Luteal Phase Defect
The Luteal Phase is the last two weeks of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Once she’s pregnant, the egg travels from her fallopian tubes to her uterus for implantation. This journey usually lasts 10-17 days, but a journey lasting under 12 days is considered a Luteal Phase Defect, which results in miscarriage almost immediately. See, the uterine lining begins to break down and cause menstrual bleeding which prevents the pregnancy from happening. There are reasons for this occurrence and there are also ways to correct this defect as you will read.
Cause & Effect
The number one reason for the luteal phase defect is low progesterone levels, but this is an easy fix your doctor can assist you with. Your doctor should begin testing for progesterone levels approximately one week after ovulation occurs.
Poor follicle production happens during the follicular phase, it’s when a woman doesn’t produce the correct amount of FSH. While they’re not producing FSH, they’re not developing the follicles that later become the corpus luteum and the quality of the corpus luteum dramatically lowers along with the levels of progesterone.
Uterine lining doesn’t respond to follicle development and corpus luteum that have arrived, leaving the lining unprepared for implantation. If the uterus lining isn’t prepared there’s no way for the egg to attach itself to it, preventing pregnancy.
Correcting LPD
There are two main ways to correct this defect, either purchasing over-the-counter medicines or obtaining prescriptions from your doctor.
Vitamin B6 and progesterone cream can be found in your grocery store and are proven to help lengthen your Luteal phase. Progesterone cream is mainly for woman going through menopause, but can be used to treat women who are younger. Just make sure you purchase a cream that is all natural, and use it daily until you reach your 10th week of pregnancy.
Prescription drugs like Clomid are taken orally and suppositories are taken through the vagina. Both must be prescribed by doctor and taken on strict schedule throughout luteal phase or two weeks after ovulation.
