What is a Luteal Phase?

Short and simple, a Luteal Phase, or LP for short, is the duration of the woman's cycle between ovulation and the onset of her period. For a pregnancy to occur a woman's LP must be at least 10 days long, and many physicians prefer to see a LP that is at least 12 to 14 days long.

What can you do if your LP is shorter than 10 days long? There are actually several options available to you. If you want to go the western medicine route, then you would need to call your OB/GYN to schedule a series of appointments to have your blood tests at different points during your cycle and have your progesterone level confirmed to be low. Once this was done, your doctor would most likely prescribe progesterone supplements to take from ovulation to the onset of your period or after a negative pregnancy test at 16 days after ovulation.

If you would rather try a home remedy you should start taking B6, and even better would be a good B-Complex. A good B-complex vitamin with 60 mg of Vitamin B6 should do the trick, and you should see your LP lengthen in less than 3 cycles (many report results with the first and second cycles). B6 is water soluble, so what your body can't use is flushed out and
not stored up. Even if you are taking a great multi-vitamin or prenatal, additional
B6 is probably needed.

Another home remedy is the use of over the counter progesterone creams. Only a small amount is needed each day and each cream is a little different, so be sure to follow the directions on the package for the best results. You may not see results overnight, but as with the vitamin supplements, it should not take more than 3 cycles to see an improvement.

One last option that you can try is herbs. A combination of Vitex and Evening Primrose Oil should help to balance out your hormones and lengthen your luteal phase. Be sure to buy a top quality brand of both Vitex and Evening Primrose Oil, or better yet, see a trained herbalist who can develop either a tincture or capsules of both for you to take. A well trained herbalist will be able to advise you on all things herbal, and should also be able to assist you with vitamin and mineral supplements that you may need as well.

Whether you buy from a trusted drug store, a local herbalist, or online, always follow the dosing directions on the package.