Is a 10 day luteal phase too short?

[natalie910]

I started charting bbt last month and found that my luteal phase was 10 days. I've never known what my lp was so I never worried about it before. I had a mc in Feb. but it was due to a chromosomal abnormality, so the dr says. I'm just afraid that a 10 day lp isn't long enough to sustain a pregnancy. I've read that the lp can be lengthened by using progesterone cream or taking b6 but I don't know if either of these are my problem. I'm on cd5 so I'm wondering if I should get in to see my dr right away or if I should chart this month and see if the last lp was a fluke. I just feel like I'll never get pg again if the lp is too short.

[heartnbutterfly]

Hi,
I stumbled here after doing a search. About 4 or 5 years ago I became pg, started spotting, so the ob sent me for blood work and found low progesterone. I was put on pills, but ended up miscarrying anyway weeks later. I had a natural miscarriage, so we don't know if there was a chromosomal issue for sure, but we strongly suspect it due to my age - I was in my late 40's.

I was told that when I conceived again I should call the office right away to get more progesterone. I had 1 period before conceiving again, got on progesterone, and now have a healthy and beautiful 3 year old daughter. :)

I'm 47 now and definitely do have a progesterone issue. My cycles run around  24 days, with a 10 day literal phase. That's shorter than what it used to be for me.

Good luck!

[clynissa]

Oh my word this is my exact situation.  I know it's been a while but I'm curious to know if any of you were able to become pregnant and stay pregnant once you included the progesterone in you regime.  Data has changed since this first post but had a miscarriage a few years back and have been unable to get pregnant since.  My husband and I started fertility treatments 1 year ago with no success.  For the cycle I just started they added Crinone, a progesterone supplement, since I had been getting my period within 10 days after IUI.  My concern was that if the sperm was fertilizing the egg was my body even allowing it enough time to implant before shedding my lining?  Due to the drugs they were not able to test my progesterone levels but went ahead and perscribed Crinone beginning 3 days after IUI.  

My interest is really if the Crinone (or any progesterone treatment) worked in getting pregnant.  Did anybody else find that menstration 10 days after ovulation was keeping them from getting pregnant?  I suppose I could just be patient and wait the 14 days to see if I get a positive test :) it's just so long!

As a little tid-bit, progesterone supresses your period so as long as you're on it, even if you're not pregnant, you will not get your period.

[natalie910]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to get some bw done on Sat. but just to rule out thyroid/pituitary gland issues. I will bring in my chart with 1 cycle of bbt, I hope that's enough for some further testing. My problem is, I'm not getting any younger. I don't want to keep trying if there is a problem or no chance I can sustain a pg. I really appreciate all of your comments, I'm taking a bunch of questions to my dr on Sat. I agree, sometimes we hear..oh it will happen or relax so much that we think that's all there is to it but I feel like this next step is necessary for me. I will definitely ask about progesterone, too. it sounds like that could be my problem.
Thanks again.

[ita17]

My progesterone on cream was 38 on day 21  & last month on a supp. it was only an 8!
On another cycle it was 12 on the cream.
& 2 other cycles on supp. it was a 30 on CD21
So the cream has been just as good.

[30something13]

I had a 10 day luteal phase and my temps would have a slow rise after Oing. I had low progesterone and noticed a BIG difference this month on it. My first month. I would ask to test your progesterone on day 3 and then day 21. Firstisa baseline then the second is to confirm your O and progesterone levels. You do not need an u/s yet. As long as your temps ar going up then you are infact Oing. You can look at my chart to see what it looked like before and then when I was on the progesterone. It mightlook lke yours. The thing is the cream is not good enough if you are low!!!! I can not stress that enough. The compunded suppositories go dtraight to the uterus and you get the exact dose eeach time! You have to use them every 12 hours. The cream is just basically to help with menopauseal woman! Not for pregnancy. The B6 is 200mg a day. That can help. If you have a + hpt then you need to ask for a quantaitve and progesterone levels right away so you know if you are ok or not! My levels were 6.4 and they should be like 15 is what my RE says. Best of luck and look at my chart!

[vmvnpv]

I don't know if it's short or not but my luteal phase was 10 days long when I was on Clomiphene last year.  Now it's 14 days when I'm on Clomid.

[ita17]

A really easy way to help is to use the cream, its not expensive & there is no side effects either.  You use it AFTER you O, thats the key, so if you KNOW that you have O'd then use it 2-3 xs per day, its a low dose if you follow the instructions. I used it til CD26 or CD27 then I would get my period a day or so later.
I didn't use it for fertility at first, but to suppress my estrogen, I had a cyst I was trying to not have "outbreaks" I guess you can say.  I got pregnant twice on the cream & the funny thing is I've tried the supp.'s 3 months now (this will be 4) & no pregnancy!  Hmmmmmmm
B6 also does help, but I've been told you need to be on it for several weeks for it to effect your cycles, I don't know much about this.  I started taking about 3 weeks ago a B6, B12 & Folic combo, high dose.  It can't hurt cuz all three are water soluble.

Another thing you can do is see your OB or RE starting around  day 10 & have them monitor you w/US to get an accurate idea of WHEN you really O.  It can change month to month, but generally if your periods are coming regularly then chances are you O regularly.
Best of luck!

[rambopeep]

Hi I also have been charting my bbt. This will be my third month of temping after trying to get pregnant for the second time for almost 2 years now. It took almost 2 years before my daughter arrived which started me thinking that my short cycles were to blame for my infertility problem.

I typically have a 22 to 24 day cycle, but never really knew what my lp length was. I was always told that because my cycle was so short, I O'd early, like on day 8 or 10 but discovered after temping recently that is not the case.

First off, I realized that my temps are very low. I have not once hit the 37 degree celsius mark and have dipped down into the 35 degree celcius range twice. Secondly, I see a shift in temps on day 12 and 13 but it drops drastically and then goes up again on days 16 and 17. I think the first 2 days are the ones I am supposed to ignore because they jump so quickly, and the second two are the right ones. If this is true, then I only have an 8 to 9 day lp. Normal is 10 to 14 days and lower than 10 is too low and will not have the sufficient hormones to support implantation. I have also heard of the progesterone cream, and will be asking my doctor about it after I complete this months bbt. I also think I have a low thyroid too, but I only have some of the symptoms, so I am not sure if that is also why we can't get pregnant after almost 2 years of actively trying and 3 years of not preventing.

You should definitely continue temping for a few months, so the dr can have some concrete data to go by. Don't let people tell you that, if it happened once, it will happen again, and to just relax. I have listened to that for almost 5 years, and I am sure that something isn't right. I just wish I had starting temping years ago. Then I would have noticed this much sooner and possibly could have resolved the issue without years of torment and disappointment.

Good luck in your journey.