back from dr's with answer (long)

So it's definitely an LPD. He had originally told DH on the phone that progesterone was normal, but I'm not sure if he had all the results back yet (I went every other day during part of 2WW), because it's not.
I start off good--I peak around day 7. My level was 21, which is good. Then if an egg isn't fertilized, your levels should gradually decline. Mine are plummeting. I went to a 5 the next day which is why I start spotting early and get AF on 9 or 10DPO.

Everything else was great...FSH, estrogen, etc.He said it could still be an effect from BCP (went off last May!) and "auto-correct," especially since I didn't ovulate the first 4 months off the pill. However, if I don't want to wait any longer, he would fix with a very low dose of Clomid, 25 mg. He said since I am ovulating and developing decent follicles, the low dose will just "enhance" the quality a little more, so the corpus luteum should in turn, produce even better progesterone.

He'd rather do this than give me progesterone supplements.
He said since I am producing good progesterone at least until day 7, the clomid will just stimulate my body to produce more. He said the supplements will make me feel awful (bloated, sore boobs, etc) in the first part of the 2WW since my levels are normal there.

So now, if it turns out I'm out this cycle, I need to decide if I want to wait it out longer, or go right to the clomid. Any advice?

*Just a note to those who suspect progesterone issues. I was glad the doc looked every other day rather than just at 7dpo. If he looked just at that date, he would've said I was fine.

Message edited 1/22/2010 2:58:24 PM.

Re: back from dr's with answer (long)

That's great that you're on the way with a plan!! I don't know that I necessarily have any advice on the clomid/progesterone issue...but if it were me I'd take *some* action now instead of just waiting it out. But I'm not sure of your exact situation for ex. how long you've been trying already, etc.

That's interesting about the LPD issue...mine isn't necessarily short (11 days on average...sometimes 12), but I have recently started spotting days in advance of AF. Hmmmm...

Good luck!!

Message edited 1/22/2010 2:59:30 PM.

Re: back from dr's with answer (long)

Thanks! I went off BCP in May and thought we were trying since July, but if I wasn't Oing until Sept, I guess I can't count that. I'll be 30 and DH will be 32. I know some might say wait the full year, but if LPD doesn't clear up on it's own, I'm afraid I'll be mad I wasted time when I had the fix in front of me.
I'm thinking of waiting no longer than a cycle or two.

As for the spotting. I think if you start spotting around day 10 or later, it's fine. In my case, I spot around 8dpo and the full AF the next day or 2. I've never had an LP longer than 10 days.

Re: back from dr's with answer (long)

Is there any harm to trying the Clomid? Especially with a low dosage there should be minimal side effects...seems like why not take it?