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Concern

  Evaluating Your Fertility
  Understanding Fertility
  Maximise Your Fertility
  Infertility: An Introduction
  Infertility in Females
  Impact of Age
  Ovulatory
  Classification of Disorders
  Clinical Features of Disorders
  Possible Causes of Disorders
  Lack of Ovulation
  Irregular Ovulation
  Polycystic Ovary Disease
  Inadequate Luteal Phase
  Prolactin Disorders
  Anatomical
  Chromosomal Disorders
  Other Causes (Idiopathic)
  Infertility in Males
  Implications of Infertility
  Questions to Ask Your Doctor
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Inadequate luteal phase

If the corpus luteum fails to function after ovulation, the endometrium will not be prepared for implantation. Infertility will result, even though ovulation and conception occur as normal. Since the corpus luteum functions as an endocrine unit, the cause of an inadequate luteal phase is hormonal. In a small minority of women, the cause can be attributed to abnormal thyroid function or to hyperprolactinaemia and may be indicated by abnormally frequent, scanty menses. Of the remaining women, the vast majority will exhibit normal ovulation patterns and are candidates for 'luteal support' with progesterone therapy to establish luteal phase conditions in the endometrium and support implantation and ongoing pregnancy. 


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Last Updated: 5/6/2008

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