7 day luteal phase, Consultant refusing to help, what can I do?

[pompeyvix]

So these last few months I have been very carefully checking my cycles, using OPKs, BBT and looking for ewcm. I am definitely ovulating, but my luteal phase is just 7 days. I believe this is why I am not able to conceive. Due to the length of time it is taking, I was referred to a fertility consultant at the local NHS hospital. Over the past few months I have had an HSG done, ultrasound and various blood tests and today was my follow up.

The consultant had all my test results and basically said everything is fine. I no longer have PCOS (at least not at the moment, it can come and go) based on the fact I am ovulating (the scan of my ovaries showed a mature follicle about to release an egg), my ovaries look normal and healthy, my fallopian tubes are clear, my hormones are normal and blood tests are normal. Nick's SA is also normal etc etc.

I mentioned the short luteal phase and she basically rubbished it, saying there is no evidence to back my theory, even though it is practically impossible for me to conceive right now. She just wasn't having it!! I've read about this attitude a lot that other people encounter during my many hours of research online and it seems the NHS just will not accept this is an issue. Therefore she basically said she can't help me, there is now no reason why I shouldn't fall pregnant and to basically keep on trying. She wished me luck, said if I wanted further help (like IVF or IUI etc), then I have to go private as NHS only fund these treatments if you are childless. And that was that

I am already taking vitamin B6 and B complex to try and lengthen my luteal phase and my next steps are going to be soy isoflavones and progesterone cream. But I will be doing this all on my own. How on earth I conceived my Daughter so quickly and easily I will never know as I wasn't tracking my cycles back then. Either I was able to conceive her on a 7 day luteal phase (this is possible, but difficult) or my luteal phase back then was longer. I will never, ever know.

I am ever so grateful and blessed to have Anabella and if we don't have any more, it was meant to me. I am more shocked that the consultant would not accept a short lp could hamper my chances getting pregnant. I will try all my vitamins and supplements, but if still no change, I may make an appointment privately to see if they can do anything which doesn't involved invasive treatment like IVF , as we just don't have the money for that.

Does anyone have any advice, experience, success stories that they can share with me? Currently feeling upset and despondent.

 

[Jessica60]

When I conceived I had been on a herbal supplement called agnus castus. You can get it from holland and Barrett as well as online. I had very long cycles, this made me have a regular 28 day cycle and I got my 3 year old daughter. I can not quite remember but there are only certain cycle dates you can take it.

I've copied and paste this for you:
Just found this on google.

Agnus Castus (Vitex or Chaste tree berry)

This is the herb of choice for helping to restore hormone imbalance and increasing fertility. In one study 48 women diagnosed with infertility took agnus castus daily for three months, 7 of them became pregnant during that time and 25 of them regained normal progesterone levels.

Agnus castus is particularly helpful for those women who have a luteal phase defect (shortened second half to the cycle) or those with high prolactin levels, because it stimulates the proper functioning of the pituitary gland which controls the hormones.

Agnus castus works to restore hormonal balance and can be used where there are hormone deficits as well as excesses it:

Regulates periods
Restarts periods which have stopped
Helps with heavy bleeding
Increases the ratio of progesterone to oestrogen by balancing excess oestrogen.
Note:
Don't take any herbs while you are using drug treatments or going through assisted conception (such as IVF), unless prescribed by a qualified practitioner.

Caution

You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertillity drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.


Hope this helps.
I have heard that taking progesterone works well after ovulation also. There was a uk girl on here at the time I was ttc that got it off the internet.

 

[Jessica60]

P.s

I'm trying for number 2 also. The nhs will not assist me as I already have a child. I'm 39 so time is running out. No daughter will be four in the summer and desperately wants a brother or sister.

 

[mod19]

Pompey do you have "normal" cycles aside from the short lp? Since you know your lp is only 7 days then I'm assuming you do? I did extensive research on soy iso and it can do more harm than good if you are already regular. I would strongly recommend against the soy isoflavones. You could definitely try Vitex and see if that balances out your hormones and makes you O sooner. I'd just hate to see you be in an even bigger predicament than you already are.

I'm also sorry your dr brushed you off and told you to go private. I'm sure there is something they can do...I mean clomid helps you O sooner...so wth?! I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be.

 

[pompeyvix]

Thanks Jessica for you suggestion of Vitex. I actually have some in my medicine cupboard and I have taken it in the past, but not consistently. Perhaps I should revisit it, take a higher dosage for a longer period of time.

Mod - yes I have regular cycles now. I went through about a year from June 2014 - August 2015 where they were all over the place and then they just sorted themselves out. Cycles range from 28-33 days , give or take. I've also done research on SI and found it can still be effective even those who have regular cycles. I am kinda at the stage now, 20 months on, that I'll try anything within reason. However, perhaps I should give Vitex more a shot first.

 

[pandi77]

There's a lot of conflicting information out there on the use of soy. The thing is so much of our food contains refined soy products already that too much soy can actually suppress fertility hormones instead of helping. Women today are inundated with estrogen in our foods, cosmetics, and even our bath products so adding a supplement to increase estrogen (which is what soy does) seems counterproductive. That combined with the fact that most soy is genetically modified and saturated with roundup when grown makes soy an overall bad choice unless you are eating it in a natural unadulterated form such as miso or similar. Having tried just about everything and having been part of dozens of fertility groups my experience has shown that soy hasn't been as effective as supplements that support progesterone production and hormonal balance. It seems since ovulating isnt your issue maybe you should add vitex into your progesterone routine? Also it's worth mentioning that there is some evidence that soy induced ovulation effects egg quality and many women go on to miscarry. Not trying to scare you but check it out.

https://community.babycenter.com/post/a26818399/soy_isoflavones_and_miscarriage

 

[dinky]

Try spearmint tea! I swear it helped me conceive dd2!

 

[broodymrs]

Agree with pandi. I actually try and avoid soy due to the reasons she's listed. I used vitex and I blame this for messing my cycles up. If you have regular cycles I'd avoid that too (sorry to be a downer!). I have a short lp too and I'm considering progesterone cream. I'm in the same boat as you, have low progesterone but one child already so nhs may not do anything. Gp did say I'd probably be prescribed clomid but I want to avoid that if poss. Stalking to see if anyone has advice re progesterone cream

 

[mod19]

Agree with pandi. I actually try and avoid soy due to the reasons she's listed. I used vitex and I blame this for messing my cycles up. If you have regular cycles I'd avoid that too (sorry to be a downer!). I have a short lp too and I'm considering progesterone cream. I'm in the same boat as you, have low progesterone but one child already so nhs may not do anything. Gp did say I'd probably be prescribed clomid but I want to avoid that if poss. Stalking to see if anyone has advice re progesterone cream

Progesterone cream lengthened my lp by 5 or 6 days in 2 cycles. I'm considering using it again since I didn't O till CD18 this cycle.

 

[pompeyvix]

I know you girls have warned me to avoid soy, but I've decided to take it this cycle anyway. I am now 20 months in to TTC number 2 and I'm at the stage where I will pretty much try anything. I have a GP appointment on the 18th and will beg her for a progesterone prescription of some kind.

I am very disillusioned with the NHS for brushing me off so lightly. The consultant literally couldn't wait to get me out of the office

 

[mod19]

I'm sorry that's how it is there. It really isn't fair. Here they'll help you, but everything is private, so they're trying to write as many scripts and get you in for more appts to get everything they can out of the insurance companies.

 

[broodymrs]

Good luck with it Hun. I have read success stories so hopefully it will do the trick. It is rubbish how you were dismissed. Tbh I've been taken very seriously which has been a shocker but we haven't got to the consultant stage yet.

Mod, which cream did you use?

 

[pompeyvix]

Quick question for anyone who knows another about cycles and short lp in particular.... I am still having pretty heavy periods and painful boobs just before AF. If I had low progesterone, would this not be the case? Or am I looking at it far too simply?

 

[mod19]

I used the Life Flo brand, but Pompey said it wasn't available over there. Here you can walk into any health foods or drug store and get it.

 

[pompeyvix]

Good luck with it Hun. I have read success stories so hopefully it will do the trick. It is rubbish how you were dismissed. Tbh I've been taken very seriously which has been a shocker but we haven't got to the consultant stage yet.

Mod, which cream did you use?

I was taken seriously until my final appointment! At my first specialist appointment the consultant was really positive and told me she was there to try and get me pregnant. I then had all sorts of tests done and came back for the results only for her to tell me that everything has come back normal and that "it'll happen" at some point! Until that point, I'd been more than happy. Now I'm just gutted and a little lost

 

[pompeyvix]

I used the Life Flo brand, but Pompey said it wasn't available over there. Here you can walk into any health foods or drug store and get it.

I've since done some research and I do believe you can buy progesterone cream on ebay! Not sure if they have that brand, but will check it out. Do you know what strength it is?

 

[broodymrs]

Good luck with it Hun. I have read success stories so hopefully it will do the trick. It is rubbish how you were dismissed. Tbh I've been taken very seriously which has been a shocker but we haven't got to the consultant stage yet.

Mod, which cream did you use?

I was taken seriously until my final appointment! At my first specialist appointment the consultant was really positive and told me she was there to try and get me pregnant. I then had all sorts of tests done and came back for the results only for her to tell me that everything has come back normal and that "it'll happen" at some point! Until that point, I'd been more than happy. Now I'm just gutted and a little lost

Ah I see. I do keep hearing these horror stories so it won't surprise me to get brushed off tbh. The hospital I've been referred to was awful when I was pregnant with ds too, I ended up transferring elsewhere.

 

[broodymrs]

Quick question for anyone who knows another about cycles and short lp in particular.... I am still having pretty heavy periods and painful boobs just before AF. If I had low progesterone, would this not be the case? Or am I looking at it far too simply?

It could still be low progesterone. My boobs are really painful, almost all month long. I actually have high prolactin which is the cause of the boob pain, and probably the thing lowering my progesterone. So it could be the case for you. How bad is the boob pain? Do you ever leak milk?

 

[pompeyvix]

Quick question for anyone who knows another about cycles and short lp in particular.... I am still having pretty heavy periods and painful boobs just before AF. If I had low progesterone, would this not be the case? Or am I looking at it far too simply?

It could still be low progesterone. My boobs are really painful, almost all month long. I actually have high prolactin which is the cause of the boob pain, and probably the thing lowering my progesterone. So it could be the case for you. How bad is the boob pain? Do you ever leak milk?

My boobs are more tender as opposed painful. I have always had that though, even when I conceived my Daughter. My boobs only hurt a few days before AF as well, not all month long. I never leak milk.

How long is your luteal phase?

 

[broodymrs]

9 days so not horrendous but not great either. And the gp confirmed with my progesterone levels I wouldn't sustain a pregnancy even if the egg was fertilised. I've just ordered my cream!