Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 28 July 2025
While periods are just one visible part of the menstrual cycle, other things like hormonal fluctuations and bodily functions that work to prepare the woman’s body for potential pregnancy also play a role.
The menstrual cycle generally has two major phases. They are the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is widely referred to as the initial phase of the menstrual cycle. The luteal phase is the second phase. Furthermore, the follicular phase involves the beginning of the menstrual phase, continuing with the follicular phase and ending with the ovulation phase. On the other hand, the luteal phase starts immediately after the ovulation and extends until the following cycle begins.
Each of these phases in the menstrual cycle has its symptoms and functions. In this blog, we are going to talk about the luteal phase symptoms and their associated functions.
Luteal phase is the days that begin after egg rupture and last until the menstrual period. Luteal phase may generally precede for 11 to 17 days. This interval is generally considered normal. However, the average luteal phase length is typically 14 days in many women.
During the luteal phase, the ruptured egg moves from the ovaries to reach the uterus by means of the fallopian tubes, either fertilised or unfertilised. If this ruptured follicle is fertilised by the sperm in the fallopian tubes, it further moves to the uterus and tries to get implanted into it. Soon after the successful implantation, the pregnancy begins. If it fails to get either fertilised or implanted, you will get your period. This means you are not pregnant.
The major purpose of the luteal phase is to develop the uterine lining for potential pregnancy. It is done by the corpus luteum, which plays a significant role in secreting the progesterone hormone. The corpus luteum is the temporary structure of follicle remnants after ovulation. The luteal phase, the second half of the menstrual cycle, will end once menstruation begins.
The menstrual cycle typically has four phases. They may include:
This is the first phase of the recurring menstrual cycle. The phase starts as soon as you get your period and ends when it lasts. The average length of the menstrual cycle would typically be around 3 to 7 days. During this phase, the thickened uterine lining, which is developed to support a potential pregnancy by progesterone hormone, begins to shed. The shedding results in the form of blood, widely referred to as periods or menstrual bleeding. This happens if the ruptured egg fails to either fertilise with the sperm or implant into the uterine lining.
The follicular phase begins as soon as the menstrual period starts and concludes as soon as ovulation begins. The follicular phase overlaps the menstrual phase, meaning it coincidentally starts on the same day as the menstrual phase. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) spikes its levels during this phase. This hormone plays a crucial role in stimulating the growth and maturation of multiple follicles in the ovaries. Although multiple follicles grow until maturation, only one follicle ultimately becomes dominant. The dominant follicle, once ruptured, makes its way to release an egg during ovulation.
The ovulation phase is associated with the rupture of the mature follicle soon after the follicular phase. This release is typically stimulated by the increased production of luteinizing hormone (LH). The ovulation phase may generally take place in the middle of the menstrual cycle. A woman with a 28-day menstrual cycle may experience her ovulation to happen around the 14th day. However, the day may vary depending on the length of the menstrual cycle for every woman. Tracking the ovulation through ovulation kits, fertility monitors, and or even calendars can be helpful for couples to either achieve or prevent pregnancy.
Luteal phase is the second phase of the menstrual cycle that starts soon after ovulation and lasts until the next cycle begins. This phase is mainly reliant on the corpus luteum, which is the remaining tissue of the ruptured follicles after ovulation. These tissues play a significant role in triggering the increased production of progesterone hormone, along with estrogen.
Consequently, this hormone is essential for preparing the supportive environment for the likelihood of pregnancy. If fertilisation doesn’t take place, progesterone levels decrease, and the uterine lining begins to shed. The shredding results in the form of menstrual bleeding. If pregnancy happens, the progesterone hormone continues to increase to maintain the healthy uterine lining, which is essential for supporting fetal growth.
The cycle is a recurring process throughout the woman’s reproductive years. The frequent deviation from any of the normal patterns may denote the underlying medical condition.
Similar to the menstrual cycle, the luteal phase length may also largely differ from person to person.
Luteal phase length involves three major types. They are:
The length of the normal luteal phase usually falls anywhere between 11 and 17 days, with 14 being the most common. However, the frequent deviation from this length may denote an underlying issue in reproductive health. This may significantly impact fertility.
A woman with minimal days between the ovulation and menstruation is known as having a short luteal phase. To be more exact, a luteal phase of less than 10 days is considered a short luteal phase. Short luteal phase in a medical context is referred to as luteal phase defect (LPD).
LPD is a medical condition that can result in impacting fertility by having inadequate progesterone levels. This happens due to the insufficient time to produce enough progesterone in the short luteal phase. Progesterone levels are important factors for creating a supportive environment for the fertilised egg and maintaining the pregnancy. Even though occasional shortening of the luteal phase is normal, the frequent occurrence can be an indicator of ovulation or hormonal imbalance issues. Hence, it impacts fertility.
In contrast with a short luteal phase, a long luteal phase occurs when a woman has extended time between ovulation and menstruation. To be more exact, a luteal phase of more than 17 days is considered a long luteal phase. This may significantly happen due to hypothyroidism or uterine conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In some cases, a long luteal phase is also associated with anovulatory cycles. Anovulatory cycles are a medical condition in which a woman fails to experience regular ovulation.
The luteal phase in general comprises both emotional and physical symptoms. This primarily happens because of hormonal fluctuations.
Listed below are some of the common symptoms.
Understanding the different phases of the menstrual cycle, particularly the luteal phase, can be helpful for women to promote their menstrual health. This is because the luteal phase is predominantly characterised by both physical and emotional changes, due to fluctuating hormone levels. This can potentially develop symptoms like breast tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cervical mucus changes and more. In addition, recognising the consistent changes in the length of the luteal phase may also play a role in improving the overall reproductive health.
Keeping informed of the symptoms and ways to alleviate them can be beneficial in promoting menstrual health, especially with the help of experts like A4 Fertility Centre.
1. Does medical intervention improve luteal phase symptoms?
The answer to the question is yes. You can certainly improve luteal phase symptoms, especially if they are associated with fertility. Medical interventions often involve medications to regulate progesterone levels. They may also involve lifestyle modifications to improve luteal phase symptoms.
2. What are the common causes of luteal phase defects?
The common causes of luteal phase defect (LPD) may include hormonal imbalances, lifestyle factors, and certain medical conditions. In some scenarios, assisted reproductive technologies may also play a role in developing LPD.
Luteal phase defect (LPD) is a medical condition that can be found in women when their body doesn’t produce enough progesterone to thicken the uterine lining.
3. Can I improve luteal phase symptoms with home remedies?
The answer to the question is yes. You can largely improve the luteal phase symptoms through regular exercise, a balanced diet and stress management. All these factors can significantly improve your symptoms.
4. Why does my luteal phase length differ each month?
It is common to have slight changes in the luteal phase length each month. The typical luteal phase length should be around 12 to 14 days. However, slight variations are still possible due to hormone fluctuations, lifestyle changes, and heightened stress.
5. When should I seek medical help during the luteal phase?
You may seek medical help if your luteal phase length is consistently shorter than 10 days or consistently longer than 17 days. You may also seek medical help if you notice your symptoms are worsening with severe pain or if you are finding it difficult to become pregnant for a long time.
