GRAD here, Short Luteal Phase ? for a friend

[artmusiclife]

Has anyone successfully corrected a short luteal phase issue? What was the protocol?

***warning previous child mentioned***
My friend is TTC #2 at age 39. LP was not an issue with #1 a few years ago. She is still nursing (not much, just a once a day immunity boost for her 3 year old - who has never been sick, so it's working!)

She is ovulating, but not able to pick it up with an OPK. She is temping for information.

LPs 6-8 days for the past 4 cycles.  

TTC 6 cycles/NTNP longer

A midwife told her that clomid could help.  I've never heard of clomid used for this.

If anyone has insight I'd love to hear it!!

(edited to add more info)

******siggy warning******

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2016 12:10:49 GMT -5 artmusiclife said:

Has anyone successfully corrected a short luteal phase issue? What was the protocol?

My friend is TTC #2 at age 39. This was not an issue with #1 a few years ago, though it did take several months to conceive. She is still nursing (not much, just a once a day immunity boost for her 3 year old - who has never been sick, so it's working!) She is ovulating, but not able to pick it up with an OPK. She is temping for information.

A midwife told her that clomid could help.

If anyone has insight I'd love to hear it!!

******siggy warning******

How long are her LPs now? How many cycles has she been charting?

[artmusiclife]

Jun 14, 2016 12:47:53 GMT -5 @led said:

Jun 14, 2016 12:10:49 GMT -5 artmusiclife said:

Has anyone successfully corrected a short luteal phase issue? What was the protocol?

My friend is TTC #2 at age 39. This was not an issue with #1 a few years ago, though it did take several months to conceive. She is still nursing (not much, just a once a day immunity boost for her 3 year old - who has never been sick, so it's working!) She is ovulating, but not able to pick it up with an OPK. She is temping for information.

A midwife told her that clomid could help.

If anyone has insight I'd love to hear it!!

******siggy warning******

How long are her LPs now? How many cycles has she been charting?

she has been charting for 4 cycles, ttc longer.  i'll ask her how long her LP is.

[artmusiclife]

Jun 14, 2016 12:15:36 GMT -5 W said:

Was she on BC recently? I am side eyeing the hell out of her midwife.

No BC.  Is clomid not something that normally helps with LP?  

[artmusiclife]

her LP has been 6-8 days long.

[Deleted]

I would suggest seeing an RE. I don't know if clomid would help her, but she should see one anyway before taking it, and be monitored while taking it.

[artmusiclife]

Jun 14, 2016 13:02:19 GMT -5 @irish said:

I would suggest seeing an RE. I don't know if clomid would help her, but she should see one anyway before taking it, and be monitored while taking it.

Her midwife would not be licensed to prescribe medicine.  I've already given her the heads up about being closely monitored.  Thanks for the reminder to tell her to go to an RE over OBGYN.  They are typically pretty clueless, and it might be a waste of time!

[ugotstarbucked]

If her LP is that short she should think about having her progesterone levels checked.

[sleepymonkey]

I would definitely echo what others have said and recommend your friend see an RE. I am also 39 and had no problem TTC #1 3 years ago but now it's an issue. Since TFAS, on natural cycles my LP is 10-11 days which is on the shorter end of normal. I took Femara for 4 cycles and on that my LP lengthened to 14-16 days. I would definitely recommend your friend not take Clomid without consulting with an RE. My ob wrote me an rx for Clomid and said to come back in 3 months if I'm not KU. Instead, I started seeing an RE who told me that Clomid was not a good option for me because of other issues I have.

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2016 13:08:06 GMT -5 artmusiclife said:

Jun 14, 2016 13:02:19 GMT -5 @irish said:

I would suggest seeing an RE. I don't know if clomid would help her, but she should see one anyway before taking it, and be monitored while taking it.

Her midwife would not be licensed to prescribe medicine.  I've already given her the heads up about being closely monitored.  Thanks for the reminder to tell her to go to an RE over OBGYN.  They are typically pretty clueless, and it might be a waste of time!

Sorry, I assumed the practice has both midwives and OBs (mine does) and that the midwife would've referred to a regular OB rather than an RE for the clomid.

Edited for clarity.

Also, not sure if she knows but clomid can cause thinning of her lining so it's not always the best options for some, the RE can do other tests. And I echo PP in having progesterone checked.

[joy]

Jun 14, 2016 12:55:26 GMT -5 artmusiclife said:

Jun 14, 2016 12:15:36 GMT -5 W said:

Was she on BC recently? I am side eyeing the hell out of her midwife.

No BC.  Is clomid not something that normally helps with LP?  

In roundabout theory - yes.

Short luteal phases imply that progesterone drops too early.  Progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum (empty egg sac) after ovulation.  If progesterone levels coming from the corpus luteum are low, then they will drop sooner and lead to a shorter luteal phase. 

In theory - the amount of progesterone being secreted from the corpus luteum is directly related to egg quality.  Better quality egg, higher progesterone.  Clomid can increase egg quality (by tricking the body into making more follicle stimulating hormone, FSH). 

Progesterone supplementation is much easier.  It's worked for some grads around here.

Measuring progesterone levels post ovulation quantitatively is difficult.  My RE actually used the number as a "yes/no" on ovulation and not a indicator of egg quality. 

All this said - if she's serious about tackling this, then she should see an RE.  I would not take Clomid from an OB.  I'm not sure I'd take progesterone from an OB, honestly.

[cheezee]

BF'ing can shorten LP's. If she hasn't had many cycles PP I'd just give it some more time. Things may straighten out. I've also found that taking B6 helped my LP by a couple days.

[Deleted]

I don't have any advice, but I appreciated all the info in here since I'm having this issue myself (longest LP since December was 8 days)

[ironbaby]

Jun 15, 2016 9:22:14 GMT -5 ****** said:

Jun 15, 2016 0:34:26 GMT -5 W said:

If she's 39 then she's ok to see an RE at this point since I assume it's been 6 months or longer. MWs and OB that hand out info on clomid without checking the levels is what makes me side eye.

sorta related: my cousin offered me her left over clomid.

How does someone even GET leftover Clomid?!? I was only given my 5 tablets at a time.

[madamewaffles]

Jun 15, 2016 10:41:17 GMT -5 ironbaby said:

Jun 15, 2016 9:22:14 GMT -5 ****** said:

sorta related: my cousin offered me her left over clomid.

How does someone even GET leftover Clomid?!? I was only given my 5 tablets at a time.

My RX had 3 refills so the clinic didn't have to call them in each cycle. It was more messy than easy at the end of the day because my dosage increased each cycle so they had to send a new order each month anyway. It was a disaster. I have "leftovers" due to my pharmacy fucking up the order.