Patient's question:
Problem Description: My menstrual cycle has been irregular for a long time. This time, it has been more than two months since my last period. Yesterday, I went to the hospital for an ultrasound, and the endometrium was measured at 6mm. Then, the doctor asked me to get a blood test for progesterone, which came back at 0.7g/ml. Today, I had a little brownish bleeding, but only a small amount. The doctor said to wait a few days and then come back for another check-up. What is going on here?? What does luteal phase defect mean?? Will I be able to have children in the future?? Can this condition be treated with medication??Doctor's answer:
In your case, it is considered that the irregular menstruation is caused by luteal phase deficiency. Generally, the symptoms of luteal phase deficiency include a shortened menstrual cycle (less than 21 days), spotting before menstruation, infertility, or habitual abortion.The simplest and most effective method to check for luteal phase deficiency is basal body temperature measurement. By observing the length of the luteal phase, the extent of the temperature rise, and the time of the temperature decline, one can infer the function of the corpus luteum. The calculation of the luteal phase starts from the first day of temperature rise after ovulation. The normal duration of the luteal phase is 12–16 days. If the luteal phase is less than 12 days, it is one of the signs of luteal phase deficiency. Additionally, if the basal body temperature rises, but the rise is less than 0.5 degrees Celsius, the temperature rise is slow, the decline is early, or the temperature fluctuation during the luteal phase is large, these are also signs of luteal phase deficiency.
Measuring basal body temperature requires continuous measurement for 3 months to draw a conclusion, not based on a single cycle. Another method for diagnosing luteal phase deficiency is to take a sample of the endometrium within 12 hours of menstruation. If the pathological examination shows poor secretion, it can also serve as a reference for diagnosis. It can be regulated with medication!