrow.  At 10 DPO.  Again.  I'm starting to suspect that there may be an issue with the length of my luteal phase, but am finding mixed info online.  Some places say only <10 days is an issue, others that it needs to be 12. 

For giggles, I went through my sporadic charts from the last year.  I had 4 months where I had enough info to figure out my O date.  LP lengths for those months were: 16, 10, 11 (cycle beginning with m/c), 10 & 10.   

I guess I'm wondering if any of you have a LP that is this short?  If so, what has your doctor said about it and what's been done to lengthen it?  Causes?  Supplements that could help?  Should my 10 day LP be an issue of concern?

At this point I'm thinking of giving my doctor a call if it turns out to be 10 days again this month. 

TIA for any of your input.  So frustrating to be doing all we can to time things right for conception...just to find out there may be something going on to not give the little bugger a chance anyways. 

opallover

I also noticed today that my LP was 11 days. Everything online said >10 days was a problem but I still called my doc's office and left a message for the nurse today.

I would call and see what they say. It might be something they can fix rather easily and maybe this will be your month!

cflocco

I've always heard/read that anything under 10 should be a concern.  In November and December, my lp was 10 days which concerned me.  I read on some different websites and heard from ladies on this board that taking a Vitamin B complex could help.  For my last cycle that just ended Tuesday, my lp was 12 days.  I don't know if it had anything to do with the Vitamin B or what but I was happy it increased.  It may have just been my body finally regulating itself after the loss.  Who knows???

kellym243

I started charting on FF in December, so don't know what my LP normally is, but that particular one was 10 days (based on my 26 day cycle) and resulted in BFP. And that is the one that I m/c.

I asked the OB about this yesterday at my appt, and he said though you will see research online that says 10 days is just enough, he prefers to see closer to 14 days. He suggested prometrium for when we ttc again. I'd start taking it once I ovulate. He said even if a short LP (so not enough progesterone) wasn't the cause of my m/c, it still wouldn't hurt to take the prometrium.

Eris-Alexis

My LP is typically 10 days.  My doc put me on a progesterone supplement to try to lengthen my LP.  So far it seems to be working.  I think it would be worthwhile to call your doctor and see if they at least want to do some testing.

GL!

Junebug060609

I actually got some B complex vitamins today.  Dr Google told me that it might make a difference, and it didn't sound like it could hurt.  Plus I've kind of been down today...not so much because it looks like I'm out this month (OK, a little of that), but mostly bc its looking like I might not have had much of a shot anyways. 

Do you take the B vitamins daily?  Or just after O? 

Junebug060609

Thanks for your input guys.  I have a hunch there is a progesterone issue, I just don't know if my 10-11 day LP will be considered short enough for them to check it and treat me. 

How is progesterone deficiency diagnosed?  Are there any other signs of it?

So frustrating.

PS. Eris-Your chart looks really good so far.

starrynyt

Junebug060609:

I actually got some B complex vitamins today.  Dr Google told me that it might make a difference, and it didn't sound like it could hurt.  Plus I've kind of been down today...not so much because it looks like I'm out this month (OK, a little of that), but mostly bc its looking like I might not have had much of a shot anyways. 

Do you take the B vitamins daily?  Or just after O? 

I don't have a short luteal phase, but I started taking a vitamin B complex a couple of years ago as a natural way to help with stress and anxiety.  I take one every day with my PNV.  I asked my RE about this and he said it's okay to take once per day.

tootlebug

mine is 13 days...pretty consistent actually. 

when i went to my RE a couple years ago, we talked a little bit about it and i remember him being not happy with a 12 or under luteal phase....i think they might all have different opinions about it.  i would be surprised though if an RE was okay with a 10 day luteal phase but that's just my opinion.

Junebug060609

tootlebug:

mine is 13 days...pretty consistent actually. 

when i went to my RE a couple years ago, we talked a little bit about it and i remember him being not happy with a 12 or under luteal phase....i think they might all have different opinions about it.  i would be surprised though if an RE was okay with a 10 day luteal phase but that's just my opinion.

I don't go to an RE.

tootlebug

Junebug060609:

tootlebug:

mine is 13 days...pretty consistent actually. 

when i went to my RE a couple years ago, we talked a little bit about it and i remember him being not happy with a 12 or under luteal phase....i think they might all have different opinions about it.  i would be surprised though if an RE was okay with a 10 day luteal phase but that's just my opinion.

I don't go to an RE.

i would surprised if an RE or OB would be okay with a 10 day luteal phase.  and if an OB is totally fine with a 10 day luteal phase, i personally, would question it.  maybe someone else wouldnt.  im sure there are women that exist that conceive and have healthy pregnancies with 10 day luteal phases.

Junebug060609

I just got off the phone with a nurse at the doctors office.

Here is the lowdown on what she told me:

10 days is the minimum of what is considered normal.  She said it could be totally normal for me...or it could be a sign of something being off.  Part of my concerns is that I have both a short luteal phase AND had an early miscarriage...2 signs of progesterone issues.  Granted they could be totally unrelated, but I have no way of knowing that and I'd be kicking myself if I didn't question it now and then went on to have another m/c or have trouble conceiving moving forward because of it. 

I had her set up an appt with my doc for me to come in and talk about this with her.  Basically bring my charts & my questions.  Depending on how that talk goes, I may/may not get a referral to an RE.  If I'm at all uncomfy with the answers she gives me, I'll push for the RE...though honestly the thought of an RE is kind of freaking me out right now. 

Oh & a random question: The B complex vitamins...do they turn your pee bright yellow? 

tootlebug

...i didnt know having an early m/c was a sign of low progesterone....SO many women have chemical pregnancy/very early m/cs and have good progesterone levels...or is it the combination that points to it?

anyways, that sounds like a great plan.  i know, RE= scary sometimes.  i was freaked out 2 years ago when my OB didnt know what to do with me (after 2 rounds of clomid) and sent me to an RE....basically when i went off of BCP i didnt ovulate for 6 months.  long story short, the RE diagnosed me with hypothalamic ammenhorrea (sp, but im lazy) - and i had to gain weight.  my bmi was fine but i was pretty thin and worked out a lot.  so i gained weight, had an ovulatory cycle on my own, then the next cycle my RE put me on clomid and i got pg (with my son) that cycle.  my point in telling you this is that going to an RE doesnt always mean crazy scary.  It could be something as simple as putting you on progesterone sups in your luteal phase.(which maybe your OB could even do if it came to that)  you have to do what you are comfortable with you know?  good luck though, im sure it will feel good meeting with your doctor at least.

...oh and i dont know the answer to your viatmin question : )

Carolee

Mine is almost always 10 days, and I am having trouble TTC so I think it could be  a problem for me.  I am taking Clomid (to help with follicle development) and progesterone after O.  With the Clomid alone, my LP stayed 10 days, but the added progesterone lengthened it to 15 days.

tootlebug

oh, i also wanted to add, that one of my friends had lots of problems getting pregnant with her daughter...her main problem was progesterone  - finally she discovered she had a confirmed luteal phase defect.  i remember her telling me that her normal luteal phase is 9-10 days. 

when she was trying for baby #2, they tried for 2-3 months and didnt get pregnant.  she knew it was probably bc of her luteal phase situation, so she called her OB (who had all of her previous records) and they put her on progesterone.  .....she did get pregnant that next cycle.  i obviously not trying to instill false hope or anything like that, but i thought that this story would be applicable to this thread. 

Junebug060609

Thanks guys.

I'm looking forward to meeting with my doc next week.  Both to actually meet her (I'm new to the area) and to hopefully get some answers.  Coming up with a way to handle things moving forward, basically.  The scientist in me would kind of like for them to watch my progesterone levels next cycle to see if they are in the normal range.  I guess if nothing else perhaps I can get her to agree to them checking betas & progesterone immediately if I get another BFP.  (To the pp-It was the combination of the short LP and an early m/c that made me wonder about the connection, not ths early m/c alone.)

I guess we'll see what this cycle brings, tomorrow is CD10.  Been feeling like she's coming all day, but not since the B vitamins worked their way into my system.  Probably just coincidence on that one. 

tootlebug

...im sure she will check your levels!  i dont know where you are from/what part of the country you are in...in my home town, i think asking to check my levels after i ovulated or whatever would be considered pretty "advanced" for them (it's a real small town).  but i live in chicago now where the OB practice is pretty progessive....i already told my doctor that if i get an early positive again im coming in for a beta/progeterone test for 2-3 days every other day. 

Junebug060609

I just wanted to update something on this thread.  I did some additional research via Dr Google regarding the urine issue I questioned yesterday.  Found this:

There is an interesting link between Vitamin B complex and urine. Individuals consuming Vitamin B complex will have a bright yellow urine color when they urinate within two hours after consuming the vitamin. After this bright yellow urine color has passed, the individual will urinate normally in subsequent visits to the toilet. The reason for the bright yellow urine color is that all B complex vitamins are water soluble. The body absorbs the vitamins that it needs through the digestive system into the blood. Of these vitamins, some are absorbed and others are discarded as they are not needed. These discarded vitamins are those that cause the bright yellow urine color.

The link between Vitamin B and urine color is normal.

I tried a B Complex bc Dr Google said that though increasing B6 can help lengthen a luteal phase, it should be balanced with B12. 

 I did look at my prenatal to see what it offered for B6, it was about 3mg.  Dr Google says upwards of 50mg is what can make the difference. 

I guess more questions for the doctor on Weds, lol.