Intro (kid mention); ? re: confirming O/ taking progesterone

[lavinia]

Hi all,

I just turned 30 and I am trying to conceive a second child.  I have lurked some here (and used to be active on TD) so I know there are some knowledgeable people here.  I hope to hang out and participate as I start the TTC process.  I'm hoping to get some opinions and advice on my current situation if anyone has the time  

I have been off birth control pills since February and tracking my temps with Fertility Friend since then.  According to FF, I have ovulated on either CD 19 or 20 for the past three cycles and had a luteal phase of 10 days each cycle.  I know that 10 days is on the short side for a luteal phase and could result in not getting pregnant or not having a successful pregnancy so I called my OBGYN on CD1 this cycle and he prescribed progesterone.  He said to start taking it 2 days after my LH spike.  So I've been temping and this is currently CD23 for me.  I *thought* I was ovulating on Tuesday (CD20) because of other fertility signs but my temps have not confirmed that.  So I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this and if I should start taking the progesterone now since I still feel pretty sure I ovulated on CD20?  Or continue to wait for my temp to rise and confirm O and go from there? 

I would appreciate any advice!  TIA! 

ETA: sorry for crazy first post, my kid kicked the keyboard before I was finished 

[rablissful]

Hi and welcome!

Can you post a link to your chart please?

If FF hasn't confirmed O, I wouldn't start them yet. I usually O on 18/19 but I'm on CD22 and only just got my temp spike.

[RajahMD]

10 days is still with in the normal range, so I'm really confused as to why your doctor prescribed progesterone. Did he do any testing to actually check your progesterone levels?

Also, keep in mind that it can take a perfectly normal couple up to a year to conceive. So 3 or 4 months is not that long in comparison.

[ghostmonkey]

10 days is fine.

Your OB is dumb.

You start progesterone at 3 DPO.

[cateyes]

Jun 26, 2015 19:55:51 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Hi and welcome!

Can you post a link to your chart please?

If FF hasn't confirmed O, I wouldn't start them yet. I usually O on 18/19 but I'm on CD22 and only just got my temp spike.

I agree-if temps are not confirming then you probably didn't O. Cycles can vary and if you start progesterone before you actually O it can completely make your cycle jacked.

Your OB is not a fertility expert and the advice you got proves this.

[lavinia]

hopefully this works... link to chart: FertilityFriend.com/home/41830c

no, OB did not do any testing before prescribing progesterone.

[kayladawn91]

Welcome!

[penguin129]

Welcome!

[rablissful]

Jun 26, 2015 20:17:47 GMT -5 lavinia said:

hopefully this works... link to chart: FertilityFriend.com/home/41830c

no, OB did not do any testing before prescribing progesterone.

Yeah you haven't O'd yet. Keep temping!

[akraus2015]

I'm not sure about why your doctor would prescribe progesterone without testing your levels first. In my experience, my luteal phases were consistently 9 days and I got pregnant within 10 months (combination of NTNP and actively TTC). Just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't be taking anything I wasn't sure I needed.

Good luck, and hope your TTC journey is a short one!

[shadesofgold]

Welcome to the boards and good luck TFAS!

On the short LP question - I also am concerned that your OB prescribed you progesterone this early and without any testing. I also have 9-10 day LPs. My OB said that a) short LPs are probably not even a barrier to getting pregnant, b) aren't always caused by progesterone deficiency, and c) they'd usually not test for progesterone problems until around a year. So, usually I'd say follow your doc's advice, but I am really questioning it in this case.

I looked at your chart and I don't think you O'd yet. Two follow up questions: 1) was your low temp today caused by sleep disruption or an early temp? 2) Are you really only getting three days of CM each cycle? If you are getting any watery CM, you should definitely be charting that because it is fertile CM. It seems unusual that you'd get three days of EWCM and nothing else. It makes me wonder if you're focusing too much on the days you think you'll O.

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 20:26:13 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Jun 26, 2015 20:17:47 GMT -5 lavinia said:

hopefully this works... link to chart: FertilityFriend.com/home/41830c

no, OB did not do any testing before prescribing progesterone.

Yeah you haven't O'd yet. Keep temping!

Thanks for your response! I know O can vary it just seems really late to me. But I will keep temping!!

[rablissful]

Jun 26, 2015 20:55:00 GMT -5 lavinia said:

Jun 26, 2015 20:26:13 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Yeah you haven't O'd yet. Keep temping!

Thanks for your response! I know O can vary it just seems really late to me. But I will keep temping!!

I was in the same boat. It's frustrating for sure!

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 20:06:37 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

10 days is fine.

Your OB is dumb.

You start progesterone at 3 DPO.

haha, thanks for your concise response. I read some places that under 12 days is "short" but some say under 10 days, so I felt like it was on the border and worth a call to my OB.  based on the responses here I don't plan on starting the progesterone yet. 

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 20:10:29 GMT -5 cateyes said:

Jun 26, 2015 19:55:51 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Hi and welcome!

Can you post a link to your chart please?

If FF hasn't confirmed O, I wouldn't start them yet. I usually O on 18/19 but I'm on CD22 and only just got my temp spike.

I agree-if temps are not confirming then you probably didn't O. Cycles can vary and if you start progesterone before you actually O it can completely make your cycle jacked.

Your OB is not a fertility expert and the advice you got proves this.

Good points!  I know that progesterone can make you not start your period even if you aren't pregnant so I don't want to take it if not needed.  and I like my OB, but even he would admit he is not a fertility expert.  now I am questioning his recommendation though.

[ghostmonkey]

Jun 26, 2015 20:58:06 GMT -5 lavinia said:

Jun 26, 2015 20:06:37 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

10 days is fine.

Your OB is dumb.

You start progesterone at 3 DPO.

haha, thanks for your concise response. I read some places that under 12 days is "short" but some say under 10 days, so I felt like it was on the border and worth a call to my OB.  based on the responses here I don't plan on starting the progesterone yet. 

Nope.

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 20:32:27 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

I'm not sure about why your doctor would prescribe progesterone without testing your levels first. In my experience, my luteal phases were consistently 9 days and I got pregnant within 10 months (combination of NTNP and actively TTC). Just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't be taking anything I wasn't sure I needed.

Good luck, and hope your TTC journey is a short one!

I didn't even think about asking him to check my levels, so I am glad that has been mentioned.  I can ask him to do that.  Thanks!

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 20:44:29 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Welcome to the boards and good luck TFAS!

On the short LP question - I also am concerned that your OB prescribed you progesterone this early and without any testing. I also have 9-10 day LPs. My OB said that a) short LPs are probably not even a barrier to getting pregnant, b) aren't always caused by progesterone deficiency, and c) they'd usually not test for progesterone problems until around a year. So, usually I'd say follow your doc's advice, but I am really questioning it in this case.

I looked at your chart and I don't think you O'd yet. Two follow up questions: 1) was your low temp today caused by sleep disruption or an early temp? 2) Are you really only getting three days of CM each cycle? If you are getting any watery CM, you should definitely be charting that because it is fertile CM. It seems unusual that you'd get three days of EWCM and nothing else. It makes me wonder if you're focusing too much on the days you think you'll O.

Thanks! 

I wasn't concerned about him prescribing the progesterone until now... you bring up some good points. I think I am not going to take anything this cycle and see if he will test my levels and just go from there. Or just wait and see what happens a few cycles. 

To answer your questions: 1) yes, it was an early temp at 5:30 am when I woke instead of the usual 6:30ish. And my temp yesterday was after disrupted sleep.  Maybe I should have discarded it.  2) No, I am not great about checking my CM. I only log it during my assumed fertile week. But it is very possible I am focusing too much on when I think I will O. 

[lavinia]

Jun 26, 2015 21:33:25 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

Jun 26, 2015 21:04:04 GMT -5 lavinia said:

I didn't even think about asking him to check my levels, so I am glad that has been mentioned.  I can ask him to do that.  Thanks!

So you are going to waste resources when not needed.. I see a wannabe infertile. You haven't even been off the pill for 5 months max & have LPs of at least 10 days, chill

Well, that seems like a bit of an overreaction.  I certainly don't want to be infertile. 

[shadesofgold]

Jun 26, 2015 21:11:23 GMT -5 lavinia said:

Jun 26, 2015 20:44:29 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Welcome to the boards and good luck TFAS!

On the short LP question - I also am concerned that your OB prescribed you progesterone this early and without any testing. I also have 9-10 day LPs. My OB said that a) short LPs are probably not even a barrier to getting pregnant, b) aren't always caused by progesterone deficiency, and c) they'd usually not test for progesterone problems until around a year. So, usually I'd say follow your doc's advice, but I am really questioning it in this case.

I looked at your chart and I don't think you O'd yet. Two follow up questions: 1) was your low temp today caused by sleep disruption or an early temp? 2) Are you really only getting three days of CM each cycle? If you are getting any watery CM, you should definitely be charting that because it is fertile CM. It seems unusual that you'd get three days of EWCM and nothing else. It makes me wonder if you're focusing too much on the days you think you'll O.

Thanks! 

I wasn't concerned about him prescribing the progesterone until now... you bring up some good points. I think I am not going to take anything this cycle and see if he will test my levels and just go from there. Or just wait and see what happens a few cycles. 

To answer your questions: 1) yes, it was an early temp at 5:30 am when I woke instead of the usual 6:30ish. And my temp yesterday was after disrupted sleep.  Maybe I should have discarded it.  2) No, I am not great about checking my CM. I only log it during my assumed fertile week. But it is very possible I am focusing too much on when I think I will O. 

Yeah, maybe hold off on the progesterone and see how things go this cycle and the next, at least until you can actually diagnose a progesterone problem.  

On the temps and CM, just do the best you can but do try to look at the month as a whole rather than just zero in on your expected O-date. Otherwise you may miss a bigger pattern or even your O. Like, what if you'd ovulated at like CD 15 this cycle and missed it? Or what if you've continued to have fertile CM but ignored it because you assumed you were done - and you O tomorrow? All in the realm of possibility - you just have to ride it out.

Anyway, good luck and welcome to GKU!


ETA: As someone who researched her own LP issue, I can understand why you called your OB. There is a lot of conflicting information out there - including the scholarly, peer-reviewed literature - about what to do with it. I found that the literature that suggests short LPs are a huge problem is usually older research and opinions started to change in the 90s. But no matter what, I believe your doctor messed up this time with the progesterone rx without any proper diagnostics.

[lavinia]

shadesofgold, Thanks for the advice! I will hold off on the progesterone and see how my cycles go. I need to pay attention to CM more throughout the month too.

[pismoduo]

I'll just add that it can take six months (or more) for your body to get its shit figured out after going off hormonal birth control. The general rule is to call your OB if you've had 3 cycles in a row with an LP less than 10 days.

Also understand that when someone new comes on here and begins discussing an issue they think they have after 5 or 6 months, it comes across very much like that person is jumping to the conclusion that they have fertility problems. We're pretty blunt and to the point here - we're going to call bullshit when we think there's bullshit.

[requiressnacks]

Welcome and best of luck to you! And as the other ladies have said, doesn't look like you O'd yet so keep temping!

[♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪]

lavinia, hello and welcome!

I do hope you stick around. There is definitely a lot that can be learned here. Check out the Newbie blog, if you haven't done so already (pinned at the top).

[Andrea]

Jun 27, 2015 9:24:10 GMT -5 ♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪ said:

lavinia, hello and welcome!

I do hope you stick around. There is definitely a lot that can be learned here. Check out the Newbie blog, if you haven't done so already (pinned at the top).

+1

[miggg]

Welcome from a fellow n00b! I've been hoping for a longer LP too as mine's on the short side as well. I've been taking 50mg of B6/day so hopefully that'll help. I did get KU'd with my first with a 10-day LP though so it definitely doesn't count you out! GL TFAS!

[lavinia]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! I'm looking forward to learning from you ladies and hanging out.

[almachs0786]

Jun 26, 2015 21:11:23 GMT -5 lavinia said:

Jun 26, 2015 20:44:29 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Welcome to the boards and good luck TFAS!

On the short LP question - I also am concerned that your OB prescribed you progesterone this early and without any testing. I also have 9-10 day LPs. My OB said that a) short LPs are probably not even a barrier to getting pregnant, b) aren't always caused by progesterone deficiency, and c) they'd usually not test for progesterone problems until around a year. So, usually I'd say follow your doc's advice, but I am really questioning it in this case.

I looked at your chart and I don't think you O'd yet. Two follow up questions: 1) was your low temp today caused by sleep disruption or an early temp? 2) Are you really only getting three days of CM each cycle? If you are getting any watery CM, you should definitely be charting that because it is fertile CM. It seems unusual that you'd get three days of EWCM and nothing else. It makes me wonder if you're focusing too much on the days you think you'll O.

Thanks! 

I wasn't concerned about him prescribing the progesterone until now... you bring up some good points. I think I am not going to take anything this cycle and see if he will test my levels and just go from there. Or just wait and see what happens a few cycles. 

To answer your questions: 1) yes, it was an early temp at 5:30 am when I woke instead of the usual 6:30ish. And my temp yesterday was after disrupted sleep.  Maybe I should have discarded it.  2) No, I am not great about checking my CM. I only log it during my assumed fertile week. But it is very possible I am focusing too much on when I think I will O. 

I haven't made it through all the responses yet so I'm not sure if this has already been said. But this is all kinds of wrong.
Unless you have known risk factors, have had to see an RE to GKU in the past, etc. there is NO reason to have your doctor run any kind of tests yet.
Take some time to get to know your body and your cycles and quit creating trouble for yourself. TTTC/IF is not the club you want to be in. Next February, if you're still not pregnant, then by all means, start testing with an RE NOT your OB/GYN.

[URMySunshine77]

Welcome. I agree with the PPs' advice. Your LP sounds normal. Keep temping and good luck!

[PepperPottsJ]

Welcome and Good luck TFAS!