Short luteal phase - vitex causing it?? Or losing too much weight?

[honeybee37]

I am 9dpo. Yesterday I stupidly did a HPT and got the faintest of lines. Today I've started my period 4 days early, bright red blood so pretty sure not implantation. My luteal phase had been 12/13 days before swaying and I monitored them quite closely as when I was ttc number 1 they were only about ten days and I panicked not long enough. My question is, could the vitex be doing this? I had ov pains and a pos OPK last wed, FF thinks I o-ed thurs so today (Friday am) is obviously way too early for my period I am def stopping vitex this month but I've read a lot about B6 helping with LP defects... Can I take this (it helped when ttc ds1) or does it sway blue? And could the weight loss have caused it do you think? My bmi is now only 18.5. Any advice GREATLY received, am in a pickle

[honeybee37]

Ps did another HPT just now and totally negative as was this mornings

[honeybee37]

Or the cardio?? Been doing 70-75min a day which is a big change for me.

[maidentomother]

I don't think it's the Vitex, I think it's due to the CP. Is this the first month you've had a short LP swaying? I wouldn't take B6, it sways blue and it never helped my short LP, just delayed O.

I certainly would NOT lose any more weight, just hold steady, eating more cals as necessary. I would keep doing the cardio, that shouldn't affect your LP.

Could you get Clomid/Femara for the short LP?

[honeybee37]

It's gradually been getting shorter - December it was 13 days which is good for me, January was 11 (I'd started vitex and lost quite a lot of weight then), February was 10 and now this month, 7 or maybe 8. So you think I should keep taking the vitex? I used progesterone cream in the second half of my cycle to conceive my son. I don't know about clomid - GPs in England wouldn't probably prescribe it without doing a load of tests first...

[honeybee37]

I wonder if I'm just undernourished and have lost too much weight. Yesterday when I got the faint positive, I just couldn't stop eating - I was so happy to think I was pregnant and could eat well again! I've totally cut it eggs - maybe a couple of eggs a week could help, do you think? This week I have eaten a little more than normal and not put any weight on. Thanks for your advice maiden.

[maidentomother]

It could be related to low weight/lost fat. I theorise that is why my LP has always been short, bc I've always been underweight. Eating a bit mote can't hurt, though you don't need to eat specific foods, just more cals overall.

I'm so sorry about the CP, though at least you know you can conceive. Lots of women, including myself, have conceived despite short LPs

How long have you been taking the Vitex?

[maidentomother]

If you've been on Vitex for a full 3 months with no benefit to your LP, I might drop it. If it's only been 2 months, maybe try another month. What dose are you on?

[honeybee37]

I've been on it for three months with my LP gradually getting worse throughout that time. It says 1000mg on the packet. But then I question whether my LP would be even shorter without it?? Yes, I've always been underweight too and when I was ttc ds1, I was sure it was impossible because of my LP. It never got longer than 10 days but I managed to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy with him.
I'll up the kcal a bit this month. With the amount of cardio I'm doing, i can't see i would put weight on unless I went way over. I already upped from 1,200-1,400 to around 1,600 this month and have maintained my weight. Just feel so upset that I've inadvertently jeopardised my own chances of even conceiving at all, through my desire at wanting a girl!! Really gutted today!!

[atomic sagebrush]

PLEASE do not take B6. It doesn't work most of the time, it takes at least 3 months TO work anyway (by which point your LP will many times have completely fixed itself even if you had done nothing), it delays ovulation hugely and can even stop it, and additionally it sways BLUE.

Drop vitex, and do WHATEVER it takes to stop the weight loss. I want you to add in a serving of full fat dairy a day, 4-6 eggs a week, and a serving of salmon and/or red meat every week. And also drop fiber. This is my cure for short LP. Yes, I suspect a combo of V and weight loss caused a short LP but the good news is that your body is not a closed system that you now have to "repair" it will be working to fix it all on its own (which it knows how to do way better than a bottle of B6 does) and you just need to give it the raw materials to allow it to do that.

You guys, I say this again and again (and not intending this to be a rebuke, but for others reading this) When you get to BMI 21 you need to STOP LOSING WEIGHT. 18.5 is the absolute barest minimum. It is not a goal. The reason I leave a cushion between 21 and 18.5 is because it can be only a couple pounds for many people and it sometimes takes time to learn to stabilize on weight. BMI 21 is where you should stop losing weight and that way if another pound or two sneak off over time it won't mess up your cycle. I don't want anyone to go to BMI 18.5 and THEN attempt to stop weight loss. Most of us will have already stopped ovulating at this point.