Hello,

I'm new to this site and the forum but I'm in the process of trying to figure out some tricky things and I wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar?

I was on the pill for a year and came off due to horrible side effects. I decided to try NFP as I wanted something totally natural, my husband was up for it and we've been doing it successfully now for 13 months. We're not currently TTC but we're really really keen to start a family in about a year's time (when I finally qualify for maternity pay!) so in truth my query about the short luteal phase is all a bit academic really...but...

I've noticed from my charts that I tend to ovulate on day 20 (of a 27-8 day cycle). The last four days (24-8 ish) I also get dark spotting (which I NEVER had before I went on the pill). This suggests to me I've been bleeding for a couple of days maybe (dark old blood) which begs the question if an egg was fertilised what would happen to it? Obviously if the lining of the uterus is breaking down as early as day 24 (or before really) then it won't have anywhere to implant.

I've spoken to my GP (female) who has been quite supportive and has arranged two blood tests to see if I'm ovulating - which isn't really the issue but at least she's taking notice of me! I also went out today and bought some B6 and Agnus Castus from Holland and Barrett - they said it's fine to take these two together but I'm not sure and I wondered if anyone here could advise? (My GP said she couldn't advise on AC at all and hadn't heard of it, but said B6 was fine).

I'm hoping that the B6 and AC will help to lengthen my luteal phase. I've read on other sites/forums that anything shorter than 10-12 days is considered a problem by the NHS, but as we're not actively TTC and failing I don't really have a leg to stand on from the GP's point of view.

I'm slightly panicking and wondering whether we should just start trying now so that we don't run the risk of wasting a year...errr....really not sure what to do. Please help.

I found out rather accidentally that I was not ovulating and we were NOT trying to conceive at the time. Because I had 4 cycles that were anovulatory, my ob/gyn ordered some tests, confirmed it, and then we made a plan of action in order for us to conceive as soon as possible, when we finally start ttc.

So there is no need, at least from my doc's perspective, to be actively ttc if there is no way a pregnancy would occur anyway! She treated the situation as if we had been trying and just failing to get pregnant! She even let me know that if I'm still not ovulating by November, we'll start Clomid- and that is the very first month we'll be actively ttc.

It helps to have a really great doc, which is why I've stopped freaking out about losing our chance to get preggo by waiting 10 more months (at that time) to get pregnant! I know the feeling though!

Good luck getting your luteal phase straightened out! I hope it gets better asap! I can't advise on those supplements, but wanted to let you know you're not alone! I'm sure there are plenty of girls who can help with the supplements, though.

I am sorry to read and run. I dont know much about the meds but my luteal phase is a bit dodgy too differing from 8-12 days. It sounds like you have a very supportive doctor.

Its good u got a supportive dr!
i have heard only good things about AC i was on it for about a month! it didnt help me any but im not ovulating i dont think!!
6 months without a period due to that EVIL pill!

Thank you guys it's helpful to hear from others. Just been reading other posts about short LPs and B6 - someone said it's important not to take too much which is really helpful as yesterday in H&B the lady told me "you can't overdoes on B6 so take as much as you want" !!!!! Oh wow, thank goodness for these forums!

I'm going to research the AC a bit more before I try that but will start the B6 today (100mg) and see whether that helps at all.

Update: I booked an appointment with the lady who advised me on NFP to check with her whether I'm calculating O day wrong (that's what my Dr said). Also recently found fertilityfriend.com which is an online charting site. Anyway I've inputted my data for the past 6 months and found that my luteal phase is not quite as short as I thought! I've been massively overestimating (probably started doing this to stay "safe")! I haven't been keeping my temperatures properly for a few months but out of the proper charts I have got I've had the following lengths of LP: 10, 12, & 14! So a little on the short side for a couple but nowhere near as bad as I thought. Phew!

I'm still going to my appointment next week to check whether the computer is right (it disregards the "6 low temps rule" sometimes for exapmle) so I have to see what my NFP lady says about that. Massive relief, though.

And I'm going to put my getting ready to TTC plan into action without worrying about all this LP stuff:

* Get fit
* Take prep vitamins and folic acid
* Get qualified
* Get a job
* Pay off debts
* Have fun!