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The Luteal Phase

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle is critical to charting fertility and predicting ovulation. Read about your menstrual cycle - what happens pre and post ovulation - as well as what happens during ovulation.

The Luteal Phase

The Luteal Phase is the time period beginning with the day after ovulation and running through the remainder of your menstrual cycle (it ends the day before your next period). Typically, the duration of the luteal phase phase lasts between 10 and 16 days - and is generally consistent from cycle to cycle, averaging for most women at 14 days.

In the Trying to Conceive (TTC) Community, the luteal phase is also referred to as "DPO" - or days past ovulation. At the onset of the luteal phase, women's body temperature increases (Basal Body Temperature) in order to provide a fertile environment for the ovum - and the uterus undergoes physiological changes that support implantation and fetal development.

LH Luteal LH Surge

The Luteal Phase in the Menstrual Cycle

At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the body begins to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH facilitates the formation of a follicle on one of the ovaries. The follicle contains and nurtures the egg. When a follicle has adequately matured, a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) causes the follicle to burst and release the egg into the fallopian tube - ovulation. At this point, fertilization of the egg may take place.

Once the follicle expels the egg, the follicle is called a 'corpus luteum'. The corpus luteum is responsible for producing the hormone progesterone - and during the luteal phase, progesterone facilitates a thickening of the uterine lining and the development of blood vessels, which gives the embryo a place to attach. During the luteal phase, the corpus luteum will produce progesterone for approximately twelve days.

Return to: Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

Read More About:
The Dynamics of Conception and Fertility:
What Happens During Ovulation?

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First Day of Last Period:
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Ovulation:
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Note that you are most likely to get pregnant if you time your lovemaking to occur on the days right before - and on - your ovulation date. Keep in mind that the projected ovulation date above is simply a “best guess” estimate based on your cycle date information. The most accurate way to pinpoint your most fertile time is through the use of urine-based ovulation tests or with a fertility monitor. We have partnered with Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com, the Internet’s leading supplier of preconception products since 2001, to offer low-cost, FDA-approved pregnancy and ovulation tests – with free same-day shipping.

 

Now that you’ve calculated your ovulation date using our ovulation calculator, we have a number of other helpful tools you can use to help increase your chances of conceiving.

 

  • Create your own personalized ovulation calendar! You can even provide an email address so that you receive email alerts of your most fertile days, when you can begin testing for pregnancy, and more.
     

  • Create your own personalized fertility chart! This is a highly accurate way to pinpoint your ovulation date that relies primarily on basal temperature charting. (Visit Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com for an accurate, inexpensive basal thermometer.)
     

  • Connect with others at our online community! If you have questions about trying-to-conceive – or if you just want to vent a bit – we have a wonderful, vibrant community of people who’d just love to hear from you.

Find your most fertile time.
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