How can you tell what your lulteal phase is???

[readytobeamum]

on online ovulation calanders it always asks you lulteal phase. how do I work this out????

[Kimmie30]

I am interested to know too.

[bellabelly]

Coun from the day you ovulate to the day your period starts.

[bellabelly]

So, say you ovulate on 1 Jan and your period starts on 14 Jan, your luteal phase is the number of days in between.

[Kimmie30]

What about if you have irregular periods? My cycle can be 30days or 32 or 35. It is different every month :(

[bellabelly]

There are ways to pinpoint your ovulation date each cycle - eg, you could use those pee-on-a-stick tests or chart your morning temperature every day. It's thought that even though the length of your menstrual cycle might vary from month to month, the length of your luteal phase stays pretty much the same every month.

Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility? It is excellent - very detailed about all of this stuff. Also, you could have a look at the fertility friend website which has loads of info and can help you chart your temps if you decide to go down that route.

[bellabelly]

PS Don't be sad about slightly irregular cycles, not many women have really clockwork ones. Mine vary from 21 days to 35 days! I used to despair of getting pregnant but understanding when ovulation was happening (or about to happen) was such a help. Once you become aware of all the changes in your body around taht time, you wonder how you didn't notice before! Good luck with it all!

[readytobeamum]

my cycles can be as long as 50 days!!!!! I haven't a clue when I'm ovulating as my AF is so unpredictable! I have started to chart my AF on a calender now though, it started with really big gaps but now I am getting closer to 28 days! hasn't been this regular since I was on the pill a year ago!!!!

[BeattieBow]

You need to pinpoint when you ovulate. Your luteal phase is the no of days from ovulation to period. Take charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler explains how to find out when you ovulate. You should probably temp (all explained in the book) to be sure, but you may get some idea from ovulation tests.

[bellabelly]

You can also get blood tests done at your GPs to check whether you are actually ovulating at all. If you've been trying for a while (6 months or 1 year, depending on your age), might be worth talking to your GP about it.

The big clue to ovulation (apart from your temps) is looking out for your cervical mucus. So when you wipe after using the loo, look out for clear, jelly-like cervical mucus. This is a good sign that ovulation will happen soon / is happening so you can time having sex at the best possible time of your cycle.