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How Short Luteal Phases Affect Fertility

When your luteal phase is below a 10 (10 is the minimum you need to get pregnant), it makes it harder to become pregnant. It is also said that a luteal phase less than 12 days might make it more difficult to become pregnant.  

Given the importance of the luteal phase in the establishment of a normal pregnancy, luteal phase deficiency (LPD) has been described as a condition in which endogenous progesterone is not sufficient to maintain a functional secretory endometrium and allow normal embryo implantation and growth.  The pathophysiology of luteal inadequacy may include several different mechanisms that ultimately affect endometrial development. The ‘‘short luteal phase’’ was initially described as an interval of  < 8 days from the luteinizing hormone (LH) peak to the onset of menstrual flow. The short luteal phase has been associated with low follicular follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, altered follicular FSH/LH ratios, or abnormal FSH and LH pulsatility. These follicular-phase abnormalities have been associated with reduced luteal estrogen and progesterone levels.


Prevents Implantation 
When you have a short luteal phase, you may not become pregnant until your luteal phase is long enough. Kindara blogger, Courtney Miller explains in Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant, Reason # 2: Short Luteal Phase, "If your luteal phase is very short, there might not be enough time for the fertilized egg to reach the endometrium before it gets shed. Without an endometrium, implantation can’t occur, and you won’t be able to get pregnant" (Miller).

Maintenance of pregnancy requires production of progesterone by the corpus luteum after ovulation and during the early first trimester until placental function is established. Removal of the corpus luteum before the development of adequate placental function results in spontaneous pregnancy loss. Studies in support of the need for adequate progesterone during the luteal phase suggest that cycles in which conception occurs have a more rapid rise of progesterone and higher mid-luteal estrogen and progesterone levels compared with cycles in which there is no conception. However, similarly increased luteal phase progesterone levels have been observed in cycles with normal and biochemical pregnancies, suggesting that pregnancy losses may result from causes other than ovarian hormonal deficiency.

Prevents Proper Implantation
However, some women may become pregnant with a short luteal phase. If you do become pregnant, you have a higher chance of having a miscarriage. How does it cause a miscarriage? When your luteal phase is not long enough, the lining of the uterus is not thick enough and the pregnancy can not stick. It also does not give your egg the needed length of time to fertilize and implant properly. Your egg needs time to travel down the Fallopian tubes and implant into the uterine wall (about 6-12 days). When your luteal phase is too short, your body does not have enough time to implant and signal the body not to begin menstruation, thus the uterine lining and egg are shed. 

According to Natural Fertility Info,  "If progesterone levels drop too soon (usually within a few days of ovulation), then the body will automatically think that it is time to flush out the uterus and start all over again. Very short cycles (usually less than 24 days) is usually a sign of this type of luteal phase defect. Another cause of LPD is abnormally low cholesterol levels which results in low to no progesterone production. All hormones, including progesterone, must have cholesterol in order to be manufactured by the body. Being underweight can also be a cause for LPD due to low cholesterol and body fat levels which can cause low hormonal levels across the board" (Rodriguez).

Delayed implantation has been associated with a higher rate of pregnancy loss, although the delayed implantation was more likely a result of an embryonic problem with inadequate early hCG production, rather than an inappropriate ovarian response.





Bibliography
Miller, Courtney. "Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant? Possible Reason #2: Short Luteal Phase." Kindara: Your Fertility In Your Hands. Kindara.com, 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://blog.kindara.com/blog/why-am-i-not-getting-pregnant-possible-reason-2-short-luteal-phase>.

C.H. C.M.T, Rodriguez, Heithr. "Luteal Phase Defect: Natural Treatment Options." Natural Fertility Infocom. The Natural Fertility Company, n.d. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://natural-fertility-info.com/luteal-phase-defect.html>.



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