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Luteal Phase Defect
What is the Luteal Phase?
The luteal phase is the second half of the menstrual cycle that occurs after ovulation and before menstruation. This phase is when progesterone production is at its highest and when the uterine lining is preparing for embryonic implantation. The normal length of this phase is ideally between 12 to 14 days.
What is Luteal Phase Defect?
A luteal phase defect is a hormonal imbalance that effects ovulation and the uterine lining. It is said to occur when the luteal phase is less than 10 days, progesterone production is too low, the tissue is unresponsive, or there is poor follicle production.
What are the possible causes of Luteal Phase Defect?
- Poor follicle production occurs when a woman may not produce a normal level of FSH or her ovaries do not respond strongly to the FSH. This leads to inadequate follicle development which in turn affects the corpus luteum. A poor corpus luteum will produce inadequate progesterone which causes the uterine lining to be inadequately prepared for implantation. Thus, there are issues with the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis and stress may be a factor as well.
- Premature failure of the corpus luteum can occur even when the initial quality of the follicle/corpus luteum is adequate and it does not last as long as it should.
- Failure of the uterine lining to respond can occur even in the presence of adequate follicle development and an adequate corpus luteum. For some reason the tissue does not respond to normal levels of progesterone.
Symptoms of Luteal Phase Defect:
Common symptoms include shortened menstrual cycles, low basal body temperature, infertility, low back pain, bleeding between periods, intolerance to cold, fatigue, breast tenderness, feeling of internal heat, dry eyes, constipation and habitual miscarriage.
Western Treatment for Luteal Phase Defect:
The main treatments for luteal phase defect are progesterone cream or suppositories, Clomid, human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and vitamin B6.
Chinese Medicine Treatment for Luteal Phase Defect:
In Chinese medicine, the practitioner would enhance progesterone production, examine the follicular phase, work with egg quality, reduce stress levels, and increase blood flow to the uterine lining. |
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