The luteal phase is the second half of a normal menstrual cycle, beginning the day after ovulation and continuing until menstruation begins. Unlike the pre-ovulatory phase, which can vary in length from month to month, a woman typically will have a very set luteal pattern. Most women experience a luteal phase between days, with 14 days being very common. A long luteal phase is when the body continues to produce increased levels of progesterone for more than 16 days after ovulation.
Long luteal phases are very rare, but can affect fertility and conception planning. Just before ovulation, the female system experiences a surge in the hormones that promote implantation of a fertilized egg. This spike typically presents as an slight increase in temperature and results in the release of progesterone to aid possibly fertile eggs in their next stage of development. The follicular phase is when follicles and develop in the fallopian tubes.
Follicle development prepares an egg for ovulation. After ovulation, the luteal phase starts. The follicle that contains the egg from the follicular phase turns into something called the corpus luteum. When the corpus luteum grows, your progesterone levels rise. Progesterone peaks halfway through the luteal phase. The corpus luteum dissolves if there is no fertilized egg or implantation. This causes progesterone levels to drop learn more on your period and progesterone here.
The luteal phase ends when your period begins. The first day of your period is the first day of the follicular phase, and the cycle starts over again. The average luteal phase is 12 to 14 days long, but it can last 10 to 17 days. This standard is based on a day cycle, but menstrual cycles vary greatly. Some medical sources say cycles may last 21 to 35 days long.
Others state 21 to 45 days is normal. This makes it hard to know how long your luteal phase is and when the phase occurs. You can determine phase length by tracking your cycle or by using a luteal phase calculator. Count the days between ovulation and the first day of your period. That is how long your luteal phase is. Some tracking methods are:.
OPKs detect luteinizing hormones, and this makes them more accurate than other methods. While estrogen is important, progesterone might be the most important hormone during the luteal phase.
Progesterone has many roles in the body, including:. Progesterone also causes your body temperature to rise. If you get pregnant, your temperature will stay elevated beyond your regular luteal phase length. The drop in progesterone levels both lowers your body temperature and starts menstruation. Progesterone is also responsible for symptoms during the luteal phase which can be confused for early pregnancy signs.
On average, the luteal phase is between 12 and 14 days. However, it can be as short as 8 days and as long as 16 days. Whatever your regular luteal phase length is, it tends to be a consistent length every cycle. For example, suppose that your luteal phase tends to be 12 days. You can count on it always being 11 to 13 days long. Then, if your luteal phase were to go longer than 13 days, it could be an early sign of pregnancy.
A luteal phase shorter than 8 or 10 days can sometimes indicate a potential fertility problem, but not always. People who struggle to conceive or who have experienced repeated miscarriage might tend toward having shorter luteal phases, but it's also possible to have a short luteal phase without any fertility issues. Don't immediately worry if you notice a short luteal phase when you are basal body temperature charting. If you do not have any other signs or symptoms of infertility, a short phase could be normal for you.
You should also see your doctor if you have any other worrisome symptoms. A luteal phase defect is defined as having low or inadequate levels of progesterone during the luteal phase. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine's position on luteal phase defects is that the condition does not exist as a standalone cause of infertility. The reasons for the controversy include:. Possible symptoms associated with a luteal phase defect include:.
Possible causes of a luteal phase defect include:. There is no research-based way to diagnose a luteal phase defect. Every method has possible problems, but there are a few ways the defect might be detected. Charting your basal body temperature might show an abnormally short luteal phase, but the method has caveats. Research has found that the exact day of ovulation is not always accurately indicated on a BBT chart. Things like intense exercise, travel, and jet lag all have the potential to delay ovulation and lengthen your follicular phase.
The good news is that a late ovulation does not seem to impact your chances of conception or viability. As long as you eventually ovulate, you have just as good of a chance of having a good egg as you would if you ovulated on time.
Progesterone helps maintain the uterine lining for the egg to implant. A short luteal phase can make it difficult to conceive. If your luteal phase is longer than 16 days, you may want to take a pregnancy test.
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