PLEASE HELP! Luteal phase defect/low progesterone!

[2016]

Hi girls...
I am coming over from TTC land with a heavy heart because it seems I have got a problem on my hands.
Since I stopped BCP last August (Cerazette boooooo) I have noticed that my luteal phase has gone from 10 days...to 9...to 9 with spotting from 7dpo....to today’s insult at 3! I also have low post ov temps indicating a progesterone issue...

So far I have tried:
Agnus castus - no effect
B6 50mg (in a complex) – no effect
Soy 150mg CD2-6, B6 100mg + progesterone cream – this cycle and LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!

So, first of all, once bitten twice shy I am NOT wanting to meddle with my cycle any more because I might be making it worse! But I thought I should list all I’ve tried.
I have agreed with DH that I am going to try acupuncture this cycle to try level things out and drop all other tricks.

I went to the docs last month (NHS double booooooo) and told my concerns to my doc. He agreed my luteal phase was a potential problem and gave me a slip for a day 21 test. I originally intended to go on CD29 for the test (7 days after ov) but I clearly didn’t make it that far for some reason
The doctor did say that, even if the tests did come back showing low progesterone, they still wouldn’t do anything for me until another year had passed!!! I know I know I haven’t been trying that long compared to all you lovely ladies...but I hope you would agree that fertility issues do take time to sort out so, forgive me if I am keen to cut to the chase when there is obviously something wrong.

So, questions....answers to any/all would be much appreciated:

Do I still go for my CD21 test on
- What would have been CD29 (7dpo)?
- Or should I try go for it asap? or
- Not bother?

What do I say when I go back to my docs? Ps...I am going to change my surgery btw because my “old skool” male doc thinks all women have 28 day cycles and ovulate on CD14!!!!!

What else can I try? Any suggestions/thoughts/words of advice would help me right now

Oh I should also mention that I had an ectopic pregnancy and haemorrhagic cyst in my first month of trying but the doctor says the only reason this stuck with my short luteal phase was because it was in my tube and not dependant on my lining anyway.

Sorry for the essay. I just thought you would be far more experienced in this sort of thing than in the TTC area and I don’t want to scare the crap out of the newbies in TTC with this issue!

 

[muncho]

Hi 2016

So, questions....answers to any/all would be much appreciated:

Do I still go for my CD21 test on........YES YOU SHOULD DEF GO
- What would have been CD29 (7dpo)?....YOU NEED TO OD IT 7DPO

i think the more tests you can get in the better. Ho old are you? sorry to ask but this could make a difference and why your gp is asking you to wait.

im 38 and only had been ttc for a few months but my GP referred me straight away. Sadly its dependant on how 'on the ball' your gp is.

I cant help with the luteal phase , have you tried acupuncture, this can help..

good luck

 

[2016]

Thanks Muncho!

So I should go at 7dpo even though AF started today so I am effectively back at CD1? Wont that come back showing I am just pre-ov rather than post-ov with low progesterone?

I am 30 in a few months and DH is 36. My GP is not on the ball at all and it too me being quite insistent for 3 appointments before i got the test. Moving to another surgery nearby with 2 nice lady docs, one of which in her late 30s who, apparently, is much much more on the ball

Speaking of acupuncture, I think I posted on your TCM thread. Yes I am going to try this! Found this person locally.
https://www.drmonk.co.uk/
Am going to give him a try because he is also associated with the local fertility clinic and is a GP/radiologist too. Dont know how much he costs yet tho so we will have to see if I can afford to go. Looks expensive!
How much do your accu treatments cost?

 

[muncho]

ok if you are cd1 then you can go for your cd 3 tests which are FSH, LH an estrodil this wont tell u baout your luteal and prog but at least you will get to know about the other hormones. if u are temping then you will know when you have ov, so go for for cd21 progesterone test 7 dpo..

i think i remember u posting on TCM, my acu costs 45 per session.

hope that helps x

 

[2016]

Sorry i am probably being confusing here...I was supposed to be 4 dpo today (and was going to have that test in 3 days time at 7dpo)...but the stupid witch arrived today! That is why I am CD1 now. With a luteal phase problem I might not get as far as 7dpo without af arriving iykwim!
So now I am thinking if I go CD3 it will at least test those hormones as you say and I can tell them that CD3 was also technically 6dpo for me!

 

[muncho]

hmm i see what you mean. I dont know what to advise in that case.
sorry..hope someone else can help with that one. i dont know anything about luteal phase.

 

[sparkle83]

step 1: new doctor
step 2: cd#3 testing for thyroid, LH, Fsh oestradiol (to rule out anything you arent seeing, also thyroid issues can cause weird cycles and progesterone issues)
step 3: OPKs to confirm ovulation 9I found drs believe these more than charting)
step 4: progesterone tests every 2 or 3 days til AF.

this should give you a broader picture. with the prog cream, when did you start it, how frequently were you using it, and was it at the same dose/same time of day?

 

[2016]

Wow thanks sparkle83! You sound like a lady who knows her stuff!

step 1 : Calling new doctor tomorrow
step 2 : going for LH, FSH, oestradiol, progesterone and prolactin tomorrow (I had thyroid ones done about a month ago and they said "lowish but not to worry") I will get all the results for all the tests and be the judge of the myself I think!
Tomorrow is CD3....but it also would have been 6dpo for me if my cycle hadn't crapped out after 3dpo....so this should be interesting.
step 3 : I use OPKs as well as the temping so can confirm I ovulated every time.
step 4 : will ask the new doc about multiple progesterone tests.

I started the cream at 2dpo (because I wasnt convinced I oved at 1dpo because I have a crappy slow rise...see my chart) I used it at 7am and 7pm 1/8th tsp...tried to be accurate but it wasnt easy! Think I might skip the cream this cycle in case it did harm - what do you think? I am DEFINITELY skipping the soy because it made me moody and I have this gut feeling it may have caused the weak ovulation.

 

[Toptack]

Hiya

I came off the pill (Mercilon) in September 08 and had a 21 day cycle with a 7 day luteal phase for months. The stupid gynae refused to believe any evidence (temps, opks, ovulation pain) that I was ovulating on day 14 and told me I must be ov'ing on day 7, because "all women have a 14 day luteal phase"!! I saw no improvment with B6 or Agnus Castus so eventually went to see a private specialist, who prescribed clomid, and started acupuncture. Over the last 6 months my luteal phase has gradually extended to 14 days and my cycle has returned to it's pre-birth control length of 27 days. Obviously I can't say for certain that the acupuncture has helped, but I really do believe it has. I also think that, for some reason, my body has taken ages to return to fertility after taking the pill for 16 years. No-one working for the NHS has been willing to acknowledge this is even a possibility, but I think it's an issue for more women than they want to admit!

 

[Crypto1976]

I think your lpd could be quite easily corrected with clomid.

I would continue with the bloods and stop messing with the b vits and ac. These really screwed up my cycle and the fs hate self medicating, and AC in particular doesnt go well with fertility meds.

Good luck, but I would push for a referral and for this you will need all bloods done, and progesterone probably done for 2 successive months. XX

 

[2016]

Going to get my blood results in 3 hours time. The recptionist wouldn't tell me the results which means they found something. They will normally say "all tests came back normal" if the doctor finds everything in the normal range when he reviews them.
I am almost pleased if they found something because I *knew* something was wrong...now lets just hope it easy to fix and that they are willing to refer me to a specialist!

 

[2016]

Well girls, my scores were:

Oestrogen --- Normal
Prolactin ----- 133
LH ----- 8.8
FSH ----- 5.8
Progesterone -- 3 !

So guess what – I have a progesterone deficiency/luteal phase defect! No surprises there then! I cannot begin to tell you how relieved I am that I am not totally insane! Never thought I would be glad to have abnormal bloods come back. While it is not “good news” at least it is being acknowledged by the doctor now and I have been referred to a specialist for treatment.

The earliest date I can get in with the specialist is Monday 8th February @ 10am so that means no help for this cycle and half of next
I have, however, managed to get some benefit approved on a mini private health plan I have so am going to be ringing around to see if I can get in to see someone earlier!

I will be taking these results to the GP/acupuncturist on Friday so will see what he says.

I am feeling a new surge of hope right now!

 

[muncho]

Hi i know you are on the TCM thread but acu will really help with the prog. Mine doubled in 1 month..

like you say at leats you know now. Your FSH is very good!