11/15/2022
What is a luteal phase and why does it matter? :
The luteal phase is the time after ovulation occurs until the start of the next cycle. Once an egg is released, the follicle the egg was in becomes the corpus luteum (aka yellow body) and will secrete progesterone for the rest of the cycle.
The length can vary, but the average is typically about 11-16 days. Anything less than that could indicate a luteal phase defect, which could make it difficult for a woman to remain pregnant and subsequently have a risk for recurrent miscarriages. Ultimately, it would indicate an issue with progesterone production and the corpus luteum. One wouldn't know the length of their luteal phase without charting which is one of the many reasons it is important!