PLEASE talk to me about short luteal phases!

[jrose_lee]

(x-posted in ttc)

We are TTC #2

Ds is 2.5

Before I had ds I never even ovulated on my own. I took vitex to have him.

I am now ovulating, it appears, but my luteal phase is horribly short. I'm getting spotting at 5-6 days. My longest one was about 9-10 days, but that was just once.

I doubt we can concieve with such a short phase.

I'm going to start Maca and oil pulling.
http://oilpulling.com/

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Another idea.....maybe nightweaning would help? Ds still nurses a bit at night.

Thanks!

[LisaG]

Have you thought about supplementing with progesterone? Usually a short post luteal phase is caused by low progesterone. This article has some interesting information on a short post luteal phase and progesterone.

Good luck!

[dolcedaze]

There may be more to it than this since you had issues before your first child, but how often are you nursing? I was TTC for several months for a second pregnancy with luteal phases that were only six days or so, but as soon as I transitioned my two year old to eight consecutive hours without nursing out of every 24, the pattern immediately changed.

[avocada]

Dunno if this is really true: My new RE, who I like but who is very confusingly simple at times, told me that my years-ago diagnosis of low progesterone (from a reg doc who did one blood test) was wrong, that how much progesterone you make in a cycle depends on the quality of your ovulation that cycle, and that it's not always a chronic condition, suggesting to me (we were talking about something else so I didnt' pursue the line of questioning) that it can change month to month, and that what to look at is your eggs/ estrogen/ other things...? Don't take this as fact, I'm just throwing it out there for consideration and further investigation. I do know that I had a short LP (~10 days) for 2-3 years even though I used progesterone cream every LP, and that it started to lengthen only as I started doing more yoga, especially inversions and supported back bends that stimulate the endocrine system. (Seek an instructor if you do this rather than starting on your own. You can PM me if you have questions about it.)

The weaning suggestion sounds apt, too. Good luck!

[Voltige]

I have secondary infertility. It was only when I started charting when ds was about 18 months old that I noticed my LP was short. I messed around with VitB and some other stuff. I never noticed much difference. Several months passed. We hit the 12 month TTC mark and we had an initial evaluation with an RE. I have two large cysts on my left ovary, a diagnosis of Hashimoto's (thyroid), possible PCOS, and likely endometriosis. I'm shocked at all of this because my only real symptom was infertility and a short LP. I feel like I've wasted a ton of time. Now I'm waiting on my laparoscopy to diagnosis and treat my endometriosis and then we'll see how it goes from there.

My advise at this point, to anyone who is experiencing infertility for any suspected reason- is to see an RE.

[jrose_lee]

Originally Posted by Voltige

I have secondary infertility. It was only when I started charting when ds was about 18 months old that I noticed my LP was short. I messed around with VitB and some other stuff. I never noticed much difference. Several months passed. We hit the 12 month TTC mark and we had an initial evaluation with an RE. I have two large cysts on my left ovary, a diagnosis of Hashimoto's (thyroid), possible PCOS, and likely endometriosis. I'm shocked at all of this because my only real symptom was infertility and a short LP. I feel like I've wasted a ton of time. Now I'm waiting on my laparoscopy to diagnosis and treat my endometriosis and then we'll see how it goes from there.

My advise at this point, to anyone who is experiencing infertility for any suspected reason- is to see an RE.

Wow- that is a lot to handle for you. I hope you get it all figured out soon.

What does RE stand for?

I'm thinking if it doesn't improve on Vitex after 2-3 months (and a nightweaned kiddo) then I may need to get this checked into. I don't think I have any endometriosis or cysts (that is, unless they can come on quick) because I had surgery in there about 3 years ago and he didn't mention any of that. I had an ectopic pregnancy back then and had one fallopian tube removed. The other one was clear, thank God.

but you are right..unfortunately, I may have to go in and get this checked out.

[Voltige]

Originally Posted by jrose_lee

Wow- that is a lot to handle for you. I hope you get it all figured out soon.

What does RE stand for?

I'm thinking if it doesn't improve on Vitex after 2-3 months (and a nightweaned kiddo) then I may need to get this checked into. I don't think I have any endometriosis or cysts (that is, unless they can come on quick) because I had surgery in there about 3 years ago and he didn't mention any of that. I had an ectopic pregnancy back then and had one fallopian tube removed. The other one was clear, thank God.

but you are right..unfortunately, I may have to go in and get this checked out.

Yes, my head is kind of spinning right now

RE is reproductive endocrinologist. Good luck to you. I hope you get some results with Vitex!

[avocada]

RE = reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist-- they know MUCH more than your OB/GYN)