Understanding a Short Luteal Phase

At Guud Woman, we often see women who are in the dark about their menstrual cycle. Most women don't learn about their cycle as they grow up, and it remains a mystery until they try to conceive or experience unusual symptoms.

In this blog post, we'd like to discuss a short luteal phase, one of the four phases of your menstrual cycle. If you didn't know there were four phases, we recommend reading this article before reading further: The Four Phases of Your Cycle .

Your cycle is actually an incredible process consisting of multiple phases that repeats itself every month. It begins with your period , the days you bleed. The follicular phase is the phase from the moment your period begins until ovulation. During this phase, one of your ovaries prepares to release an egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube.

Once that happens, you ovulate: this is called the ovulatory phase . After ovulation, you enter the luteal phase , which we'll discuss further in this blog post.

What happens in the luteal phase?

After ovulation, when the egg is released, your body goes into overdrive to prepare the uterine lining for implantation.

This happens without you even realizing it. The follicle in your ovary, the "house" where the egg was before ovulation, changes into something called the corpus luteum (the yellow body).

The main function of the corpus luteum is to release the hormone progesterone . Progesterone is an important female hormone, and in this process, it stimulates the growth and thickening of your uterus. This prepares your uterus for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg.

You've probably never paid much attention to your luteal phase, but it's definitely an important part of your cycle. For women with a shorter luteal phase than average, it can be more difficult to conceive.

Why do you have a short luteal phase?

Sometimes the luteal phase can't do its job properly because it's too short (more on this later).

How short is too short? A normal luteal phase lasts 11 to 17 days. If yours is shorter than 10 days, it's considered too short.

A progesterone deficiency during the second half of your cycle can cause a shortened luteal phase. However, with a progesterone deficiency, the length of this phase can also be normal. If the luteal phase is too short or if too little progesterone is produced (<10 µg/L mid-luteal), this is called luteal insufficiency.

How can this happen? A short luteal phase often occurs because the corpus luteum doesn't produce enough progesterone. As a result, your body can't function properly during the luteal phase, because the uterine lining doesn't thicken enough for a fertilized egg to implant or remain implanted.

This can make it harder to conceive and may lead to early pregnancy loss.

If you've recently experienced pregnancy loss , we want you to know you're not alone. We recently wrote a blog post about it; you might find it helpful. And you can always contact our experts for support. We're here to help.

Any woman can have a short luteal phase, but there are a few things that increase the risk of a short luteal phase, including:

• Anorexia
• Obesity
• Aging
• Overweight
• Stress
• An underactive thyroid gland
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

How do you know if you have a short luteal phase?

How do you know if you're experiencing a short luteal phase? Sometimes your body gives you clues, for example, if your period arrives sooner than expected or if you experience spotting (bleeding between periods).

But often the real clue comes when you're having trouble conceiving or experiencing recurring early miscarriages. It's as if your body is trying to tell you something's wrong.

If you experience any of the symptoms of a short luteal phase, it is wise to make an appointment with your doctor.

If a doctor suspects a short luteal phase, they may perform several tests, including a blood test to measure your hormone levels or an ultrasound to determine the thickness of your uterine lining. These tests will also help rule out other causes of fertility problems.

Are there treatments for a short luteal phase?

Sometimes just adjusting your lifestyle, such as exercising less intensively or relaxing through meditation, can make a big difference, because stress can cause the corpus luteum to not have enough progesterone to release.

Other times, supplements or medications may be needed to get things in balance.

If stress or exercise is the problem, you can:

• Less intense exercise
• Meditate or do breathing techniques
• Reduce your workload or take a break from your obligations

If the underlying cause of the short luteal phase cannot be linked to stress or exercise, you may also consider other lifestyle changes that may affect your cycle. Consider:

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables
• Reduce or eliminate refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol
• Adding a supplement to your routine to help regulate and support hormones
• Get enough sleep every night

We really can't stress enough how much of an impact lifestyle changes can have on your overall hormonal health and menstrual cycle.

Find out more about how stress can impact your menstrual health .

Our bodies are truly finely tuned machines and healthy habits can make a world of difference.

We are here for you

If you think you have a short luteal phase or are having trouble conceiving, make an appointment with your doctor who can assess your situation and develop a personalized plan.

If you're unsure and just need someone to listen, talk to one of our experts . We'll listen to you and offer you the support you deserve. Armed with a little knowledge and a little extra love for our bodies, you can handle anything that comes your way.