Menstruation (Days 1-5) The Follicular Phase (Days 6-14) Ovulation (Day 14) The Luteal Phase (Days 15-28)
Can you get pregnant in the luteal phase? Yes, however, once you've ovulated the egg can only survive for 12-24 hours, you can only get pregnant in the first day of the luteal phase.
Luteal Phase
During this phase, the progesterone hormone increase makes women feel moodier and sometimes more stressed. This starts to happen right before your period.
During the luteal and menstrual phases of your menstrual cycle, fluctuations in hormone levels, iron deficiencies, and low blood sugar levels can contribute to feelings of tiredness or fatigue. Fortunately, energy levels often increase during the follicular stage and ovulation as estrogen levels begin to balance out.
The luteal phase begins after we have ovulated and usually is a set 11-14 days in length (this will vary from woman to woman). In this phase, the hormone progesterone is dominant, which if in balance, leads us to feel warm, cozy, chilled out, and at ease.
During the second half of the menstrual cycle, around the time women start experiencing symptoms of PMS, estrogen levels peak and then fall quickly – causing you to feel tired or sluggish.
Foods you want to reduce in the luteal phase are coffee, refined carbs (like white breads and pastries), high sugar foods and excess salt.
The luteal phase begins after you ovulate. The dominant follicle that releases an egg at ovulation changes into a structure called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, along with some estrogen. Progesterone levels increase in the luteal phase, which help thicken the lining of your uterus.
The Other Shoe Drops: The Luteal Phase
As progesterone levels rise, you may begin to feel moodier. This happens because progesterone helps the body make cortisol, a hormone that tends to be higher in people who are stressed.
While many people don't notice any bloating or weight gain at all, others might gain as much as 5 pounds. Usually, this gain happens during the premenstrual, or luteal phase, and the person loses the weight again once the next period begins.
You ovulate about 12 to 14 days before the start of a new menstrual cycle. Your fertile window is the five days leading up to ovulation, plus the day of ovulation and the day after ovulation — so about seven days in total.
your cervical mucus – you may notice wetter, clearer and more slippery mucus around the time of ovulation. your body temperature – there's a small rise in body temperature after ovulation takes place, which you may be able to detect with a thermometer.
Yes, although it's not very likely. If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period.
In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period. However, each person's cycle length may be different, and the time between ovulation and the start of the next menstrual period may vary.
This is normal due to the decrease in oestrogen levels, which occurs around this point in your menstrual cycle. Your energy levels will usually return to normal within a few days as your hormone levels begin to increase again. However, for some women, period fatigue and mood swings may last longer and be more extreme.
Discharge during the luteal phase
Luteal discharge might feel sticky, dry, or may be completely absent. Progesterone peaks to support a potential pregnancy, inhibiting the secretion of cervical mucus and acting as a barrier to stop sperm from entering the upper reproductive tract.
If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives like clockwork, it's likely that you'll ovulate on day 14. That's halfway through your cycle. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You're more likely to get pregnant if you have sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Late ovulation does not produce the best quality eggs, which can also reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. During different times in your life, ovulation may or may not happen: Women who are pregnant do not ovulate.
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is associated with strong food cravings, especially for sweet-, carbohydrate- and fat-rich foods, contributing to higher energy intake and weight gain over time (12, 13).
During the luteal phase you'll want to focus on keeping your cravings and carb intake under control with insulin sensitivity being low. A relatively reduced carb intake with higher fats works well.
Nourishment for the Luteal Phase:
Add in magnesium-rich foods to increase energy and libido, like pumpkin seeds, spinach, Swiss chard, and dark chocolate. Focus on healthy fats and protein to promote satiety and reduce cravings during this phase. Reduce/eliminate excess caffeine, alcohol, and dairy during this phase.
Oestrogen. Having the right balance of oestrogen is very important for your energy levels. Bear in mind, this rises and changes throughout your cycle.
Some research has found that strength training during the follicular phase resulted in higher increases in muscle strength compared to training in the luteal phase (1–3). If you start paying attention to your cycle phases, you may find your strength training pays off the most in your follicular phase.