Ladies, I have been where you all are!! I spent 13 months TTC'ing my first dd in 2003-2004 just went at it randomly for the first six months then my BF suggested learning fertility awareness which was like a lightbulb going off over my head. Learnt it, followed it and conceived dd 7 months later. It took only 4 months using this method to conceive dd2. Now I'm using it in reverse as a contraceptive, ie natural family planning (don't laugh it does actually work!!)
The luteal phase is the second half of your cycle and is measured from ovulation until the first day of your period and (generally) is 12-16 days an average is 14 days. Luteal phase length can have a bearing on fertility as a short luteal phase (less than 10 days) can be an indicator of low levels of progesterone which can make it difficult for the fertilised egg to implant.
The whole charting/temping thing may seem like a road you don't wish to go down but it's not difficult, it's free and I always felt at least I'm doing something towards TTC while I was waiting for a referal to the RE, it turned out I didn't need it anyway. What you learn about your fertility is invaluable.
One recommendation I would make is the website Fertilityfriend.com it's brilliant and FREE. You can enter your temperatures each day and it will show you on a graph when you have ovulated and therefore when you should be most fertile next month. It uses many factors such as body temperature, cervical fluid, cervix position and you can even enter your OPK results on it as well. It's very clever. There is also a 'tutorial' on there you can click on it gives a very easy to understand lesson on your cycle and when you are most fertile.
In a nutshell, your temperature increases after ovulation and stays at this (slightly) higher rate until your period, so if you take your temp every morning you will clearly be able to see when you ovulated.
I am happy to answer any questions I am passionate about fertility awareness and natural family planning!!