What Women Should Know About Her Luteal Phase?

The luteal phase is essential in preparation for pregnancy. It helps the uterus prepare to receive a fertilised egg. A woman's luteal phase is the time in a menstrual cycle when she is most likely to get pregnant. 

This can range anywhere from two days before ovulation to two days after ovulation, but the average length of the luteal phase is approximately 11-12 days. This article discusses everything you need to know about the luteal phase, like a luteal stage, its symptoms and treatments, and much more.

What is the Luteal Phase?

The luteal stage is one phase of your period. It appears after ovulation when your ovaries discharge an egg and before your period begins. At this time, the lining of your uterus usually gets thicker to be ready for a possible pregnancy.

If you have a luteal phase deficiency, that lining doesn't develop each month properly. This can make it problematic to become or stay pregnant.

What Happens at the Time of Luteal Phase -

• The second half of your period is named the luteal phase. It begins after ovulation and finishes on your first period day.
• Once the follicle has unleashed its egg, the egg transits down the fallopian tube, where it might meet with sperm and get fertilised. 
• The follicle itself then transforms. The empty sac closes off, changes yellow, and transforms into a new structure known as the corpus luteum.
• The corpus luteum frees progesterone and some estrogen. Progesterone condenses the lining of your uterus so the fertilised egg can implant. 
• Blood vessels develop inside the lining. These vessels will deliver oxygen and nutrients to the growing embryo.
• If you get pregnant, your body will also begin to create human gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone holds the corpus luteum.
• HCG allows the corpus luteum to make progesterone until near the 10th week of your pregnancy. Later, the placenta handles progesterone production.
• In case you don’t get pregnant during this stage, the corpus luteum will shrink and break into a little piece of scar tissue. Your progesterone levels will fall. The uterine lining will relieve during your period. Then the whole cycle will replicate.

Causes of Luteal Phase Deficiency -

The luteal phase is generally about 12-14 days lengthy. At this time, your ovaries cause a hormone called progesterone. It signifies the lining of your uterus expanding.

When you get pregnant, your growing baby unites to this thickened lining. If you don't get pregnant, the lining finally clears, and you have a period.

The luteal phase deficiency can occur to you if your ovaries don't release sufficiently progesterone or if the lining of your uterus doesn't react to the hormone. Many health problems are connected to this disorder, including:

• Anorexia
• Endometriosis
• Excessive physical activity
• Hyperprolactinemia (too much of a hormone involved in the production of breast milk)
• Obesity
• Ovarian polycystic syndrome
• Thyroid problems

You can often cure your luteal phase deficiency by treating those conditions.

What do you Need to Know About the Length of the Luteal Phase?

• A normal luteal stage can survive anywhere from 11 to 17 days. In most women, the luteal phase stays 12 to 14 days.
• If your luteal phase lasts less than ten days, it can be considered short. In other words, if you have your period ten days or less after ovulation, you have a short luteal stage.
• A short luteal stage doesn’t provide the uterine lining with a probability of developing sufficiently to support a growing baby. Thus, it can be more challenging to get pregnant, or it may take you longer to conceive.
• A long luteal stage might occur due to a hormone inequality like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Also, a delay since you ovulated could indicate that you're pregnant and aren't aware of it.
• The length of your luteal phase should remain constant as you grow older. However, as you move closer to menopause, your progesterone levels may drop.

How do Luteal Phase Defects Relate to Miscarriages?

A luteal phase deficiency causes a uterine lining that may not be entirely ready to implant a fertilised egg. However, the luteal stage defect is only a theoretical reason for infertility or miscarriage. 

The conception behind this theory is that if the uterus does not support a pregnancy, either a woman will not get pregnant at all, or the pregnancy will not implant correctly and eventually result in miscarriage.

What are the Symptoms Luteal Phase?

It's possible that you won't notice any symptoms as you enter the luteal phase of your cycle. However, after you ovulate, your body changes hormone levels. 

Since the corpus luteum frees progesterone until it shrinks and dies if no conception appears, this means that as the luteal phase progresses, you may notice a decrease in progesterone levels. Let's have a look at the symptoms that you might experience during the luteal stage - 

• Irritability 
• Stress
• Mood swings 
• Tiredness
• The abdomen feels painfully stuffed, swollen
• Sensuous breasts
• Headaches 
• Breakouts or vaginal spots 
• Changes in hunger
• Changes in sex  

What are the Treatments Available for Luteal Phase Defects?

Specific lifestyle factors may also be behind a short luteal stage. Studies have shown women with a concise luteal phase are more likely to smoke than those with a more extended phase. Smoking may shrink this phase by lowering your body’s estrogen and progesterone production.

To enhance your probability of getting pregnant, your doctor can cure LPD with the following treatments:

• Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) activates your ovaries to produce more follicles, releasing eggs.
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may help begin ovulation and create more progesterone.
• Progesterone injections, medicines, or suppositories: These are given after your ovulation to support the lining of your uterus to grow.

Monitor your Temperature to Determine Luteal Phase -

You can check your basal body temperature  (BBT) to see if you've ovulated and are in the luteal phase. This is your body temperature when you first wake up before going to the restroom or brushing your teeth.

During the first follicular phase of your cycle, your BBT will feasibly balance between 97.0 and 97.5°F. When you ovulate, your BBT will move up because progesterone produces heat production in your body.

When your cycle reaches the luteal phase, your basal body temperature should be approximately 1°F higher than it was during the follicular phase. So, if you see a temperature increase, you've ovulated and entered the luteal phase.

Bottom Line - 

The luteal stage is when the body prepares for pregnancy and is a crucial indicator of fertility. If you doubt that you have a long or brief luteal phase or don’t ovulate, speak to your doctor. They can determine any medical issues affecting your cycle and guide treatment.

We hope you have found this article helpful in gaining knowledge about the luteal phase. If you still have doubts, comment to us.