Luteal Phase Defect?

bmccartney

bmccartney

Cathlete
I have a suspicision that I have a LPD. After taking 3 months of birth control due to the complete absence of periods, I've had 2 cycles. Though it appears that I DO ovulate, I only had 7 and 9 day Luteal Phases before bleeding, and my post-ovulatory temps weren't that high. I've got an appointment set up with a Reproductive Endocrinologist on 9-18-09, so hopefully I'll get some answers then. I just don't want to be given Clomid and pushed out the door.

Has anyone been diagnosed with this? How was it treated? TIA!
 
Hey Bethany!
I have had no experiecne with LFD, but I just wanted to offer my support. I know how long you have wanted another baby. Hang in there!!!
 
Hey Bethany! Glad to see you back but sorry you are going through this. I was on Depo for many many moons and when I came off, my LP was only 7-9 days and it worked itself out through a few more cycles of no BC. Even still it was only 11-12 days which is on the shorter side but obviously didn't matter this time. When I talked about it on another forum many women recommended B12 to help lengthen it. I strongly recommend coming off of every hormone and see what your body does own its own. I temped and charted for 6-7 months before getting pregnant this time and learned SOO much about my body and will definitely do it again. Big hugs and hope you get some good news soon!
 
Thanks Susan for your support! I'm really hoping to share some good news very soon!

Jen, it gives me some hope to hear that your luteal phases straightened themselves out on their own. I was wondering if my short phases were due to the birth control or not (like in your case), but I couldn't find much info on the subject. Thanks for the B12 recommendation. I read about B6 being good for this as well, so maybe a B complex might be helpful?

You two are getting SOO close! I can't wait to see pics of your little ones when they decide to make their grand entrances. Good luck and thanks again for the support.:)
 
Hey Bethany,

I've been thinking of you and Reena!

I don't have any more insight, but I wanted to be supportive and I will pray for you.

Hopefully, the repo. endocrinologist will be helpful.

Melanie
 
Bethany~

Just sending you a "thinking of you" post. TTC can be soooooo frustrating; I will love to hear about your pregnancy venture!!

Hang in there, girlie & keep us posted. :D
 
LPD

Hi Bethany;

I too thought I had a LPD defect as mine was only 4-7 days long. That was after being on depo then the pill. When I went off the pill I didn't get a period for a long time and when I did it was with a short luteal phase. I bought a fertility monitor which said I was ovulating and I went on vitamin B12 and B6 and nothing worked. Then I saw a fertility specialist and she said I was ovulating but the egg wasn't mature so it couldn't be fertilized. I have a son who was born before I went on the depo shot and the fertility doctor said having my son messed up my hormones and my issues had nothing to do with the depo shot. Anyway, the doctor put me on hormone shots to ensure I ovulated a mature egg and I had a healthy baby girl in April 2009. The good thing is that you are seeing the right doctor to get things happening! Good Luck!

Jackie
 
LPD

Hi again Bethany. I forgot to say that I went on Clomid for three months and it didn't work for me. The idea is that Clomid tricks your body into thinking that you aren't making any estrogen and so it makes more thereby increasing the hormones that make you ovulate. So in theory it could have worked for me but it didn't. The hormone shots are easy to take and I got an ultrasound every three days so I could see that an egg was developing. It was so nice to know something was happening and I didn't have to wait until I got my period to learn that I wasn't pregnant.

Good luck again;
Jackie
 
Jackie,

Congrats on the birth of your little girl!

Did they test certain hormone levels before putting you on the shots? How did they test to know that the eggs weren't mature enough to be fertilized? I ask because the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) wasn't going to test any of my hormone levels, I had to insist. All he wanted to do is a semen analysis for dh and the fallopian tube dye test to see if they're open. Insurance doesn't cover anything and so we're not sure we'll get those tests yet, especially since those things are most likely fine. And I called to get my results of the blood tests (thyroid, prolactin, testosterone, ect) and everything was PERFECT!

Now I'm more confused than ever. I do think the birth of DD messed my hormones up since I didn't have any cycles after her despite only nursing for 6 months. I've been taking B vitamins and charting my temps - I feel like that's something I have control over at least. And I'm not crazy about taking Clomid, I haven't heard of many success stories about it.

My gyno, family, and friends just say to stop exercising so much and eat more and that I'm nuts for going through all this. Maybe I am, who knows.:eek: Honestly I'm thinking about acupuncture...it couldn't hurt, right??

Sorry for the long post, I guess I just needed to vent.
 
Just wanted to add a Clomid comment. You're right, it doesn't work for everyone......but sometimes it DOES work......and well, sometimes it's worth a try. As a pharmacist, I've seen many successful Clomid patients who have delivered healthy babies. Femara seems to be more "gentle" on side effects and might be another option.

Good luck Bethany!!!
 
LPD

Bethany;

I also had the dye test done to ensure my tubes were open and not deseased and my husband had the sperm test as well. We are Canadian so these tests didn't cost anything so I just did whatever the Dr. recommended. The doctor tested my estrogen and progesterone 7 days after I ovulated. That's when she told me I did not ovulate a mature egg. People told me to quit working out as well and gain a few pounds so I did then I just felt horrible about myself which doesn't help anything. I was working out when I concieved my son (on our own after one month of trying) so I felt that wasn't the issue. Also, the fertility doctor said to maintain a healthy lifestyle so I started working out again.
Personally I felt crazy on Clomid and I worried that I'd have twins or more. I also hated the day I got my period, knowing I wasn't pregnant, it broke my heart. Don't listen to people telling you to just relax and you'll get pregnant. If that were the case they wouldn't have fertility doctors, everyone would be sent to Psychiarty instead. There is a medical reason as to why you are not conceiving and they will find out the answer and you will be pregnant. It sounds like you are smart and tenatious and asking/demanding all the right things. You'll get there, I know it.
I tried fertility teas which did nothing but I've heard a lot of success from acupuncture as well. At least you know you will be trying to adddress the issue while waiting for the doctor to fingure things out too.

Please feel free to vent, ask questions etc....

Jackie
 
Bethany,

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling still to find answers. You seem so strong to endure what you've been going through. Since your hormone levels were good, can you save/afford the next level of steps? However, the acupuncture sounds like an interesting option and maybe more affordable. I honestly don't know enough about it.

I am sending prayers and e-hug your way.
Melanie2
 
Jackie, the doctor didn't mention anything about testing my estrogen and progesterone levels 7 days after ovualtion. I wonder if I should've asked about that. He only mentioned the dye test, the sperm analysis, and starting me on Clomid. My biggest thing is, they haven't found what's wrong with me so why would I take medication? I'm happy to take a medication IF it's indicated for a diagnosed condition that I have.

Anyway, I've got an appt. set up with a highly recommended acupuncturist tomorrow that specializes in infertility. It's hard not to get my hopes up...oh and I tried the teas too but they are gross!!!:p

And like you, I concieved my daughter after the very first cycle off birth control while I was working out just as much as I do now. I think it's just an easy thing for the doctor to tell someone to do...however, I'd go CRAZY if I didn't get my Cathe fix!;)
 
Melanie2,
Thanks so much for the encouragement! I think we'll save our money for now and skip the tests and try the acupuncture for the time being. It's actually cheaper. My first visit with the reproductive endocrinologist was $285.:(

Congrats again on your pregnancy, hopefully I'll be joining you all on the pregnancy forum soon.:)
 
LPD

Bethany;

My GP tested my thyroid, prolactin, testosterone and the first thing the fertility specialist tested was my estrogen and progesterone one week after I ovulated. She actually tested those hormones two seperate times, both one week after I ovulated. From that she learned that my levels were very low so she said I didn't "ovulate well" (in her words). I think fertility doctors use medications in order to diagnose the issue. Like if Clomid worked then the issue was a lack of Estrogen. I also think Clomid and other meds work for a variety of issues. That being said, I totally agree with you about not wanting to take medication when you don't know what the underlying issue is. Even though I did have the dye test and my husband had his sperm tested I knew those weren't the issues. I felt those were tests for women why had never conceived before. My husband and I had a baby three years before seeing the fertility doctor and I didn't feel his sperm or my tubes would have changed during that time.

Anyway, good luck at the acupuncturist. It would be great if you don't need to take any harsh medications. I remember going to a parade once and there were 5 or 6 very pregnant women with t-shirts on advertising for a local acupuncurist, saying that was how they got pregnant. I was taking the hormone shots at the time and I decided that if that treatment didn't work I would do acupuncture next.

Fingers crossed for you!!

Jackie
 
Well my first visit with the acupucturist went great! She actually listened to me and completely validated my concerns. She took one look at my BBT charts and said there's something wrong and Clomid wouldn't help because I don't have a long enough luteal phase to build my lining up enough for an egg to implant into anyway! The fertility doc couldn't care less about my charts. She also brought up my TSH level, how it's within normal range but on the low end which could be an issue.

Jackie, like you, she said me ovaries aren't working right. She used the word "weak". With getting pregnant, then nursing for 6 months, then going on birth control to try to start my cycle again, she said my ovaries were "asleep"...and now they don't know how to get started again. Inferility is her specialty and she's also a MD, so I feel pretty confident. We're going to try the acpuncture, herbs, and dietary changes to start with. If that still doesn't get things going, I'll be sure to get the estrogen and progesterone tests 1 week after ovulation (assuming I'll eventually ovulate again:eek:)

Thanks for all of your help and advice!:)
 
LPD

Bethany;

Oh, that is such great news. The acupuncurist sounds great! I'm sure you will ovulate again. Did she tell you to keep taking your temprature and/or use an ovulation monitor? Just curious.

Jackie
 
Yes, she wants me to keep taking my temps and to bring my charts in to each appointment. I also have the ovulation kits but have had a heck of a time reading them because the two lines always look the same to me!:confused: I'm also writing down my diet for a whole week.
 
Bethany,
I'm happy for you that it sounds like you're getting some answers & learning alot about your body!!
I had trouble reading the ovulation kits.....but then I got the ClearBlue Easy Monitor & it was super easy to read. They are spendy, but may be worth the cost. I was so lucky, I had a fellow Cathelite pass theirs onto me....
Thinking/praying for you, girl!!
 
LPD

Bethany;

That sounds great! I too was going to recommend the Clearblue Fertility monitor. It's fool proof and worth the money I think. It recognizes a hormone serge so it did tell me I was ovulating when I wasn't "ovulating well". It would be interesting to see if it tells you that you're ovulating too. For me it was nice not having to guess all the time and wonder if every little cramp was ovulation. I drove myself crazy with all that before I got the monitor. I don't have mine anymore but there are used ones on Ebay and Kijiji.

Jackie
 
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