When is my luteal phase

The luteal phase is the third and final phase of the menstrual cycle, following ovulation. Also referred as as days post ovulation DPO , luteal length is the number of days between ovulation up to the day before the start of your next period. A normal luteal phase is considered to be between 10 and 16 days. What's happening during the luteal phase: the corpus luteum which forms from the follicle that released the egg at ovulation produces progesterone primarily to maintain the thickness of the endometrium lining in the uterus in the event that fertilization occurs.

In a nutshell or, shall we say eggshell?! Pregnancy Due Date. Ovulation Calendar. Pregnancy Weight Gain. Pregnancy Ticker. Take an Appointment. Read on for the breakdown of each phase of the cycle and what is happening in the uterus and in the ovaries. Menstruation: The period —the shedding of the uterine lining.

Levels of estrogen and progesterone are low. The follicular phase: The time between the first day of the period and ovulation. Estrogen rises as an egg prepares to be released. The proliferative phase: After the period, the uterine lining builds back up again.

Ovulation: The release of the egg from the ovary, mid-cycle. Estrogen peaks just beforehand, and then drops shortly afterwards. The luteal phase: The time between ovulation and before the start of menstruation, when the body prepares for a possible pregnancy.

Progesterone is produced, peaks, and then drops. When: From the time bleeding starts to the time it ends. What: Old blood and tissue from inside the uterus is shed through the vagina.

Each menstrual cycle starts with menstruation the period. A period is the normal shedding of blood and endometrium the lining of the uterus through the cervix and vagina. A normal period may last up to 8 days 1 , but on average lasts about 5 or 6 4.

When: From the start of the period until ovulation. What: Signals from the brain tell the ovaries to prepare an egg that will be released. During the period, the pituitary gland a small area at the base of the brain that makes hormones produces a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone FSH. FSH tells the ovaries to prepare an egg for ovulation release of an egg from the ovary.

Throughout the menstrual cycle, there are multiple follicles fluid filled sacs containing eggs in each ovary at different stages of development 5,6. About halfway through the follicular phase just as the period is ending one follicle in one of the ovaries is the largest of all the follicles at about 1 cm 0. This follicle becomes the dominant follicle and is the one prepared to be released at ovulation.

The dominant follicle produces estrogen as it grows 8 , which peaks just before ovulation happens 7. For most people, the follicular phase lasts days, but this can vary from cycle-to-cycle 4. When: From the end of the period until ovulation. What: The uterus builds up a thick inner lining. While the ovaries are working on developing the egg-containing follicles, the uterus is responding to the estrogen produced by the follicles, rebuilding the lining that was just shed during the last period.

This is called the proliferative phase because the endometrium the lining of the uterus becomes thicker. The endometrium is thinnest during the period, and thickens throughout this phase until ovulation occurs 9.