Luteal Phase Defects

Infertility can take many shapes and forms, and when you stop to think about all the intricate details that all need to come together correctly to create a new life, it truly is a miracle. Luteal phase defects can sometimes contribute to infertility problems, and unfortunately it seems that this problem is one that often goes undiagnosed. Women trying to conceive a child should be proactive in monitoring their menstrual cycles in order to pick up on any anomalies that may be occuring so that they may discuss the issue further with their doctor.

As described by TTC International, a woman's menstrual cycle is divided into three basic parts; the follicle phase, ovulation and finally the luteal phase. The luteal phase occurs in the time after ovulation, up to the start of the next menstrual cycle. For couples trying to conceive, the luteal phase plays a key role in the success of their efforts- it is the time when the uterine lining is prepared for implantation. If a fertilized egg cannot be implanted, pregnancy will not occur.

After an egg is released from the ovary during the ovulation stage, the corpus luteum, or the "corpse of the follicle," is left in the ovary. As described by Randine Lewis, p.h.D., those cells then undergo luteinization, a process where increased blood flow leads to a structural changes of the cells. After luteinization, these corpus luteum cells produce the hormone progesterone, which helps to prepare the endometrium (uterine lining) for implantation of a fertilized egg. The production of progesterone is dependant on the production of LH, or luteinizing hormone.