Luteal Phase Defect/Luteal Phase Spotting

patchen30 · October 2009

On a natural cycle I had a sufficiently long LP, but spotted for about a week before AF. My natural progesterone levels have always come back high regardless, yet when I was put on Crinone the spotting stopped. From what I've read that means that my uterine lining does just respond to normal levels of progesterone, (https://www.inciid.org/printpage.php?cat=infertility101&id=7) and could be "out of phase" and not sufficiently prepared for implantation.

I'm wondering if since the Crinone cured the spotting, there could still be a problem with my uterine lining preventing implantation, or if this is a moot point since the spotting is gone and my LP is long enough.

I plan on asking my RE, but has anyone had a similar issue or problems with LPD or LP spotting? What has yoru RE said about it?

stepgirl21 · October 2009

I have the same issue. My progesterone always came back normal but I would have heavy spotting/bleeding for a week before my period starts. So clearly even though my prog. levels are normal, they are not normal/sufficient for me to maintain a pregnancy. I believe my RE says that being on supplemental prog/crinone does fix the problem because it keeps the lining in tact until your placenta takes over.

patchen30 · October 2009

stepgirl21:
I have the same issue. My progesterone always came back normal but I would have heavy spotting/bleeding for a week before my period starts. So clearly even though my prog. levels are normal, they are not normal/sufficient for me to maintain a pregnancy. I believe my RE says that being on supplemental prog/crinone does fix the problem because it keeps the lining in tact until your placenta takes over.

Good to hear, thanks!

I swear, being "unexplained" is going to drive me insane b/c I'm always thinking about what the H the problem could be.

love2b_mrst · October 2009

stepgirl21:
I have the same issue. My progesterone always came back normal but I would have heavy spotting/bleeding for a week before my period starts. So clearly even though my prog. levels are normal, they are not normal/sufficient for me to maintain a pregnancy. I believe my RE says that being on supplemental prog/crinone does fix the problem because it keeps the lining in tact until your placenta takes over.

I haven't posted here before, but it's ironic that I was just coming over to ask something similar to this. I had a mid-month ultrasound this morning at my RE, and although my follicles are a good size and ready to go, my lining is only 4 mm. I took femara this month and will do the ovidrel shot tomorrow and start progesterone suppositories on Monday...do you know if the progesterone will start working quickly enough to thicken up my lining for a possible implantation this month? Or if I'm so thin at ovulation is there no chance?

I also have the same issue as you...normal progesterone levels but very heavy spotting/bleeding about 5 days before my period starts. Thanks for any insight

patchen30 · October 2009

love2b_mrst:

stepgirl21:
I have the same issue. My progesterone always came back normal but I would have heavy spotting/bleeding for a week before my period starts. So clearly even though my prog. levels are normal, they are not normal/sufficient for me to maintain a pregnancy. I believe my RE says that being on supplemental prog/crinone does fix the problem because it keeps the lining in tact until your placenta takes over.

I haven't posted here before, but it's ironic that I was just coming over to ask something similar to this. I had a mid-month ultrasound this morning at my RE, and although my follicles are a good size and ready to go, my lining is only 4 mm. I took femara this month and will do the ovidrel shot tomorrow and start progesterone suppositories on Monday...do you know if the progesterone will start working quickly enough to thicken up my lining for a possible implantation this month? Or if I'm so thin at ovulation is there no chance?

I also have the same issue as you...normal progesterone levels but very heavy spotting/bleeding about 5 days before my period starts. Thanks for any insight

When I was on Clomid my lining was similar to that, so I was taken off and put on injectibles and my lining was sufficient then. I have heard that Femera can cause a thin lining as well, but I don't think it's as prevelant with Femera as it is with Clomid. If you switch to injectibles or do a natural cycle, you may find that your lining is thicker.

I hate to be a debbie downer, but I believe most REs like to see your lining at .8mm or above at trigger, but there are documented cases of pregnancy with much thinner linings (I believe sliz got pg with a lining of around .4 or .5...).

I don't think taking progesterone after ovulation will thicken your lining - that needs to happen in the follicular phase. I think the progesterone only helps to keep the lining you have in tact.

Have you been on progesterone before to see if it helps the LP spotting or is this your first cycle with it?

love2b_mrst · October 2009

Hmmm, I haven't heard that femara can also thin your lining...my RE said that's why she switched me from clomid because femara doesn't have that side effect. I haven't been on progesterone before, I wish I had been. My OBGYN is weird about progesterone and how effective it is...but the RE says when she hears spotting she usually automatically does progesterone. So this will be my first month. I guess I will hope that even if I don't have a BFP this month that the progesterone will help thicken my lining next month. Thanks

hillaree · October 2009

stepgirl21:
I have the same issue. My progesterone always came back normal but I would have heavy spotting/bleeding for a week before my period starts. So clearly even though my prog. levels are normal, they are not normal/sufficient for me to maintain a pregnancy. I believe my RE says that being on supplemental prog/crinone does fix the problem because it keeps the lining in tact until your placenta takes over.

Just chiming in here to say that my RE also said this. Really, the RE acts like it's not a problem because the meds/ progesterone correct the spotting issue....and it's true while I'm on them I don't spot (thank the Lord!).

georgiagirl1212 · October 2009

Chiming in as a fellow LP spotter...my RE is baffled by the spotting but doesn't seem particularly concerned. I'm thinking I either need prog supplementation or a lap to see if I have endo. I am so sick of this! It seems everyone with this problem has trouble getting definite explanations for it (BTW, I had an endometrial biopsy at 8dpo and it was "totally normal", even through I literally spotted all over the place during the biopsy, which def. got RE's attention). I really don't think it's due to PCO, which my RE is convinced I have.

Want a personalized experience?

Luteal Phase Defect/Luteal Phase Spotting

Re: Luteal Phase Defect/Luteal Phase Spotting

Choose Another Board

Search Boards