Desire for children - Luteal hormone deficiency?
August 18, 2010 | 10,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Susanne Plotz
I stopped taking the pill in January 2010 and have been trying to get pregnant since then. For the past 2 months, I have also been using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor as a tool. My period comes regularly, my cycle is 28-29 days, and I ovulate on the 15th day of my cycle.
I am worried about possibly experiencing luteal phase defect, as the second half of my cycle is one day shorter than the first half. Additionally, since stopping the pill, I have been experiencing increased PMS symptoms. About 3 days after ovulation, I start to experience cramping in my lower abdomen, which continues until my period starts. I also experience nausea, dizziness, and breast tenderness.
What further concerns me is that this month, two days before my period started, I had a few drops of light pink blood on the toilet paper in the mornings, but then nothing more (this was the day before yesterday and yesterday), and today I started my period with a normal flow of bright red blood.
Do these symptoms suggest a deficiency in luteal hormones? Unfortunately, I have to wait a month for my appointment with my gynecologist, so I would like to know if luteal hormone deficiency is even a possibility in the meantime.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Dear inquirer,
I can understand your concerns well, but I would like to reassure you a little. Of course, it is possible that you are suffering from a lack of corpus luteum hormone, but from my point of view, there is currently no indication of this.
You have regular cycles (it is not a problem if one half of the cycle is slightly shorter than the other, as long as the cycle is regular), and you have regular bleedings.
The PMS symptoms you are experiencing are probably due to the fact that you are no longer using contraception, and therefore the symptoms that did not occur before due to the pill are now appearing. The PMS symptoms you describe are "normal" symptoms that do not necessarily indicate a lack of corpus luteum hormone.
I cannot assess from a distance why you bled a little before your period this month, but this also does not seem to me to be a serious disturbance.
Furthermore, (unfortunately) it can take 1-2 years for a pregnancy to occur after stopping contraception (age also plays a role, but I do not know your age). Due to this fact, I currently see no reason for concern.
Nevertheless, it is great that you have an appointment with your gynecologist. To dispel any doubts, a hormone profile can be done for confirmation. However, I believe it is early enough to attend the appointment in a month, as there is no urgent need to act.
I hope I could help you and wish you all the best and much success from the bottom of my heart!!!
Best regards,
Susanne Plotz
