News | Regular Menstrual Cycles Do Not Always Mean Normal Ovulation
A new study finds substantial variation in luteal phase length among healthy women, challenging longstanding assumptions about menstrual cycle regularity. The University of British Columbia (UBC) study shows that even women without premenstrual abnormalities do not necessarily have the traditionally assumed 14-day luteal phase.
Lead author Dr. Sarah Henry said, "We found that luteal phase length can vary considerably among healthy women who ovulate normally. Although it generally varies less than the follicular phase, it still has no clearly fixed length."
Co-author and public reproductive health expert Dr. Azita Goshtasebi noted that the finding has important implications for health and fertility. A short luteal phase may be associated with lower bone density and difficulty becoming pregnant. A regular monthly menstrual cycle therefore does not necessarily indicate normal ovulation.
The team encouraged women to pay closer attention to ovulation and luteal phase length because the balance between estrogen and progesterone is important to women's health.
News | Regular Menstrual Cycles Do Not Always Mean Normal Ovulation
News | Regular Menstrual Cycles Do Not Always Mean Normal Ovulation
A new study finds substantial variation in luteal phase length among healthy women, challenging longstanding assumptions about menstrual cycle regularity. The University of British Columbia (UBC) study shows that even women without premenstrual abnormalities do not necessarily have the traditionally assumed 14-day luteal phase.
Lead author Dr. Sarah Henry said, "We found that luteal phase length can vary considerably among healthy women who ovulate normally. Although it generally varies less than the follicular phase, it still has no clearly fixed length."
Published in Human Reproduction, the study monitored the luteal phase using quantitative basal temperature (QBT©). It defined a normal luteal phase as 10 days or longer and a short luteal phase as less than 10 days. Researchers followed the menstrual cycles of 53 healthy women for one year, with an average of 13 recorded cycles per participant. Only 6 women maintained normal ovulatory cycles throughout the year.
Co-author and public reproductive health expert Dr. Azita Goshtasebi noted that the finding has important implications for health and fertility. A short luteal phase may be associated with lower bone density and difficulty becoming pregnant. A regular monthly menstrual cycle therefore does not necessarily indicate normal ovulation.
The team encouraged women to pay closer attention to ovulation and luteal phase length because the balance between estrogen and progesterone is important to women's health.
Source:
Collected online