Short cycle ... pregnancy chances

[Jozie19]

My cycle has been only 22-23 days .... we are still trying naturally to conceive even though we have been through 2 IVF in the last 2 years ... is my cycle length a big factor .. how can I change it x

[Hidden]

Hey Jozie. Do you know if it is your luteal phase that is short (the days after ovulation) that might be a starting point. Ive read there are ways to strech that with progesterone and supplements i believe. I have longer cycles and thats probably because i dont ovulate x

[Jozie19 in reply to Hidden]

I’m really not sure ... I have started doing the LH strips ... I have done digital tests for OV before and was getting high/peak fertility for 5 days from day 10-15; then a period day 23; so that would be a short luteal phase ???

I’m taking coq10 and other supplements to see and also reflexology.

[Hidden in reply to Jozie19]

Unfortunately opks show a peak but still dont mean if u actually ovulate. I believe anything under 10 days is considered short so you might be border line. A blood test can confirm your hormone levels. In my 3.5 years of ttc i only had those once and was labelled unexplained. I hope your gp is helpful and can refer you?

[Jozie19 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much ... they have tested and my AMH is low, progesterone is low, but then just referred me to IVF...

Suppose there isn’t much else they can do??

[Hidden in reply to Jozie19]

Perhaps because of the amh they believed its good if you go with the most effective treatment. You will be monitored during ur cycle so hopefully you get more answers xx

[Jozie19 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much xx

[fay2399]

I think less than 21 days is short.

[Jozie19 in reply to fay2399]

Yes that’s what I thought ... but so many say 23 is short too ... which it is compared to 28 but I’ve never had a long cycle anyway??? X

[fay2399 in reply to Jozie19]

You need to ask specialist...I just believe luck is the most important thing. But also you should be able to be relaxed

[Purpledoggy]

Hi Jozie. Was your progesterone measured 7 days before your period? It’s hard when your cycle is short to know when the best day is. I have shortish cycles (25-26 days) and although my luteal phase is a a normal length based on ovulation kits I bleed for 5 days before my actual period and have mildly low progesterone (day 19) so still consistent with a luteal phase defect. Unfortunately our fertility consultant was not interested in trying to fix it with progesterone supplementation because she thinks it could interfere with getting pregnant (because that’s worse than the not being pregnant now...?) and told me to go for IVF. I’m trying to fix it in my last natural cycle or 2! Things that are published in the literature (I mean actual scientific studies not mumsnet) are vitamin c (750 mg a day), vitamin B6 (dose varies but 50-100 mg seems to be the going recommendation), and Vitex agnus-castus (dose varies a lot). However, Vitex is quite potent and can affect hormones significantly so should not be used if you have hormone responsive cancer including fibroids. I’m a vet and have spent a lot of time looking into this and reading studies on luteal phase defect and doses of things before deciding to try and fix myself for a couple of cycles as I feel it is right for me. If you don’t have underlying conditions like hypothyroidism, oxidative injury to the corpus luteum (that makes progesterone) may be a factor so taking mixed antioxidants for a few months before IVF (ubiquinol, vit E, vit C, green tea) may improve egg quality but may also help your cycles, so on that front you have nothing to lose really other than possibly a few quid if it does nothing. The Vitex is more controversial and I can’t recommend you take it without doing your homework. I have only just started so can’t tell you if it has worked for me. Re IVF, as they hijack your hormones your short cycle should not matter (this is what our consultant told me). Good luck whatever you go with xx

[Jozie19 in reply to Purpledoggy]

Awe thank you so much.... I didn’t have any tests for progesterone other than when my GP did it and then referred me!

I have been taking the coq10, vit c, vit D, and folic acid; I have def felt different and periods are def better????

It’s so hard to know what to do and what not to do! As they have ruled it as unexplained, and age related I think your right in that they say go for IVF! There’s no more testing after that! 🤷‍♀️

We are 2 months after my last round and could be 3 months from another so we will just keep trying.

I hope your ok and things work out for you too. It’s just so hard and sometimes I do feel like

Giving up ..xx

[Purple276]

Hi Jozie,

As others above have said it's still in the 'normal' range but I spoke to a nutritionalist and went for acupuncture who both said you ideally do want a 28 day cycle to improve chances. They both had a number of natural ways to do that - one involved Seed cycling - flax and pumpkin seeds every day for the first 14 days then sesame and sunflower for the following. I find it hard to get my head around that but research supports it so who knows! 😆

Mine increased to 25-27 days through yoga and working at home - just less stress I think.

Do you take your bbt in the mornings? Doesn't work for all but I did for 6 months and while it does fluctuate it clearly increases the day after I ovulate and then dips again on day 1 so that's been really helpful to know that some months I ovulate day 11, others day 15. I'm pretty sure I have a very short ovulation window from that and the ovulation tests as I have never got a really strong line or flashing smiley face. I'm still not pregnant but it helps reassure me that IVF is probably worth investing in my case as chances of it happening naturally are really small.

Hope some of the above is helpful! Sorry lots of random info! Good luck and really do hope the next month everything will align for you xx

[Jozie19 in reply to Purple276]

Thank you so much.

I have been getting reflexology and have booked acupuncture... I tried to do my bbt but kept forgetting but will def try again to see.

Thank you for all the advice it’s really helpful. I’m so hopeful that it will align as I’m doing all the right stuff. It’s been 2 months since our last

Round so hoping the 22-23 day cycle is just me getting back to normal???

I’ve been doing the LH sticks and digital OV - the LH is still low on day 11, today, but had a flashing face today on the digital!?! lol ... it’s all so confusing!

Hope it all works out for you too xxx

Thank you again. X