How is luteal phase defect diagnosed?
Your doctor may recommend that you keep track of your temperature upon waking with a bbt chart. Progesterone causes a rise in temperature that is visible on a bbt chart during the second half of your cycle. Normally, you will see temperatures rise after ovulation and stay up for about 12-14 days before menstruation. You can tell how long your luteal phase is by looking at your bbt chart. If your luteal phase is shorter than ten days you may have a luteal phase defect. Some doctors may be concerned if your luteal phase is shorter than twelve days. Endometrial biopsies are another way that luteal phase defect is diagnosed. Endometrial biopsies are usually done late in your menstrual cycle around 11 or 12 days after ovulation. An endometrial biopsy is a scraping of part of the endometrium (the lining of your uterus). Your doctor will use an instrument to take a sample of the lining of your uterus. He will send this sample off to a lab to be evaluated. The lab will take a look at the sampl
