Can anyone answer this?

[Nataliieexo]

It’s probably a silly question but it’s bugging me. I have a lp of 8-10days (currently 10dpo while using Vitex for the second cycle and added b-complex this cycle) usually I spot the day before af starts. As you can see by my chart my last 2 days temps have been dropping, I’m pretty sure spotting or af will be here tomorrow. So what I’m wondering is if you have a short lp and progesterone starts dropping what would happen if a fertilised egg implanted or would that be impossible to do when your progesterone is dropping.

 

[Dill]

You're not out until AF shows! Unfortunately, if your hormone levels aren't supportive of a pregnancy, you can end up having a chemical pregnancy. It's why short LPs are so problematic.

 

[Nataliieexo]

I’ve had some cramping and pressure down below earlier today, usually get that the day before spotting so probably will see some spotting tomorrow. On the plus side it will be a added day on to my lp. I had a chemical before I conceived my son in 2013. I’d hate to experience that again. I’m worried I can’t get pregnant at all. It’s been over 3 years now and until last year I didn’t ovulate at all, now a short lp it seems there’s always something in the way of getting pregnant. My Drs aren’t concerned about lp at all so they are useless.

 

[Dill]

Is there any way you can see a fertility specialist? A short LP really can be problematic for TTC. Your body just doesn't have the chance to let an egg settle in. It takes 6-12 days for implantation to occur, with 9-10 being the average. It's why they say anything shorter than 10 days can be a major roadblock.

 

[Nataliieexo]

We saw a fertility specialist in 2016 when I wasn’t ovulating but they couldn’t do anything because my bmi was too high. I think I will make a appointment with the gp and see about being re-reffered because now it’s a different issue. I’m sure the dr could prescribe progesterone but I doubt they would. Which is why I started the Vitex and b-complex. It’s still worth a try though.

 

[Dill]

Vitex is supposed to be great for helping with ovulation and lengthening LP. You may be able to up your dose, depending one how much you're using now.

 

[Nataliieexo]

I’m using 1600mg now, last cycle was 1200mg mixed with b-complex.

Anyways I was cramping and feeling uncomfortable down below and checked my cervix, spotting red as I thought I would be. I guess since the spotting is late 10dpo I have had a extra day added to my lp assuming af kicks in tomorrow.

I haven’t looked into if it’s a good idea to use 2000mg of Vitex and I also know it can take months to kick in. I don’t ovulate on my own though so it’s doing it’s part with that and my temps were a consistent rise whereas previous cycles (I used soy last year to start me ovulating) they didn’t.

I’m feeling pretty deflated. I’m starting the gym in 3 weeks hopefully that will help I have quite a bit of weight to loose.

 

[Dill]

Remember that CD1 is the first day of your period, spotting doesn't count!

My app told me that losing even just 5 pounds can help in improving conception rates. I've been using a different app to count calories and I've started working out more and I've dropped some pounds over the last couple of months. You can do this!

 

[Nataliieexo]

True, af usually starts the day after spotting.

I lost quite a bit counting calories it’s been a good while since I attempted to diet. I use my fitness pal for counting calories and find it helpful.

 

[Dill]

Yes, MyFitnessPal is awesome! I love it.

 

[BunnyN]

They say an LP of less than 10 days causes problems but breastfeeding gave me an LP of 7 days and I got pregnant twice. Of course once you are pregnant there is no way to know if it would have been longer that cycle but it was 7 days every cycle leading up to it. I got my bfps 9dpo so maybe it's because my eggs implant early? Unless you have another hormone issue I think once you have a BFP a short LP shouldn't matter because once the egg is implanted the pregnancy hormones take over. The problem with a short LP is that an egg can fertilise and not have the chance to implant before your period.

 

[Dill]

It takes time for your body to switch from "time to start my period" to "wait nevermind, time to grow a person," so even if an egg implants, a short LP absolutely can lead to a CP, unfortunately.

Early implantation is great (I'm lucky to be one of those types, myself) but since most people implant between 9-10dpo, the longer LPs really are helpful.

 

[Nataliieexo]

Yeah I didn’t get bfps with my chemical and my son until 11 and 12dpo and I suspect with both of them I implanted 2 days before I got my bfp. Which really doesn’t help me. There have been several months now that fertilised eggs could have been flushed away because i implant on the later side of it. Although that could not be the case we may have not been successful at fertilising in the egg in the first place.

 

[BunnyN]

It takes time for your body to switch from "time to start my period" to "wait nevermind, time to grow a person," so even if an egg implants, a short LP absolutely can lead to a CP, unfortunately.

Early implantation is great (I'm lucky to be one of those types, myself) but since most people implant between 9-10dpo, the longer LPs really are helpful.

By the time you get a BFP though the egg has been implanted for several days so your body should be kicking into pregnancy mode. Perhaps it depends on the reason for the short LP partly?

Obviously even though I got pregnant with a short LP it doesn't mean everyone can but I literally thought it was going to be impossible so it can be helpful to know it doesn't automatically mean you can't.

 

[Dill]

I've read that something like 80% of all pregnancies are losses, and most of those are CP's that women didn't even know about. So try not to stress about the maybes! It's one reason why they recommend against early testing. CPs are extremely common and usually they happen due to circumstances beyond your control (egg fertilized but didn't develop, had chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, etc.)

It sounds like you're on the right track with the Vitex and exercise.

 

[Dill]

By the time you get a BFP though the egg has been implanted for several days so your body should be kicking into pregnancy mode. Perhaps it depends on the reason for the short LP partly?

You can get a BFP and have already lost the pregnancy, though. And you can also have a CP and never produce enough hcg to get the BFP to know about it.

I'm not saying it's not possible to get pregnant with a short LP, but I am saying that it can drastically reduce your chances. There's a genuine reason why it's considered to be problematic and why lengthening a short LP is strongly recommended. I don't mean "abandon all hope" or anything -- just answering the questions honestly and confirming that doing what you can to lengthen a problematically short LP is a good plan.

 

[BunnyN]

By the time you get a BFP though the egg has been implanted for several days so your body should be kicking into pregnancy mode. Perhaps it depends on the reason for the short LP partly?

You can get a BFP and have already lost the pregnancy, though. And you can also have a CP and never produce enough hcg to get the BFP to know about it.

I'm not saying it's not possible to get pregnant with a short LP, but I am saying that it can drastically reduce your chances. There's a genuine reason why it's considered to be problematic and why lengthening a short LP is strongly recommended. I don't mean "abandon all hope" or anything -- just answering the questions honestly and confirming that doing what you can to lengthen a problematically short LP is a good plan.

I totally agree with lengthening it if possible. You have given helpful answers.

I was only talking about once you have your BFP not to worry too much about the LP. I have seen women with a short LP worry about loosing the pregnancy once they get their BFP but the majority that I have seen getting pregnant with a short LP don't have a problem once they get the BFP. One of my pregnancies with a short LP did end in a loss but that was at 11 weeks so wasn't related to LP.