What is considered a short luteal phase?

[mummytobeinnovember]

Hi, we have been TTC’ing for 12 months now, with 2 m/carriages, one of them needing a D&C.

I have only just started charting a couple of months ago and low and behold it’s shown up a luteal phase of 9-10 days. I always feel pregnant and tests always show I am but inevitably I always get a period a couple of days later so this finally makes sense to the madness we’ve been going through.

But what is considered too short a luteal phase? And does anyone know how you can overcome it? If anyone can let me know how long after they had treatment they had a successful pregnancy that would be great.

[Sammilee]

From what I have read in the past, I think if your luteal phase is shorter than 10 days then you may have issues about sustaining a pregnancy. I remember this 'coz when I started charting I noticed that my luteal phase was always around the 10 day mark too. I brought this up with my GP (I went and saw her before TTC just to make sure I was healthy and had everything sorted that I should etc), and she said to see how I go and if no success within 6-12 months then to go back and see her 'coz apparently there is a drug that you can take to lengthen the phase. Thankfully I didn't need to go back and see her 'coz I did fall pg. If you have been TTC for 12 months it might be worth having a chat with your family GP.

Good luck :flowerz:

[JimJamsMum]

A luteal phase of anything less than 12 days in considered infertile. Apparently it can be overcome with natural remedies such as Vitex (aka Chastetree) and vitamin B6 but it's always good to have a medical checkup first to rule out underlying causes that may need medical intervention.

[Jender]

Mine was often a little on the short side and I took Vit B6 - as you can see it worked for me! Having a shortish LP doesn't mean you are infertile - it means you may have a trouble sustaining a pregnancy. And some Drs will suggest extra progesterone - if blood tests show that that is the reason for the short LP -

good luck

[mummytobeinnovember]

Thanks girls, I just went to local pharmacy and naturopath recommended vitex... which is better b6 or vitex?

[mochachinobaby]

Hi ladies,

Probably a very basic question- but what exactly is a luteal phase?

[Alexsmummy]

Hi ladies,

Probably a very basic question- but what exactly is a luteal phase?

The luteal phase is the time between ovulation and your next period.
Mine is about 9 - 10 days at the moment and I am hoping to see a change as I am taking vit b6 and vitex. I am also going to see a FS in 2 weeks to check if everything is in working order!

[Jender]

Just watch out with vitex - and discuss it with your Dr - it can have an impact on pregnancy itself

[mim1]

A luteal phase of less than 12 days means you're infertile? Says who? That sounds like nonsense to me. A luteal phase is meant to be a maximum of 14 days, so 12 days is not that far off.

I had a luteal phase of 9 - 10 days and I was pregnant within 3 months of TTCing with no miscarriages, no medications to change the luteal phase, etc.

mummytobe ... go and talk to your doctors about your charts and see what they think.

[iMischa]

A luteal phase of less than 12 days means you're infertile? Says who? That sounds like nonsense to me. A luteal phase is meant to be a maximum of 14 days, so 12 days is not that far off.

I had a luteal phase of 9 - 10 days and I was pregnant within 3 months of TTCing with no miscarriages, no medications to change the luteal phase, etc.

mummytobe ... go and talk to your doctors about your charts and see what they think.


thank uu!! i have a shorter luteal phase *only just figured it out* and have been doom and gloom about it! u've given me hope :flowerz:

[Tam-I-Am]

Given that implantation occurs 6 - 10 days after ovulation, a luteal phase shorter than 10 days CAN pose problems - but doesn't necessarily! I have a VERY short luteal phase (last one was 7 days!) and have two happy healthy children :) AND didn't take vitex or VitB (as I only realised it was even significant when I was already pregnant with my 2nd child! :o) I DID however, use progesterone suppositories at the beginnning of my 2nd pregnancy, as it was noted that my progesterone levels were lower-than-normal for that stage of a pregnancy, and after 3 chemical pregnancies, my GP felt that it might help the baby to 'stick' (which, I'm pleased to say, he did :smiliedance:)

Having a shorter luteal phase doesn't mean that you're infertile - in fact, sometimes heartbreakingly, quite the contrary - its as easy to fall pregnant as the next person - its making that little embryo stick that's the problem :( Take heart though - its not impossible, not nearly! :hugs:

Best wishes for your baby dream to come true soon :hugs:

[JimJamsMum]

Sorry!! I should have re-read my post before I posted it. What I should have said was that a short luteal phase (less than 10-12 days) could mean that particular cycle could be infertile. I didn't mean to infer that the woman was actually infertile. It can often be a transient thing that can be fixed.

Sorry if I have offended or misled anyone.

[mrmoosmum]

From my understanding some people have no problems with a short LP and get and sustain pregnancies just fine. In others, a short LP can indicate not enough progesterone is released by the corpus luteum and that makes a pregnancy not "stick". If that is the problem you can take progesterone to boost your low levels and hopefully get a baby. I'm thinking this is my current problem as we have no problems getting pregnant but lose them early. I don't have access to progesterone testing so am using wild yam cream until I can get back to the developed world. My naturopath put me on vitex and I'm also taking Vit B6 as it comes as part of my zinc supplement.