Vitamin B6 - Lengthen luteal phase or increase progesterone

[googly]

Googly- have you tried crinone gel for progesterone support while using clomid?
worked for me the month I got pregnant with my son. I was using gonal F though. Was on clomid for 3 months with no success, though LP was at least 14 days on it. Finally got pregnant the month I used ganirelix with FSH. I am an early ovulator (or was before my son, now I am day 14 or 15 but was 11 or 12 prior) and the ganirelix turned off the LH for long enough to mature the follicle an extra 2 or 3 mm.
I don't know any of your history (have not got to that part yet) but thought I would throw in my 2 cents anyway ;-)

Hey thanks katee, that's interesting... no, not on any progesterone as yet - my FS wanted me to try clomid alone for 3 months then we'd review and see what else we needed to do. So that's where I'm at now - with the appt next week - I'm hoping he'll agree to a) up the clomid dose OR change it to something else, b) boost the uterine lining somehow (have AF of 2 days, max!), and c) supplement progesterone in the LP (crinone or other). I'm pretty sure I need all those three things to happen before I will have any success....

So how long was your LP before you went on the gonal F/ganirelix?

 

[kateedid]

Googly- it was 10 or 11 days before, sometimes 12. I had short cycles. At one point I was having 21 day cycles and then they became 24 days- looking back on it, they may have lengthened due to my pre-natal vitamin. I am not usually a vitamin popper, unfortunately. I was also ovulating on day 11 or 12 and now on 14 or 15 with steady 12 day LP. Confirmed low P4 though, same as before pregnancy. Wondering if the breastfeeding is lengthening follicular phase somehow.
I hate dr's "wait and see" mentality, especially with clomid-- not really wanting more meds than necessary, thank you!
thought crinone was great- my 12 dpo p4 was 75 when i was on it. gave me peace of mind.

 

[254]

Oh, and I am still breastfeeding my 1 1/2 year old, so am wary of using hormone creams and vitex, even if they are considered safe.

Just wanted to say hi from one breastfeeding-a-1.5-year-old mummy to another!

It sounds like it could well be the B complex which has had an impact on your LP... are you taking it again this cycle? I know it's supposed to be a cumulative thing, so will be interesting to see what happens next, but there have been lots of people on this thread who believe it had an impact the first cycle they took it.

My LP has been around 7 days for the last year... B complex didn't help (although pretty sure B6 has improved fertile CM) but I think vitex/agnus castus has had some effect... this cycle will be the 'telling' one, I think. Last cycle I had a very similar experience to you... we conceived and I went a week past when my period was due and had several positive HPTs, but sadly we had an early MC a few days later. I am trying to take a positive from it that my LP was long enough for us to conceive, although I am concerned low progesterone caused things to end (my mid LP reading was 19nmol/L, about 6 ng/mL).

Anyway, I don't think I've said anything hugely useful there but just wanted to say hi as it sounds like we're having some similar experiences!

 

[kateedid]

I am trying to take a positive from it that my LP was long enough for us to conceive, although I am concerned low progesterone caused things to end (my mid LP reading was 19nmol/L, about 6 ng/mL).

Hi 254!! That's very useful, thank you! It's good to have someone's numbers for reference. I'm very sorry about your mc. For some reason, it is more upsetting for me to think my mc's are being caused by low progesterone than DNA issues. I can't help thinking if I had asked for a p4 script that month, I might have been able to save it

I don't know about you 254, but I also feel "damned if you do, damned if you don't" with the breastfeeding. My almost 20 month old is in no way ready to be weaned but I fear I won't be able to conceive him a sibling without weaning him. However, I feel like I would be somehow sacrificing his health or happiness for a baby that may or may not come. Would feel awful if I stopped BF and then didn't get pregnant. How did your Dr feel about the vitex with breastfeeding? I know it has been used in the past to increase milk supply. Have you tried progesterone cream? I'm really curious now about whether that was the reason for my increase in p4. Hope not!

I wish you much luck with the vitex this month!! I am cd 11 today- not able to get my ticker up yet.

 

[254]

For some reason, it is more upsetting for me to think my mc's are being caused by low progesterone than DNA issues.

I feel exactly the same... I suppose it's because if it were a DNA issue, we know there's nothing that could be done to change the outcome, that the baby wasn't ever going to make it, but when thinking it's progesterone I worry that the baby was fine and it was my body that caused the MC. :'(

But I do know/know of quite a few breastfeeding mums who've had early MCs and then gone onto to conceive again not too many months later, and everything has been fine then. So although I worry it could happen again, I know there's every chance it won't too...

I don't know about you 254, but I also feel "damned if you do, damned if you don't" with the breastfeeding. My almost 20 month old is in no way ready to be weaned but I fear I won't be able to conceive him a sibling without weaning him. However, I feel like I would be somehow sacrificing his health or happiness for a baby that may or may not come. Would feel awful if I stopped BF and then didn't get pregnant.

I could have written exactly that! Even down to the ages... my little girl is almost 20 months too (9th March 2010). As much as I want a sibling for her, she's the one who's here now, and I feel that she has to be the priority at this stage. Even though she only has 2 (occasionally 3) quick feeds a day, she loves breastfeeding... weaning her would be a battle and it just wouldn't feel right. I also wonder if breastfeeding isn't really impacting on my fertility very much as very little has changed over the past 14 months yet L's breastfeeding habits have changed a LOT in that time! I've read a lot saying as they gradually reduce feeds, your LP will increase etc etc, but there's been little change for me.

How did your Dr feel about the vitex with breastfeeding? I know it has been used in the past to increase milk supply.

I haven't discussed it with my doctor, although I did a lot of research myself before trying it. My doctor, although pro-breastfeeding, doesn't know a lot about it and also the support for fertility issues and knowledge of 'alternative' treatments seems pretty 'basic' in the NHS. I'm a bf peer supporter so did some digging with people I know and resources I've been recommended, and decided I'd be happy to give it a go, and would just keep an eye on my milk supply in case it dipped (some things I read said it could increase it, some said the opposite...!) - it doesn't seem to have had an effect on my milk at all.

Have you tried progesterone cream? I'm really curious now about whether that was the reason for my increase in p4. Hope not!

I haven't, but it's something I've been thinking about. We're being referred to a fertility specialist and I'm hoping that we might be able to try progesterone supplements. It's not remotely standard on the NHS (unless you're having IVF), but the more reading I do, the more I think that's a good starting point for me, rather than clomid which they seem to want to prescribe to everyone. We shall see!

I wish you much luck with the vitex this month!! I am cd 11 today- not able to get my ticker up yet.

Thank you, and good luck to you too! I'm CD10 today so we're very close cycle-wise, although it sounds like you ovulate earlier than me. If you fancy keeping in touch you're very welcome to pop in on my journal (link in my signature).

 

[kateedid]

254- just sent you a private message before seeing this message! Didn't want to clutter up this thread with too much non- B6 related ;-) My son was born March 3rd, 8 days late. Not sure I could have gone for as long as you did but baby was in distress, so I didn't have much choice in the matter.

 

[GoldenK]

Hi ladies, just finished reading entire thread, took me 4 days lol, and wanted to jump in. I have been ntnp for the past 6 mos and decided i would start actively ttc this cycle. I charted for the first time last month and saw I have 25-26 day cycles with a 9 day lp. (I have always kept up with cycles, just never charted temps because I work nightshift 3 days a week and it's hard to temp @ same time everyday-but gave it a try and chart came out decent ) I also have a hx of fibroids which is considered estrogen dominant. I've pretty much speculated I have progesterone probs, being it tends to run low in ppl with fibriods. Started taking B100 complex cd1 and will keep ya'll updated as it goes. Hoping it brings ov forward as I seem to ov on cd16 and AF likes to arrive around CD25. I had considered taking AC and soy, but I believe they tend to trigger estrogen and as I said before, I have enough of that already!!

Congrats to all of the BFP's!!! H&H 9 mos.

Good luck and baby dust to the rest of us!!!

 

[Bug222]

I got my BFP this cycle.. always had a 9 day LP... took B50 this cycle.. just found out yesterday at 11dpo!!!!!

 

[Mzladyk]

Congrats Bug22!!!

 

[booklover]

I got my BFP yesterday too! Also at 11dpo.

I had a 10 day LP. Increased it to 12 on first go at taking B6 complex. then the last 2 months I ovulated a day sooner and had a 11 day LP.

I really appreciate eveyone who has contributed to this thread. You are all wise women and have helped so much in our journeys.

Thanks

 

[Emmediva]

I also have a hx of fibroids which is considered estrogen dominant. I've pretty much speculated I have progesterone probs, being it tends to run low in ppl with fibriods. Started taking B100 complex cd1 and will keep ya'll updated as it goes. Hoping it brings ov forward as I seem to ov on cd16 and AF likes to arrive around CD25. I had considered taking AC and soy, but I believe they tend to trigger estrogen and as I said before, I have enough of that already!!

Congrats to all of the BFP's!!! H&H 9 mos.

Good luck and baby dust to the rest of us!!!

Welcome aboard GoldenK, I also have a fibroid, interesting to see that is considered estrogen dominant... hmmm maybe I shouldn't use Vitex this month...

Congrats to Bug22 & Booklover!!!

Hopefully we all get our BFP's soon!! Good luck to everyone! Lots of baby

 

[GoldenK]

I also have a hx of fibroids which is considered estrogen dominant. I've pretty much speculated I have progesterone probs, being it tends to run low in ppl with fibriods. Started taking B100 complex cd1 and will keep ya'll updated as it goes. Hoping it brings ov forward as I seem to ov on cd16 and AF likes to arrive around CD25. I had considered taking AC and soy, but I believe they tend to trigger estrogen and as I said before, I have enough of that already!!

Congrats to all of the BFP's!!! H&H 9 mos.

Good luck and baby dust to the rest of us!!!

Welcome aboard GoldenK, I also have a fibroid, interesting to see that is considered estrogen dominant... hmmm maybe I shouldn't use Vitex this month...

Congrats to Bug22 & Booklover!!!

Hopefully we all get our BFP's soon!! Good luck to everyone! Lots of baby

Thanks Emmediva, supposedly estrogen feeds fibroids, progesterone shrinks them. I had to have mine sugically removed because they were pushing on organs and i looked 16 weeks preggers. If I can conceive before they come back and use any progesterone boosters to keep them @ bay that would be awesome!!!

Congrats Bug22 & Booklover ya'll are my inspiration!!!

Baby dust to the rest of us!!!

 

[kateedid]

Emmediva- Actually, I think vitex is supposed to be good for maintaining post-ovulatory progesterone levels. Not sure that fibroids would prevent you from using it.

Congrats to all with BFP's!

 

[Emmediva]

Emmediva- Actually, I think vitex is supposed to be good for maintaining post-ovulatory progesterone levels. Not sure that fibroids would prevent you from using it.

Congrats to all with BFP's!

I pulled up more info on Vitex and it is supposed to balance the hormones, so I shall be using it. I think is arriving today, I'm spotting and have more cramps ughh. Another month wasted...

 

[Kaelia67]

Hi all, I have been charting and just found out I have a luteal phase of 8
Looking for something that may help to lengthen it, I have heard Vitex and B6 is good, any info on how much I should take each day? Or maybe a B complex would be best? any ideas ladies?

GoldenK, I too have a hard time temping as I also work nightshifts 3 Nights a week, I take my temps during the afternoons when I wake during those days.
Congrats on the bfps!!

 

[Bug222]

Kaelia- i was taking B50's (50mg of all the B vitamins)... i also work usually around 2 nights per week and just took my temp in the afternoon when i woke up. Didn't seem to affect my temps.

 

[kateedid]

Hi all, I have been charting and just found out I have a luteal phase of 8
Looking for something that may help to lengthen it, I have heard Vitex and B6 is good, any info on how much I should take each day? Or maybe a B complex would be best? any ideas ladies?

GoldenK, I too have a hard time temping as I also work nightshifts 3 Nights a week, I take my temps during the afternoons when I wake during those days.
Congrats on the bfps!!

Kaelia- I am taking "Solgar" B Complex 50 mg but my luteal phase was 12 days before starting it (my progesterone levels are still very low though). Since your luteal phase is so short, you should consider taking 100 mg instead. From what I have read browsing through this thread, higher mg are better for people with luteal phases under 10 days.

I did take 100 mg B Complex last month, starting just 5 days before ovulation (though, you should start at cd 1, if you can), however, I found that I had terrible bloating and stomach pains on the days that I took 100 mg. The 50 mg has not been affecting me, so maybe consider taking 50 mg twice a day.
It is better to split up the dosage anyway, as you are not flooding your body with too many vitamins at once.

If you are taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, watch that you are not overdoing it on folic acid. You could be getting as much as 800 mcg of folate from B Complex and an equal amount from your prenatal, I think you should try not to take more than 1000 mcg of folate (folic acid) per day.

If the B Complex is not enough to lengthen your luteal phase this month, you could try using a progesterone cream after ovulation, stopping once you get your period or after you have ascertained that you are not pregnant (or continuing until 10 weeks pregnant!). I used Emerita Pro-gest, available on amazon. I stopped using it at 12 dpo and did not get my period until 16 dpo but I'm not sure if it was the progesterone cream or the B Complex. This month, I started B Complex at cd 1 and will be checking my progesterone levels tomorrow at 6 dpo. If they are too low, I will start the progesterone cream. Hoping I won't need it, though am still feeling cold, so suspect I will.

Hope the B Complex works for you!!

 

[Kaelia67]

Thanks so much!
I am taking a pre-natal so will check the amount of folic acid intake. I've decided to have a watch-and-see month this month as i only came off the pill around 3-4 months ago.
If my luteal phrase is the same again this month then ill start with what's been recommended.
Fx you all get your bfp's soon

 

[gaiagirl]

Hi Ladies,

I have had just 2 cycles off bcp and so far LP of 8-9 days

I take 240mg of Vitex every day and just started 100mg B6 yesterday. I take a prenatal with a little bit of all the B vitamins, so do you think that just the B6 is OK?

I hope it helps!!!!!! I want to TTC in Jan!

 

[kateedid]

Okay, Ladies. This is going to be long but bear with me!

I posted a message a few pages back asking if anyone had proof that B Complex improved their progesterone levels and I think I have it!! Two months ago, I had a biochemical pregnancy with a mid-luteal progesterone value of 8 ng/ml. I have always been progesterone deficient and used injectables plus progesterone to get pregnant with my son 2 years ago. I never had a progesterone value over 9 on natural cycles.

Last month, I took B Complex 100 5 days before ov and then started progesterone cream after ov. My mid-luteal progesterone was 15 at 8 dpo. I had a 15 day luteal phase but I assumed it was the progesterone cream that had caused the high progesterone level and long luteal phase (it's usually 12 days, used to be 11).

This month, I started taking B Complex 50 mg at cd 1 and decided NOT to use the progesterone cream after ov so that I could see if the B Complex was actually working. I had my progesterone levels checked today (6 dpo) and my jaw almost hit the floor when the nurse told me my progesterone level is 19.6 ng/ml.

I am really absolutely convinced it was the B Complex. Now I'm wondering how many women take unnecessary medications because they are Vit B deficient! I will definitely be discussing this with my RE- I think she thought I was a kook for believing it would work to raise my levels. Oh, and I also ovulated a day or two earlier this cycle.

Anyone have similar experiences?