Pregnancy is a special time in every woman’s life and you need to take utmost care of yourself and your body to have a trouble-free period.
Sadly, sometimes your body may have underlying issues that may create complications with your pregnancy, which can result in miscarriages. While a number of factors trigger a miscarriage right from stress, weight, substance abuse to chronic conditions, we are here to talk about the luteal phase defect.
It’s a condition that may be easily overlooked until you get pregnant.
Researchers too are still on the fence regarding its direct contribution towards infertility. However, there is no denying that the luteal phase defect can have serious implications on your pregnancy.
Here’s what you need to know about it.
What Is The Luteal Phase?
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The menstrual cycle is divided into four phases – menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. Each phase serves a different function. Here’s a look at what each of these phases comprise:
- Menstruation is when you have your period. Your body sheds the uterine lining from the previous cycle in the absence of pregnancy.
- Up next is the follicular phase that overlaps with menstruation for the first few days and lets the follicles grow. One follicle will generally become larger than the other and release a mature egg. That results the end of the follicular phase.
- The body then moves to ovulation which is when the mature egg releases waiting for a sperm to latch on to it for conception.
- The last and final stage is the luteal phase. This is when the egg starts travelling down the fallopian tube. This phase ends when your next period begins.
During the luteal phase, the lining of the uterus gets thicker to prepare for pregnancy. However, if you are suffering from a luteal phase defect, this lining won’t grow properly every month.
This makes things more difficult for those trying to conceive or stay pregnant.
What Causes The Luteal Phase Defect?
Now, the luteal phase lasts for about 12-14 days right after ovulation. During this period, the ovaries produce a hormone named progesterone. This hormone tells the lining of your uterus to grow.
When you do get pregnant, the foetus will attach to this thickened lining. However, if you don’t get pregnant, the lining will shed eventually and you will have your next period.
The luteal phase defect is triggered when the ovaries do not release enough progesterone. This means the body has not produced enough lining in your uterus for you to sustain a pregnancy.
So what triggers a luteal phase defect? Here are some of the causes:
- Anorexia
- Endometriosis
- Extreme exercise
- Obesity
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Thyroid disorders
- Hyperprolactinemia (Excess hormone that’s responsible for breast milk)
Luteal Phase Defect: Symptoms
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Fortunately, the luteal phase defect can be treated by checking some of the existing conditions. For that you may need to identify symptoms that point at a possible internal issue with your body.
If you suspect you are suffering from a luteal phase defect, look out for these symptoms:
- Frequent periods
- Miscarriage
- Trouble conceiving
- Spotting between periods
Diagnosis
Please speak to your gynaecologist if you see any of the aforementioned symptoms. Your doctor will help you narrow down the source of your issues.
Do remember that one single test or examination cannot determine the source of your problem. Instead, the doctor will suggest a number of blood tests to figure out what’s happening in your body. This includes:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Progesterone
Additionally, the doctor may also ask for a pelvic ultrasound to measure the thickness of your uterus lining.
Treatment
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With the luteal phase defect, there is no obvious way to know if it is affecting your body unless you are trying to get pregnant. Fortunately, it can be rectified with different treatment options most of which rely on medicines.
This is usually the case with women who want to get pregnant. In other cases, you would probably stay unaware of this issue when you are not trying to have a baby.
With respect to medicines, your doctor is likely to recommend:
- Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) – This triggers your ovaries to make more follicles that release eggs.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – This medication can help start ovulation and make more progesterone.
- Progesterone booster – Doctors may also recommend progesterone injections, pills or supplements to help your uterus lining grow.
Make sure to speak to your doctor about the different treatment options and the one that best suits you.
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