What is Short Luteal Phase?

What is Short Luteal Phase?

What is the luteal phase?

The luteal phase is a time period during the menstrual cycle of a woman. It falls between the ovulation period and menstruation. This phase plays an important role in conception. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

It is during this time period that the newly fertilized egg reaches the uterus from the fallopian tube. It then implants in the uterus. This phase lasts for twelve to seventeen days i.e. fourteen days on an average.

However, there are chances when the luteal phase lasts for less than twelve days. A luteal phase that comes to an end within twelve days or less is known as short luteal phase. Women experiencing short luteal phase are most likely to suffer with miscarriage issues.

Knowing your Luteal Phase

You can also find out the length of your luteal phase at home but for that you will need to know about your ovulation time. You can check your temperature after ovulation to determine the luteal phase. If your temperature is elevated, your luteal phase is fine.

Check the elevated temperature each day to find out how long it lasts. You only need to check the elevated temperature each day for a month. The length of your luteal phase won’t vary every month. It will remain the same or may be differ by a day tops. You can also go for the less accurate method of deducting 14 from your menstrual cycle days. The answer should be fourteen days or more.

Causes

Women with short luteal phase fail to sustain their pregnancy long enough and this happens because the lining of the uterus breaks down. As a result, menstrual bleeding begins and an early miscarriage occurs. There are numerous reasons that may lead to this condition and the most common and biggest reason relates to the progesterone hormone in women.

If low levels of this hormone are produced in the body, short luteal phase occurs, and causes miscarriage. If you have had a miscarriage and the reason behind it is short luteal phase, your doctor will first check the progesterone levels right after ovulation to check if that is the reason. This test will also show the length of the short luteal phase.

Symptoms

The symptoms of short luteal phase include light periods, abdominal cramping, spotting, fatigue, etc. However, you should not be under the impression that if you have short luteal phase, you won’t ever be able to deliver a baby successfully and become a parent. There are ways to actually overcome this problem and get rid of it so that you conceive successfully.

Treatments

There are two most popular remedies that you could go for. One of them revolves around vitamin B6. The dose per day may range from 50 mg to 200 mg. Another remedy is the use of an over-the-counter cream called the progesterone crème.

There are also prescription medicines that are used such as Clomid. Progesterone suppositories may also be used. Before choosing a treatment though, it is best to talk to your doctor about it so that he gives you the right medications based on test results.

Natural remedies

Besides these, there are a number of natural remedies that you could try. It is important to change your lifestyle and diet for the better in order to lengthen your luteal cycle. You should keep away from alcohol, smoking, junk food, and carbonated drinks.

You should include foods that are good for the kidneys in your diet such as string beans, black beans, millets, mulberries, organic meat, etc. These foods contain high amounts of vitamin B6, which as aforementioned, is extremely helpful in lengthening the time period of luteal phase. Some people also believe that acupuncture also helps.

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Maureen Stephens, BS, RN
Maureen Stephens, BS, RN | ConceiveEasy
Ms. Stephens has spent over twenty years in the healthcare world, specializing in obstretical and medical/surgical nursing. She joined ConceiveEasy as she has a strong interest in educating and empowering women and promoting fertility awareness.

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