I'm Defective??

Let's talk about LPD, also known as Luteal Phase Defect.

The Luteal phase is the name of segment in a woman's cycle that spans the time between ovulation & the start of her next period. In a normal or ideal cycle, a woman's body begins to produce the hormone FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) a few days after the end of menses. When this happens, the body produces a mature, egg-containing follicle on one of her ovaries. When this follicle is brought to full maturation a surge of the homone LH (lutenizing hormone) is released. This release of the hormone LH causes two things to happen:

1. It causes the follicle to burst & release the egg into the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized.
2. The follicle begins to refill with fluid after bursting & change into a thicker yellow substance.

This resulting structure is called the corpus luteum rather then a follicle & is responsible for producing the hormone called progesterone which rules the second half of the cycle. As a result of progesterone, the uterine lining will thicken giving the embryo a place to attach. In this normal cycle, the corpus luteum will produce progesterone for approximately 12 days.

Now...in a cycle with LPD...

A normal cycle can be thrown off in several different stages. Three causes of LPD are as follows:

1. Poor follicle production caused by the body failing to produce adequate amounts of FSH or the ovaries failing to respond correctly to the FSH. Due to poor follicular quality & because the follicle later becomes the corpus luteum this case results in poor quality of the corpus luteum as well. In turn, a poor corpus luteum will result in poor progesterone production causing the uterine lining to be inadequate for implantation of the egg. In this case, progesterone levels drop & menses arrives earlier then expected.

2. Premature failure of the corpus luteum can occur for reasons not fully understood. The corpus luteum in this case does not persist as long as it should & again progesterone levels drop causing the early onset of menses.

3. Failure of the uterine lining to respond to normal levels of progesterone. In this case, if an embryo arrives & tries to implant the lining will not be adequately prepared & implantation will likely fail.