Any Luteal Phase Experts out there? I need some advise.

[TwistTee]

Hi,

Anyone know if it's possible to have a luteal phase over 16 days? I'm asking because, I had what I suspected was ovulation spotting on days 17 & 18 of my cycle but 19 days later and still no period.
This is the 2nd cycle this has happened. Last one, I had spotting and cervical mucus changes on or about day 18 of a 58 day cycle.
Worth saying I have very long, irregular 58-81 day cycles.

Thanks

Hi, I'm not an expert, but I don't think so, no. When things are working properly, the follicle that released the egg turns into a corpus luteum which produces progesterone, making the uterus receptive to a fertilised egg. But it is programmed to break down after 14 days if it doesn't get the msg of fertilisation (from the embedded embryo producing HCG), and once it breaks down the progesterone levels drop quite quickly causing the uterus to start breaking down the lining contracting it to expel it as a period.
Do you know why you have the long/irregular periods? Have you talked to your GP about it?

Thank you, I thought this might be the case. I'm booked in to see a specialist later this year. Just running through the numerous blood tests at the moment. Something is def changing around days 17 and 18 but it sounds like it must be a hormone change and not ovulation.
It's just so frustrating not knowing what is going on. All my blood tests so far have come back normal, but then I couldn't take them on the recommended cycle days as I don't follow a normal pattern. So they could be giving false readings. Makes getting pregnant seem impossible right now. Oh well, chin up TwistTee [Pep talk to self]. Thanks for responding.

Twistee, I'm glad you're seeing a specialist later in the year, hope that appointment comes by quickly and that you start getting some answers. I think you're right to be suspicious of the blood tests being 'normal', although I guess it depends what they were testing - did you have any done on day 2-3 of your cycle? Those ones at least are fairly easy to get right you just have to wait til your period arrives. They would test for Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) on that day. If you haven't had it, maybe you could go back to ask for it to be done in advance of seeing the specialist. That test is useful to help diagnose PCOS as the results should be quite similar for each hormone at that point in the cycle, if they're out of ratio then it's a pointer.
Have you tried charting your basal body temperature? It might help you to identify a bit more what's happening when. The lessons on Fertility Friend are very useful and easy to follow.

Oh by the way, the info on the luteal phase that I gave before comes from Professor Lesley Regan from St Mary's in London. I was reading her book on Miscarriage recently and she goes into quite a lot of detail about the various hormonal interactions in a normal cycle.