The Luteal Phase


What is luteal phase?

The luteal phase is from ovulation to menstruation. The actual day of ovulation and the first days of the period shall not be counted towards the luteal phase. A typical luteal phase is about 12 - 16 days, on average 14 days, but everything from 10 to 18 days is normal.

The length of the lutheal phase is decided by the life span of the corpus luteums, and therefore usually doesn’t vary more than +/- one day for each women. If you usually get your period 14 days after ovulation, this can vary to day 13 or day 15 after ovulation.

About luteal phases, progestorone and short luteal phases

The implantation of the egg is dependent on it getting long enough time to attach itself, as well as the quality of the lining of the womb. Long luteal phases are sufficiant production of estrogen if therefor important.

After ovulation, the egg sack that the egg has come out of, will remain on the ovary and change into the corpus luteums. The corpus luteums produce progesterone. The length of the luteal phase is dependent upon the liftspan/quality of the corpus luteums. In a normal cycle, the corpus luteums will product progestorone in about two days.

A long luteal phase is vey important for the simple reason that the egg needs enough time to attach and notify the body that it’s there BEFORE menstruation starts, to prevend the period from occuring. When the egg attaches itself it separates hCG (human chorion gonadotropin). The hCG stimulates the corpus luteums to continue to live beyond it’s normal lifespen, produce more progestorone and maintain the pregnancy. Progesterone is important to keep the pregnancy.

For most women, the fertilized egg enters the lining of the womb about 4 days after ovulation. It is floating around for a while, looking for a nice place to settle down before it attaches itself 6 - 8 days after ovulation. Women who measure their temperature can get a hint of whether they have been fertilized or not as the temperature may rise further 7 - 9 days after ovulation. This is also known as the triphase curve.

The production of progesterone wil gradually be reduced until it stops before the period. For women with short luteal phases, the progesterone levels may stop in the most critical time when the egg is getting “established”. The corpus luteums will have a life span that is too short for the egg to notify that it is there. This means that the period will start and the pregancy doesn’t happen.

Luteal Phase Defect

Luteal phases less than 10 days are called Luteal Phase Defect. There are three reasons for thy some women have luteal phase defect:

  1. Poor follicle production occurs in the first half of the cycle. In this case, the woman may not produce a normal level of FSH, or her ovaries do not respond strongly to the FSH, leading to inadequate follicle development. Because the follicle ultimately becomes the corpus luteum, poor follicle formation leads to poor corpus luteum quality. In turn, a poor corpus luteum will produce inadequate progesterone, causing the uterine lining to be adequately prepared for the implantation of a fertilized embryo. Ultimately progesterone levels may drop early and the period will arrive sooner than expected resulting in luteal phase defect.
  2. Premature failure of the corpus luteum can occur even when the initial quality of the follicle/corpus luteum is adequate. In some women the corpus luteum sometimes does not persist as long as it should. Here, initial progesterone levels at five to seven days past ovulation may be low; even if they are adequate, the levels drop precipitously soon thereafter, again leading to early onset of menses and hence a luteal phase defect.
  3. Failure of the uterine lining to respond can occur even in the presence of adequate follicle development and a corpus luteum that persists for the appropriate length of time. In this condition, the uterine lining does not respond to normal levels of progesterone. Therefore, if an embryo arrives and tries to implant in the uterus, the uterine lining will not be adequately prepared, and the implantation will most likely fail.

 

Correction of Luteal Phase Defect

Fertility charting is an easy way of detecting whether you have luteal phase defect. If you do, don’t worry because luteal phase defect can be easily corrected. Immediately seek the advice of your physician first before starting any treatments to correct it. In most case, luteal phase defect can be corrected through over-the-counter remedies and/or with prescription drugs.

  1. Over the counter remedies for luteal phase defect:The two main over the counter remedies for luteal phase defect are vitamin B6 and progesterone cream. Vitamin B6 is perfectly safe and can be taken daily in dosages from 50 mg to 200 mg. Taking vitamin B6 every day during the entire month will help to lengthen the luteal phase.

A progesterone cream is usually targeted for menopausal women; however this cream is also useful in lengthening the luteal phase. A cream with natural progesterone works best. Use about 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of progesterone cream spread on the inner arm, inner thigh, neck, and chest - alternating places - twice a day from ovulation to menstruation or until the 10th week of pregnancy.

  • Prescription drugs for luteal phase defect:The most common prescription drugs for luteal phase defect patients are clomid or progesterone suppositories. Clomid is taken orally as prescribed by the doctor. The suppositories are taken through the vagina after ovulation has occurred and until either day 14 post ovulation or at some point weeks later during a pregnancy, if pregnancy occurred.