LP "Quality" and Spotting

[casmer]

So say you have a “normal” LP length, but you spot one or two days before AF arrives.  Does this affect the quality of your LP?  I’m wondering this because I’m 11 DPO and just noticed a tiny bit of spotting.  Already I’m on the low end of a “normal” LP, so say I do start spotting more today, then I spot tomorrow (12 DPO), then AF comes on Thursday, is this really a good thing?

 My LP used to be longer (14 days), but stress has really messed up my hormones.  I’m working on it and I quit spotting super early (was starting the whole week before AF), but I’m still wondering how much an improvement this is.  I wonder because this cycle I had a solid 10 days-past-ovulation (although the cramps started last night) before any spotting.  If this happens next cycle and I got pg, would it be a viable environment?   

Sheesh, I hope that makes sense!  Thank you ladies!

[Jaimee]

It seems most experts say you need at least 10 days for the egg to have a fighting chance to implant and start producing  enough hCG to keep the corpus luetum alive and not flush the lining and the embryo with it.  When counting your LP you have to discount the days you spot since spotting indicates low/falling progesterone levels.  If you have 10 solid days and then spot for two or so, I would say you certainly have a chance at sustaining a pregnancy.  But, I would  also say that it's a good idea to keep working on getting rid of the spotting all together by tweaking your diet, exercise routine, and supplements.

Are you over or under weight?  Either end of things can affect your progesterone levels since the hormone is stored in fat.  Do you have a strenuous exercise routine?  If so, try toning it down a bit.  How's your diet... pretty healthy or could it stand some improvement?  Maybe try to add in more foods high in B vitamins.  Lastly you can try supplementing with vitamin B6 (50-100 mg).

My average LP is 10 days and I've gotten pregnant several times without much issue.  My LP was shorter than that when I first started charting and TTC b/c of spotting.  By toning down my exercise routine, upping my calorie intake (I was underweight), and supplementing with B6 my LP lengthened enough for me to conceive (I did have one chemical pregnancy prior to conceiving my first child).

[casmer]

Thanks Jaimee for the awesome reply!  I'd say my diet is decent, although I'm working to improve it.  I really should up my fresh veggie intake and do better at making sure my blood sugar stays level (I tend to get a little low sometimes).  My BMI is 21.8, but I have gained about 5-7 pounds in the past year due to sitting at a desk most of the day.  I feel that although I'm at a healthy weight, my muscle tone is low and I'm a little "flabbier" than I'd prefer.  I don't exercise regularly, but I'm going to adjust my schedule so that I can jog at least 3 times a week in the morning, mostly for stress relief.  I was running in the evenings, but with our triple digit afternoons here in Texas, I quit because it was just too hot!  

I take a pre-natal (Rainbow Light One a day) and it has 15 mg of B6, so I guess I could try increasing the B-6.  I noticed a huge difference this cycle when I cut coffee out of my diet.  I was drinking 2-3 cups in the morning, so I didn't think it would help that much.  I do miss my coffee, but I feel a lot less stressed. I will allow myself some iced tea, occasionally, but that's the only caffeine intake I've had for the past three weeks or so. 

Thanks again!

[APToddlerMama]

Casmer, that sounds like it is on the short end as PP mentioned.  Just wanted to say I had really good luck extending LP and less spotting when I did 50-100mg b6/day (Started at 100 for maybe a month and then dropped to 50), Vitex (want to say it was 400mg 3 times a day), and doing 1000 mg of Vitamin C.  With my first pregnancy, my LP lengthened about 4-5 days in four months.  This pregnancy, I got pregnant on the first try and had been doing vitex, b6, and c for about a month before.  It definitely works well for many people.  I also had chemical pregnancies due to short LP prior to my son.  good luck! 

[Jaimee]

Sounds like you're starting to make some great changes in your routine, which will hopefully help your cycles.  I doubt your weight is an issue, but hopefully adding in some moderate exercise and supplementing with B-rich foods and B6 vitamin will help!   Keep us posted!

[casmer]

Where is a good resource to learn about vitex?  I've been pretty aprehensive to consider it, as the thought of messing with hormones really scares me. 

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by casmer 

Where is a good resource to learn about vitex?  I've been pretty aprehensive to consider it, as the thought of messing with hormones really scares me. 

http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/vitex.html   Here is an article but you'll find much more if you google.  It is an herb and it is pretty gentle and well tolerated by most people. 
 

[casmer]

What brand of vitex did you use?  Thanks again!

[APToddlerMama]

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Vitex-Fruit   Here it is...Nature's Way. 

[casmer]

Awesome! Thank you so much! 

Since my LP improved this month, I think I'm going to try the Vitamin C and B6 this cycle.  I'll try the vitex starting next cycle if things don't change.  I've seen Nature's Way brand supplements in the store here, so maybe I'll get away with not ordering it!  I'm reluctant to order supplements through the mail during the summer...too hot.  Although today it's kinda cool out...98F :)

[SKJ2011]

Just wanted to say that the two cycles before I conceived my DD, I had 5 days of spotting.  It was unusual for me to spot before my period.  I had just learned about charting and got pregnant the first cycle I charted.  I still have no idea why I was spotting before AF, but just wanted to say that it doesn't always prevent a healthy pregnancy from happening 

AFM, I'm now dealing with a short LP, likely due to BFing.  I started on vitex and a B50 complex  Good luck on lengthening your LP!

[mamaforever]

I'm right there with you- but my LP is MUCH shorter (only 8 days!).  I have been on Vitex for 5 months now with no results (except seemed to only help the first month)... strange.  I am giving up on it and going with B6 now.  I just started today... am taking 100 mg B6 plus my prenatal (which only has 2.5 mg B6).  I hope this does the trick!  Good luck to you!

[Jaimee]

I've heard from several people that Vitex often takes 6 months to start making an observable difference.

[mamaforever]

Hmmm, I've heard of Vitex taking 3 or 4 months to work, but not 6 months.  You would think that you would slowly start seeing a difference (like make the luteal phase one day longer one cycle and another day longer the next...).  Maybe I'm giving up on it too early after 5 months?  Is it safe to take Vitex and B6 together?

[Jaimee]

Traci-  As far as I know it's safe to take Vitex and B6 together. I would definitely give Vitex another month at least. It is well know to be a very slow acting balancing herb.  How is you diet otherwise?  Are you over or underweight?

[mamaforever]

Thanks, Jaimee.  I've looked on the internet too and it seems that taking B6 and Vitex together is safe.  I think I will continue with the Vitex and also add the B6.  I would say I'm average weight- 130lbs at 5'6".  My diet is pretty good as long as my husband doesn't do the shopping (I'm good about not bringing junk food home, but if it's in the house, it's hard to stay out of!).  :)  I could always be better about eating more green vegetables, but as a whole, I'd say I eat pretty healthy.

[Jaimee]

Traci, your diet and weight sound fine.  But, I just noticed that you have a 2 year old.  Are you still breastfeeding?  How long have you had your period back postpartum?  It took my cycles over a year to regulate once they returned postpartum after my first.  It wasn't until she was night weaned and sleeping through the night that things returned to fertile (when dd was around 2 years old).  I know other women that had to wait until their LO's fully weaned for their cycles to return and/or regulate.  Everyone is a bit different so the Vitex may not be working b/c what your body actually needs is just more time.

[mamaforever]

Hi Jaimee,

Thanks so much for you help with all of this!  My son is not BFing anymore.  My period returned when he was 6 months old, and when he was 9 months old I asked my OBGYN about going back on the pill.  I asked if it was safe while BFing and she said yes, but she never mentioned to me that it would decrease my milk supply, and at the time I had no idea about that.  So... my son self weaned when he was 12 months (I think by that time he was tired of not getting hardly any milk anymore!).  I'm definitely disappointed with all that, but can't do anything about it now!  I went off BCP this last January, and my short LP could definitely be from being on the pill.  I'm just wondering how long it takes for the hormones to get out of my body from the BCP!  My husband and I wanted to start trying for baby #2 this summer, but I'm waiting until I can get this issue resolved so I don't put myself at higher risk for an early miscarriage.  I had an early miscarriage before I got pregnant with my son and remember the devastation, so I definitely want to avoid going through that again.  I'm feeling okay with waiting a while to TTC, but my fear is that I won't be able to fix my short LP.

[Jaimee]

Traci, regulating off the pill can definitely take time.  Some women regulate immediately and others take upward of a year.  That could absolutely be the cause of your short LP, and it may just take a bit to normalize.  I'm sorry for your previous loss!   I think you're really smart for charting and trying to make your cycle as healthy as possible.  But I will add this personal anecdote for food for thought:  I miscarried the cycle before conceiving my first and again two cycles prior to conceiving my second.  Both were really early (like 3-4 weeks) and while disappointing, they both helped me to feel very emotionally ready to conceive- more so than I had been- and both kicked my cycle into gear directly after that- almost like they were preparing me for my true pregnancies.

[mamaforever]

Jaimee, I'm sorry about your losses as well.  Thanks for much for your positive outlook on the miscarriages... that's very helpful.  And I know that sometimes they just happen.  I think I could handle one a little better now that I already have one beautiful child.  I just longed for a baby soooo much when I had my m/c that it really worried me that there was something wrong with my body and I would never be able to have a healthy pregnancy.

I'm hoping that this B6 and Vitex combination does the trick for me!  If not, I just need to be patient and let my body work itself out. :)

I see you're expecting a third child in November... congrats to you!  Thanks again for all your help and encouragement.