Concerns about Short Luteal Phase

[Anonymous]

We have been trying for 5 months and I started charting about 2 months ago. I have a short cycle (around 26 days) and I have learned that I ovulate around day 19. This means my luteal phase is, at most, 8 days. After some preliminary research, I'm very concerned about this. Is a short luteal phase something that can be successfully corrected with progesterone supplements/Clomid? On the infertility spectrum, is this a relatively "easy" problem to fix? I am 31 and worried about our chances of conceiving. Would appreciate any advice or feedback.

[Anonymous]

I have a luteal phase of 9 to 10 days which is fine for conception purposes. 8 is a little on the short side. You can try taking B6 as a first step, for a lot of people this can increase your luteal phase by a few days. Might take a cycle or two for it to work.

Five months is well within the window for how long it can take to get pregnant at your age. So don't get too worried.

Clomid has its own problems. Basically you can only take it for a maximum of three cycles since after that it can cause a hostile environment for the sperm by altering your cervical mucus - so unless you plan for IUI it isn't a viable long term option.

Progesterone can increase your luteal phase. Make sure it is prescribed since it can effect the pregnancy as well.

A short luteal phase might be indicative of some other hormonal imbalances that could be preventing you from getting pregnant. (Think symptom of an illness - so even if you correct the "cough" with cough medicine it doesn't cure the cold) So you might consider getting a full work-up.

In my case I had a thyroid (severe) imbalance that runs in the family. For some reason once I was properly medicated everything fell into place.

Worse case scenario - IVF is an option since they complete regulate your hormones for you. This worked for a girlfriend of mine.

[Anonymous]

I also have a short luteal phase of about 9-10 days, which has concerned me. I read through a lot of the online forums and people swear by B6. However, there seem to be no research articles or studies confirming this. There is even a Cleveland Clinic Q&A where a physician was asked about B6 and she said she had not seen any studies on it. I also looked at a ASRM research paper on luteal phase (just google it), which said they aren't really sure if a short luteal phase is a problem, let alone how to even treat it. ASRM also did not mention B6.

I am not arguing that B6 or other alternative medicines don't work....I imagine they do for some folks, only that there really isn't a lot of medical research out there on it. I personally get nervous about taking extra vitamins or medications without the OK from a doctor, particularly when I am trying to get pregnant, but I think to each his own as long as you are educated on the topic.

I called Reiter Hill to see what the nurse said about the luteal phase, and she said I can come in for day 3/21 testing. I have also been trying for 4-5 months, but I think I am going to wait until the 6 month mark to do the testing.

[Anonymous]

If you are hitting a 10 day luteal phase it is okay for conception purposes since if implantation happens later it is usually considered a problem, so I would not worry about it.

8 days is way too short though. And you could end up losing some viable pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have a short luteal phase of about 9-10 days, which has concerned me. I read through a lot of the online forums and people swear by B6. However, there seem to be no research articles or studies confirming this. There is even a Cleveland Clinic Q&A where a physician was asked about B6 and she said she had not seen any studies on it. I also looked at a ASRM research paper on luteal phase (just google it), which said they aren't really sure if a short luteal phase is a problem, let alone how to even treat it. ASRM also did not mention B6.

I am not arguing that B6 or other alternative medicines don't work....I imagine they do for some folks, only that there really isn't a lot of medical research out there on it. I personally get nervous about taking extra vitamins or medications without the OK from a doctor, particularly when I am trying to get pregnant, but I think to each his own as long as you are educated on the topic.

I called Reiter Hill to see what the nurse said about the luteal phase, and she said I can come in for day 3/21 testing. I have also been trying for 4-5 months, but I think I am going to wait until the 6 month mark to do the testing.

Not trying to knock your googling abilities - but one quick search turned up these studies on B6 and Vitamin C (and I have no dog in this fight) - the last link is kind of scary about short luteal phases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070834/

http://books.google.com/books?id=GMbXen2Od8wC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=study+b6+luteal+phase&source=bl&ots=2vq30vxuM3&sig=4G208BPS986jZNsmPUXR2MTk6_k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tI4XU52fJMuL0QGshYHgDQ&ved=0CJEBEOgBMAk4Cg#v=onepage&q=study%20b6%20luteal%20phase&f=false

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/rei/files/vitc_lpd.pdf

http://www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/perimenopause

[Anonymous]

OP here. I appreciate the responses so far but they have not eased my mind, as I hoped when I initiated the post. Does anyone have any success stories of extending their LP? The difference between 8 to 10 days doesn't seem too far in my mind and I hope I can get there with B6 and/or my OB's help.

I have only starting charting, so I hope that I just had a wonky cycle and it will work itself out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also have a short luteal phase of about 9-10 days, which has concerned me. I read through a lot of the online forums and people swear by B6. However, there seem to be no research articles or studies confirming this. There is even a Cleveland Clinic Q&A where a physician was asked about B6 and she said she had not seen any studies on it. I also looked at a ASRM research paper on luteal phase (just google it), which said they aren't really sure if a short luteal phase is a problem, let alone how to even treat it. ASRM also did not mention B6.

I am not arguing that B6 or other alternative medicines don't work....I imagine they do for some folks, only that there really isn't a lot of medical research out there on it. I personally get nervous about taking extra vitamins or medications without the OK from a doctor, particularly when I am trying to get pregnant, but I think to each his own as long as you are educated on the topic.

I called Reiter Hill to see what the nurse said about the luteal phase, and she said I can come in for day 3/21 testing. I have also been trying for 4-5 months, but I think I am going to wait until the 6 month mark to do the testing.

Not trying to knock your googling abilities - but one quick search turned up these studies on B6 and Vitamin C (and I have no dog in this fight) - the last link is kind of scary about short luteal phases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070834/

http://books.google.com/books?id=GMbXen2Od8wC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=study+b6+luteal+phase&source=bl&ots=2vq30vxuM3&sig=4G208BPS986jZNsmPUXR2MTk6_k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tI4XU52fJMuL0QGshYHgDQ&ved=0CJEBEOgBMAk4Cg#v=onepage&q=study%20b6%20luteal%20phase&f=false

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/rei/files/vitc_lpd.pdf

http://www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/perimenopause

Not to burst your bubble but none of these have to do with B6 and luteal phase defect. They only refer to pms and menopause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also have a short luteal phase of about 9-10 days, which has concerned me. I read through a lot of the online forums and people swear by B6. However, there seem to be no research articles or studies confirming this. There is even a Cleveland Clinic Q&A where a physician was asked about B6 and she said she had not seen any studies on it. I also looked at a ASRM research paper on luteal phase (just google it), which said they aren't really sure if a short luteal phase is a problem, let alone how to even treat it. ASRM also did not mention B6.

I am not arguing that B6 or other alternative medicines don't work....I imagine they do for some folks, only that there really isn't a lot of medical research out there on it. I personally get nervous about taking extra vitamins or medications without the OK from a doctor, particularly when I am trying to get pregnant, but I think to each his own as long as you are educated on the topic.

I called Reiter Hill to see what the nurse said about the luteal phase, and she said I can come in for day 3/21 testing. I have also been trying for 4-5 months, but I think I am going to wait until the 6 month mark to do the testing.

Not trying to knock your googling abilities - but one quick search turned up these studies on B6 and Vitamin C (and I have no dog in this fight) - the last link is kind of scary about short luteal phases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070834/

http://books.google.com/books?id=GMbXen2Od8wC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=study+b6+luteal+phase&source=bl&ots=2vq30vxuM3&sig=4G208BPS986jZNsmPUXR2MTk6_k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tI4XU52fJMuL0QGshYHgDQ&ved=0CJEBEOgBMAk4Cg#v=onepage&q=study%20b6%20luteal%20phase&f=false

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/rei/files/vitc_lpd.pdf

http://www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/perimenopause

NP here, none of the first three links suggest anything regarding whether or not B6 lengthens the luteal phase. The first study was about B6 relieving PMS. The second blip in a book was that the phase of a woman's cycle makes a difference in how something is metabolized. The third study is about vitamin C, not B6.

[Anonymous]

Thank you poster immediately above who actually read the links provided and realized they have nothing to do with causation between luteal and B6.

For OP, consider this study which found that most successfully implant at 8 dpo, which would be one day before the start of your period (http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jun99/wilcox2.htm).

I would also encourage you to read this: http://www.sart.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/News_and_Publications/Practice_Guidelines/Committee_Opinions/Luteal%20phase%20deficiency2012noprint.pdf. I mentioned it earlier, but read the heading about diagnostic criteria on page 2 (interval of 8 or fewer days from time of LH surge is considered evidence of short luteal phase).

[Anonymous]

Yes progesterone supplements will help extend your LP. If this is your only problem (and if the short LP is not itself caused by some 3rd factor like egg quality issues) it's a relatively easy fix.

[Anonymous]

I took a b complex vitamin every other day starting on the day after ovulation until 8 dpo. It kept my temps high above the cover line and - I believe - assisted in maintaining a long enough LP until the embryo could implant successfully. On the second cycle of this approach we conceived (after a year of charting and trying unsuccessfully) and that baby is now sleeping happily on my husband's chest. Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took a b complex vitamin every other day starting on the day after ovulation until 8 dpo. It kept my temps high above the cover line and - I believe - assisted in maintaining a long enough LP until the embryo could implant successfully. On the second cycle of this approach we conceived (after a year of charting and trying unsuccessfully) and that baby is now sleeping happily on my husband's chest. Good luck OP!

How long was your luteal before and after you started taking B6? How much did you take?

[Anonymous]

I was still nursing ds and ttc and my luteal phase was short, 7-10 days depending on the month. I considered taking b6 but hadn't yet, then I had a super short cycle - 21 days! AF came on Thanksgiving. I was so frustrated I started the B6 that week. And got pg with my dd that very next cycle.

I would recommend you get a work up done to try to pinpoint the cause of your short lp. I knew why mine was short - nursing can do that. I think it's worth getting a checkup to see if anything looks amiss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took a b complex vitamin every other day starting on the day after ovulation until 8 dpo. It kept my temps high above the cover line and - I believe - assisted in maintaining a long enough LP until the embryo could implant successfully. On the second cycle of this approach we conceived (after a year of charting and trying unsuccessfully) and that baby is now sleeping happily on my husband's chest. Good luck OP!

How long was your luteal before and after you started taking B6? How much did you take?

I didn't take B6 by itself; I took it in a B complex. Just standard, off-the-shelf B complex vitamin. The B6 and B12 in a standard prenatal are minimal compared to taking them with a complex. Just compare labels and you'll see. And since B vitamins are water-soluble, whatever your body doesn't use, your body flushes it out.

My LP was standard 12-14 days but after seeing for a few months that my temps post-ovulation never went very high above the cover line, I figured it was worth a try. It got my temps high above the cover line and once I got to 8 dpo, I stopped because I didn't want my LP extended too far. One month my period came around 14 dpo as usual, the next month - positive HPT at 10 dpo!

I remember reading something online about the B vitamins allowing progesterone to do its work and that was my motivator. But I took it AFTER I had ovulated (based on extensive temping and charting) because I didn't want any interference with that process. My personal concern was what happened with my body and temps AFTER ovulation.

I also would recommend an acupuncturist to help extend your LP. If you are anywhere near downtown Silver Spring, I wholeheartedly recommend Gillian Powers at Crossings.

[Anonymous]

I took B6 as part of a B complex. the second half of my cycle and it increased by three days. I had already been tested for everything under the sun and everything had tested fine - great egg quality, ovulating, etc. B complex is really good for you in a whole host of ways - so it doesn't hurt. Helps depression, digestion, progesterone use, etc.

My issues seems to be short luteal phases and bleeding throughout the seconde part of my cycle (I start after ovulation and continue on and off until my periods). I thought that this was a problem. They were going to sample my uterine lining, there is a condition that can cause this but I ended up having three children with no issues. Just seems that is my normal.