Forum home Getting pregnant Trying to conceive

what is the luteal phase?

sorry if im just being thick! but im new to all this ttc lark xxx

Replies

  • hi found this for you, hope it helps.

    What is the luteal phase?

    The luteal phase, also referred to as 'days past ovulation' or 'DPO', is the part of the cycle that starts at ovulation and ends the day before your next period. It usually lasts about 14 days and does not vary by more than a day in each person. The luteal phase is named after the corpus luteum (Latin: "yellow body"), a structure that grows on the surface of the ovary where a mature egg was released at ovulation. The corpus luteum produces progesterone in preparing the body for pregnancy. Your luteal phase must be at least 10 days long to support pregnancy.

    The importance of the luteal phase

    The length of the luteal phase determines the time of ovulation within your menstrual cycle. Ovulation can be delayed by a number of factors, such as stress, increased activity or medication, but the length of the luteal phase is usually constant. Taking this into account, you can calculate the time of ovulation within your cycle by subtracting the length of your luteal phase from the length of your cycle. For example, if your cycle is 28 days long and your luteal phase is 12 days long, the ovulation will occur on day 16 of your cycle (28-12=16). Ovulation Calendar uses this formula to calculate your time of ovulation.

  • It's the time between ovulation and af arriving xxx
  • Hi Hannah & Tegan, i believe the luteal phase is the period from when you ov to when your af starts again.
  • thanks for that image another question...how do you work out how long it is? x
  • Monitor when you ov (either by opks/cm/temps etc) and then you can work out how long it is when you get your af.
    xx
  • oh ok, thank you xx
  • ohh its all so technical! there should be some kind of clear signal that your ov'ing- like your belly button lights up or something lol-----ahh if god was a woman LOL.
Sign In or Register to comment.