Alright, ladies. My first three cycles off of BCP have been all over the map, and I am concerned my LP is too short. My first was 32, second 23, and now this one was 21 days This month I definitely O'ed on CD14( I am charting), but my LP was only like 7 days long. What have you done to lengthen your LP to finally get your BFP? I knew it might take a while after BCP to get a BFP, but after 3 cycles trying, I'm a little frustrated.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I'm not off BCP yet but people on some of the forums I follow have suggested Vitamin B6 or Vitex.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
I used a B-100 complex. I also took Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Fish Oil, and did an oil/seed protocol. This was all under the supervision of my naturopath.
When I first came off the pill my LP was 8 days, and it had lengthened to 11 days by the time I conceived on our second cycle of TTC. I don't know if it was due to the supplements, or if it was just my body being able to adjust over time to produce more progesterone.
honeydew / 7909 posts
B complex. But I read it can lengthen the time to o too so to only take it after. 
I'm taking it this month and I thiiiink it's responsible for my crazy cycle.
pomelo / 5000 posts
This has a lot of info: http://natural-fertility-info.com/luteal-phase-defect.html
grapefruit / 4235 posts
Not a whole lot of advice here, but Good luck - it took about 7 cycles off of bcp for me to even ovulate. My temps were all over the place. Acupuncture helped.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Ash: I took B Complex too, and I did O later when I took it the whole month. My LP was actually already quite long (16-18 days!) but I would start spotting by around 12, and the B Complex seemed to help with that. But of course, it also could have just been longer after i stopped BCP.
You can also use progesterone cream, but I didn't want to do anything like that without supervision from someone other than the internet.
grapefruit / 4703 posts
@Mrs. J: I'm still struggling with this, but here's what I've tried:
B6 (actually B Complex, since I guess you're supposed to take equal amount of B6 and B12) - Didn't help me
Natural Progesterone cream (you put it on your arms, legs or stomach during your LP) - helped extend it from about 9 days to about 11
Ultimately I found out that I have an underactive thyroid which may be partly to blame for the short LP, and my 7dpo progesterone test was also 3.1 (anything below 10 is no bueno). I'm currently on thyroid meds and I'm going to look into going to an RE soon, because it's been 11 months.
I do know that short LP is a common problem when you're coming off BCP, so it might work itself out for you.
pear / 1571 posts
I haven't tried it myself yet, since we're not TTC yet, but I've heard that a tablespoon of coconut oil a day can really help with this. Evening primrose oil is good for amping up your fertility too.
honeydew / 7916 posts
My LP was kind of short before TTC (I'd been off BCP for 6 years) so 100mg of B6 helped bring it to a consistent 14 days.
pomegranate / 3580 posts
@shutterbug Is B Complex just B6 & B12 in one pill? I took a look at the store a few weeks back, but I got overwhelmed and decided I'd figure it out later Two months ago I had a 9 day LP and last month it was 12, so hopefully this month's is longer. If not, I may try this for March.
grapefruit / 4703 posts
@fussygal: I think it has other stuff in it too, like folic acid and some other B's. This is the kind I bought: http://www.vitacost.com/natures-way-vitamin-b-100-complex
pear / 1580 posts
It took me almost 8 months to get to a semi-regular cycle, and I had 21- to 45-day cycles. But in the meantime, my doc tried to give me progesterone after a confirmed ovulation (taking progesterone before ovulation actually prevents it). I've also been taking Pregnitude (a myo-inositol supplement) that has made my cycles way closer to normal than they've ever been. I'm glad I just went straight to my obgyn and asked her what I should do.
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
I took a B12 complex and it helped my LP to go from spotting on 9/10dpo to an LP of 13 days.
pomelo / 5132 posts
Thanks so much, ladies!
@PrincessBaby: At what point in your cycle did you take the B-12/when did you stop?
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
@Mrs. J: I took it the whole cycle...I just stopped it once I got pregnant:)
honeydew / 7916 posts
@Mrs. J: I take it every day. It's easier to remember and it works.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
My doc thought I had a short luteal phase (aka luteal phase defect) and put me on progesterone for it.
pomelo / 5132 posts
@PrincessBaby: @spaniellove: Did it affect when you O'ed? I heard it can make it wonky.
@blackbird: At what point did you see your doctor about it?
pear / 1664 posts
I took B6. I went from a 6 day LP to a 11(+?) day LP in a month's time, and conceived the month of the 11 day LP. 
Edited to add:
It did made me ovulate earlier. I took it all cycle. I still take a low dose (25 mg) as I read it's good for baby development. I was taking 100 mg while TTC.
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
@Mrs. J: i don't think so... I usually O'd around CD 15 or 16...
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@Mrs. J, I noticed I was getting weird tests on my ovulation kits...they weren't *quite* turning positive, but they were getting darker, then never positive, then would fade away. She suspected luteal phase defect, put me on progesterone, which didn't work, then put me on clomid. She said the progesterone "couldn't hurt". It was all just 'suspected', though.
cherry / 241 posts
I haven't gotten a BFP yet, but just finished up my first cycle taking vitamin B6. It added two days onto my luteal phase. Every little bit counts! I had a freak out moment because AF was two days late, but it turned out just to be that the vitamins had extended my entire cycle by two days, not just moved O up.
pea / 22 posts
I agree that it sometimes takes a few months coming off HBC pills. My LP lengthened considerably after about three or four months off.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@LindsayInNY: great thread to find. I think I may try to add some B 6 just for fun to see if it helps.
bananas / 9229 posts
@T.H.O.U.: I have to go to CVS this week... Maybe I'll add some B6 into the daily vitamin regimen?
honeydew / 7909 posts
@LindsayInNY: I took b complex instead and it definitely lengthened it. I started it after o otherwise it postponed o too.
ETA: evidently I already responded to this thread. Oops!
coconut / 8475 posts
Chaste berry Vitex lengthens your lp phase and so does b6 and/or b-complex
Mostly though: progesterone cream worked wonders for me.
And what else?
honeydew / 7909 posts
@LindsayInNY: I wouldn't... It doesn't do anything to help your lp prior to o...
bananas / 9229 posts
@TurtleDoves: @Ash: I'm Oing around CD 19-20 as it is! I don't need any more delay, LOL!
pomegranate / 3580 posts
Since my comment above I took the BComplex and that was the month we got a BFP. That ended in a m/c but it definitely lengthened my LP by a few days!
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