Can We Get a Cipher Over Here?? (In which I share TMI** and use too many acronyms)

** You've been warned: TMI ahead.

I took an ovulation test (OT) last night. I called M into the bathroom to help me decipher whether the test line was "lighter than, darker than, or the same as" the test line. He concurred that it was lighter. (meaning no LH surge detected. . . Dang!)

I spent the rest of the evening looking up topics and reading all about them in Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Now I'm scared I might have LPD: Luteal Phase Deficiency/Defect. I worry about it because I routinely spot 7-10 days before AF, and since I ovulate between CD 16-18 and have a 14-16 day LP, this means my LP might be too short (i.e. less than 10 or 12 days, depending on who you ask).

Crap!

I keep telling myself (in between continued consulting of TCOYF and the internet, which just scares me!) that I got pregnant once and my progesterone level was OK there are the beginning, so perhaps LPD is not my problem. Just to be sure, I analyzed my cycles for the last year and I think I've had LPs as short as 4 days and as long as 16. Last month was 16.

Perhaps that means this month's LP will be just as long (*crosses fingers*). But my CM is doing some weird things: arriving early, sticking around for 4 days, then disappearing well in advance of my usual "fertile window".

Apparently, B6 and B12 are supposed to help lengthen the LP and progestrone creams/pills are supposed to help do the same. I take small amounts of B6 with my B50 complex and I take B12 separately. I've been doing that for almost 2 years, so I'm not sure if that's helping or not.

If I don't have a bun in my oven this month, I'll probably add to my hysteria by starting to keep fertility charts (I write a bunch of stuff down in my calendar, anyway) and I might consider using some "natural progesterone cream" from O to AF.

In the meantime, I'm gonna go take my daily vitamins, drink tons of water, eat well (M made yummy lentil soup) and hope my current sickness doesn't mess too much with my ovulation. . . and pray all this adds up to a fertile February.

~Nichole