Question for women with short LPs and loss(es)

junie22 · #1 October 13th, 2011, 03:03 PM

A little background. I started charting on my second cycle of TTC #1 and discovered that I had only a 5-day LP. So at the beginning of my third cycle, I started taking 100mg of B6. I O'd a day earlier, and I got pregnant. However, I lost the pregnancy at 4 weeks, 4 days.

So I know the B6 lengthened my LP by at least 1 day; however, since B6 can lengthen the LP on the tail end, I'm not sure how much it helped, since I did get pregnant. The pregnancy obviously didn't stick for very long, though. At this point, there is no way of knowing what exactly caused the m/c, but I worry that it was a poor uterine lining due to my short LP.

I'm currently waiting for my doctor to call with my latest hCG levels, but they were only 8 over a week ago, so I'm assuming I'll be good to TTC this cycle. I've continued taking B6, and I'm hoping it will help lengthen my LP even more. It would be great to get another BFP right away, but...

I worry that my progesterone levels are not good. My doctor didn't do a draw last time (and it would have been too late anyway), and she didn't seem to want to do one this time around either. She won't prescribe progesterone unless I've had 2-3 miscarriages, which I guess is pretty standard. However, I do have a documented short LP.

So that long story brings me to a question for those ladies with short LPs. I have read a lot about the use of bioidentical progesterone cream to lengthen LP and hopefully help stick a pregnancy. Since my doctor won't prescribe or do a blood draw this cycle, I'm contemplating using Emerita Pro-Gest natural progesterone cream after O this cycle. I know it's not the same as prescription strength, but I feel like I should do something.

I guess I just wanted to know if any others have used this or just what your thoughts are in general.

sweet.hun · #2 October 13th, 2011, 04:10 PM

I hate it that doctors won't do anything until you have 2-3 losses. You have all the proof that you have a short LP and they just won't listen. I feel like screaming.

I don't know about the progesterone cream. I too would like to know if anyone has had good results from taking it.

junglepeachpie · #3 October 13th, 2011, 04:33 PM

My RE started prescribing progesterone the second she realized I might have a short luteal phase. I hadn't had a loss yet at that point. It works amazing. I take a vaginal pill supplement twice a day and I don't get my period or any spotting until I get a negative pregnancy test and stop the pills. It's expensive though - like $80 a month. It might be cheaper with different insurance.

doremi · #4 October 13th, 2011, 05:20 PM

I've never used the creams. My OB prescribed 100mg oral progesterone supplements following my second miscarriage. I'm on my second cycle with it... it makes me feel like CRAP, but at least I know that if I fertilize an egg, I'm giving it the best possible chance of implanting. I would continue charting, and consider seeing a different doctor or a RE to try to get a progesterone prescription. 5 day LP is way too short. Most doctors will say that a 10 day LP is the shortest that can maintain pregnancy. Good luck!

.:Shortcake:. · #5 October 13th, 2011, 06:12 PM

My doctor wouldn't do testing until after 3 losses but still told me to take B6. It can take up to 3 months to start working effectively. You should only take up to 200mg daily so if the 100mg isn't working well I would up the dosage to maybe 150 and see if it helps.

junie22 · #6 October 13th, 2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doremi

5 day LP is way too short. Most doctors will say that a 10 day LP is the shortest that can maintain pregnancy. Good luck!

I know! It was like my doctor didn't believe me that my LP was only 5-6 days. I told her that I track BBT, CM, and use OPKs, so I know exactly when I O'd. And I even showed her my charts. She did start to believe me when faced with the evidence, but she still told me to go ahead and just keep doing everything I'm doing.

I think my detriment is that I got pregnant so early in my journey. It was only my third cycle. And not knowing what actually caused the m/c, she doesn't want to explore any other options for me until I have another one. It just seems wrong that I should have to go through that again, when I have a documented short LP.

I actually don't dislike my doctor. She does seem genuinely compassionate, but I just don't think she "gets" everything. She did tell me to call her as soon as I get another BFP, and she'll get me in to see her right away. I just worry that it could be too late by that point (probably 10 DPO at the earliest).

I guess I just have to hope that the B6 really starts doing the trick. I only started taking it last cycle at about CD 6, so maybe it will really start kicking in this cycle. It clearly helped some, or the egg never would have implanted to begin with.

Sorry that turned into a rant...

junie22 · #7 October 13th, 2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:Shortcake:.

My doctor wouldn't do testing until after 3 losses but still told me to take B6. It can take up to 3 months to start working effectively. You should only take up to 200mg daily so if the 100mg isn't working well I would up the dosage to maybe 150 and see if it helps.

I've thought about increasing the dosage, but I guess I won't do that until after this cycle. I just wish I had more information. If I do get another BFP, I'm going to be a nervous wreck.

doremi · #8 October 13th, 2011, 10:55 PM

I know there are varying opinions about B6 out there, but just thought I'd let you know that my OB told me when I asked her about it that there is no solid medical evidence that B6 helps with m/c or luteal phase. She recommended that I continue taking my prenatal, but advised against taking anymore B6 than that, and put me on prometrium.

Shadeauxe · #9 October 14th, 2011, 01:46 AM

I would try to find another doctor. I had issues getting pregnant and my doctor was acting similarly saying that my LP was fine (not as short as yours). I ended up switching to an RE and she was much better. I'm not saying it has to be an RE, but you and your doctor need to be on the same page or it will be frustrating.

junie22 · #10 October 14th, 2011, 06:28 AM

Thanks, ladies. I actually switch insurance in January, and I'll be going back to my previous doctor, who was incredibly awesome. So I suppose I'll just wait it out until then.

humnck · #11 October 14th, 2011, 06:58 AM

UGH, I can't believe how incredibly frustrating all of this can be! My SIL tried for a long time to get pg (probably having very early losses and just never knowing she was pg) and she finally decided to talk to her midwife about it, they immediately tested her progesterone and found it to be too low, they immediately put her on prog. I would def seek the advice of another doc, or insist that the doc now do some bw during your cycle this month to check it...I can't remember which day you have to do it, but geez, it's your body, you know more about it than anyone, why can't docs just listen??

GL and hugs!!

junie22 · #12 October 14th, 2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humnck

UGH, I can't believe how incredibly frustrating all of this can be! My SIL tried for a long time to get pg (probably having very early losses and just never knowing she was pg) and she finally decided to talk to her midwife about it, they immediately tested her progesterone and found it to be too low, they immediately put her on prog. I would def seek the advice of another doc, or insist that the doc now do some bw during your cycle this month to check it...I can't remember which day you have to do it, but geez, it's your body, you know more about it than anyone, why can't docs just listen??

GL and hugs!!

Thanks. Docs usually call it the 21-day blood draw, but that just shows how clueless some of them are. If they did a 21-day blood draw for me, I wouldn't have even O'd yet. It's supposed to take place 7 days after O, but my LP has been shorter than that in the past. It makes the test problematic, for sure.

I'm just going to continue with the B6 because it's all I've got right now. If I do get a BFP again, I'm demanding blood work, with a progesterone check, right away. I just feel like if it is truly a progesterone deficiency, it would be too late by then.

I'm just really hoping that the B6 continues to help. Maybe I'll O earlier this cycle and not have to be quite as stressed out.

humnck · #13 October 14th, 2011, 08:56 AM

GL! I hope it all helps! Maybe after the loss, your body will have a longer LP...HUGS and again GL!

junie22 · #14 October 14th, 2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humnck

GL! I hope it all helps! Maybe after the loss, your body will have a longer LP...HUGS and again GL!

Yes, the doctor said my next couple of cycles could be a little wonky. So I'm hoping they're all jacked up in a good way. Oing earlier and having a longer LP would be just fine with me.

missy123 · #15 October 14th, 2011, 03:04 PM

I would be very frustrated with my doctor if I was you. I am not a medical professional and this is all just my personal opinion.

I had a LP of 8 days and my doctor gave me progesterone. I never had low progesterone levels and I was ovulating but even if the sperm met egg I did not have a chance as my lining was already shedding at that point for AF to come. The progesterone also helped the lining get a little thicker due to my age. I had a couple of early losses in there and my RE said they could have been because sperm did meet egg and did implant causing my hcg to start rising but the lining was never really thick enough for the baby to stick. It was kind of like a young tree during a mudslide - the big trees that are rooted in can withstand the dirt being washed away as they are anchored in while the young trees get washed away with it. Does that make sense?

Another thing I would bring up is clomid. Now I am not a huge clomid fan - I was an emotional mess on it and did not get pregnant taking it but there are a million success stories out there. The reason I bring up clomid is most of the time it makes your eggs develop faster and you ovulate sooner in your cycle - on clomid I ovulated on cd 9-10 with mature follies. If you ovulate sooner and take the progesterone to lengthen your LP it makes logical sense that you would have a better chance at getting pregnant.

Ok, I am done babbling now. I hope you get pregnant soon!!

junie22 · #16 October 14th, 2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missy123

I would be very frustrated with my doctor if I was you. I am not a medical professional and this is all just my personal opinion.

I had a LP of 8 days and my doctor gave me progesterone. I never had low progesterone levels and I was ovulating but even if the sperm met egg I did not have a chance as my lining was already shedding at that point for AF to come. The progesterone also helped the lining get a little thicker due to my age. I had a couple of early losses in there and my RE said they could have been because sperm did meet egg and did implant causing my hcg to start rising but the lining was never really thick enough for the baby to stick. It was kind of like a young tree during a mudslide - the big trees that are rooted in can withstand the dirt being washed away as they are anchored in while the young trees get washed away with it. Does that make sense?

Another thing I would bring up is clomid. Now I am not a huge clomid fan - I was an emotional mess on it and did not get pregnant taking it but there are a million success stories out there. The reason I bring up clomid is most of the time it makes your eggs develop faster and you ovulate sooner in your cycle - on clomid I ovulated on cd 9-10 with mature follies. If you ovulate sooner and take the progesterone to lengthen your LP it makes logical sense that you would have a better chance at getting pregnant.

Ok, I am done babbling now. I hope you get pregnant soon!!

Thank you so much, Missy! Why is it that you and I seem more educated about this than my doctor? I am currently just seeing a GP because I've only been trying since July and "only" have one loss, so I can't get a referral yet. Also, my GP has a background in OB. In fact, she is the primary OB provider to lots of low-risk pregnancies from conception through delivery. That's why I was actually looking forward to seeing her until my insurance switches in January.

When I told her my LP was only 5-6 days, it was as if she didn't believe me. She said, "Well it should be 14 days." Well, no duh! That's why I said I had a problem. When she saw my charts, she started coming around, but she still said she wouldn't go the progesterone route unless I had another loss. I am pretty new to TTC, but I do know that luteal phase defect is one of the easiest fertility problems to correct. So I just don't understand why I should have to go through another m/c before she'll take the problem seriously. If I didn't have the data to back it up, I would understand somewhat, but I do have the data.

And the way my pregnancy progressed (or didn't progress), it just seems more and more apparent to me that the LPD was a contributing factor, and likely the contributing factor.

I'm honestly not sure where I'll go from here, but I guess I just have to take it one day at a time. Thanks for your support and listening to me vent/rant.

missy123 · #17 October 14th, 2011, 04:49 PM

Unfortunately the reason I am so knowlegeable is I TTC for 2.5 years with 4 losses. Along the way my husband I went to an RE. I went through a lot of pain and depression. I spent a lot of time in this room and soaked up as much knowledge as I could.

I am sure your OBGYN is a great doctor but they are trained on taking care of you once you are already pregnant, not to help you get pregnant. Some will do nothing (like mine) and some like Katies will go further and try different meds such as clomid and Femera.