What is the luteal phase?
The luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle, from the day after ovulation until your period starts. It usually lasts 12 to 14 days. Progesterone rises to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy; if none happens, hormones fall and your period begins. That fall is when PMS symptoms like mood swings, bloating and cravings show up.
The luteal phase in plain words
Every cycle has two halves. The first, the follicular phase, grows an egg. Ovulation releases it. The second, the luteal phase, is named after the corpus luteum (Latin for yellow body): the empty follicle left behind in the ovary, which becomes a temporary gland that makes progesterone and some estrogen.
- Early luteal (days after ovulation): progesterone starts rising. Body temperature goes up slightly.
- Mid-luteal (about a week after ovulation): progesterone peaks. The uterine lining is thick and ready. If an egg was fertilized, it implants around now.
- Late luteal (the last few days): without a pregnancy, the corpus luteum breaks down. Progesterone and estrogen fall, the lining sheds, and your period starts.
How the luteal phase can feel
Progesterone has a calming, sleepy effect for many people early on. Then, as both hormones drop in the last days, people who are sensitive to that change can feel it strongly.
| Body | Mood and mind |
|---|---|
| Bloating, tender breasts | Irritability, shorter fuse |
| Cravings, bigger appetite | Feeling teary or low |
| Spots or breakouts | Anxiety, feeling overwhelmed |
| Tiredness, poorer sleep | Lower confidence, wanting to withdraw |
| Slightly higher temperature | Brain fog, poorer concentration |
Not everyone notices these, and how strongly you feel them can change from cycle to cycle. If luteal symptoms are severe and every month, it might be PMDD. For the full phase guide, read the luteal phase and luteal phase mood.
How long is the luteal phase?
Usually 12 to 14 days, and anything from about 10 to 17 is considered normal. It's steadier than the first half of the cycle, which is why your period usually arrives about two weeks after ovulation. See how long is the luteal phase or use the luteal phase calculator.
Knowing you're in your luteal phase doesn't make feelings less real, but it can make a heavy Thursday feel like weather instead of a personal failing.
When to talk to a doctor
See a doctor if your luteal phase is regularly shorter than 10 days and you're trying to conceive, if you spot for several days before every period, or if mood changes in this phase disrupt your work or relationships. If you ever think about harming yourself, call your local emergency number, or in the US call or text 988.
Frequently asked questions
What day does the luteal phase start?
The day after ovulation. In a 28-day cycle that's around day 15, but it depends on when you ovulate.
Is the luteal phase the same as PMS?
No. The luteal phase happens to everyone who ovulates. PMS is the set of symptoms some people feel in its last days.
Can you get pregnant in the luteal phase?
Not from sex once ovulation has passed and the egg is gone, usually after about a day. The tricky part is knowing exactly when ovulation happened.
Why am I so tired in the luteal phase?
Progesterone can make you sleepy, and sleep is often lighter before your period. See luteal phase energy.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Luteal phase
- Cleveland Clinic: Menstrual cycle
- Bull JR et al. Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles. npj Digital Medicine (2019)
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
Luteal phase: why feelings get louderWhat the luteal phase is, how long it lasts, why progesterone rises and falls, and the common symptoms: PMS, cravings, low energy and mood changes.
How long is the luteal phase?How long is the luteal phase? Usually 12 to 14 days, with 10 to 17 considered normal. How to measure yours, what a short one means, and why it matters.
Luteal phase mood: a kind survival guideWhy the luteal phase can bring anxiety, low mood, irritability and tears, when it usually starts, what actually helps, and when it might be PMDD.
Luteal phase calculator: how long is my luteal phase?Free luteal phase calculator: enter your ovulation day and next period to see your luteal phase length and whether it sits in the typical 11 to 17 day range.
What is PMS?What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome is the mix of mood and body symptoms in the days before your period. What causes it, how common it is, and what helps.