Chinese Fertility Herbs
FertilityFormulas.com
Herbs for Luteal Phase Defect
Luteal phase defect, or LPD can result in conception difficulties.
To understand how LPD stands in the way of conception let’s first understand the ovulation cycle:
Two phases of the ovulation cycle:
Follicular phase: Part of cycle prior to ovulation when the growth and development of the ovarian follicles (which contain the eggs) is of primary importance.
Luteal phase: Part of the cycle between ovulation and start of new follicular phase when the luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone in preparing the body for pregnancy.
Average length of time
Follicular phase - 14 days
Luteal phase - 11 to 16 days
When the luteal phase is shorter than normal the implantation of a fertilized egg cannot happen which in turn results in apparent infertility. I say "apparent" infertility because in many of these cases, the egg is indeed being fertilized by sperm, thus, conception is taking place. However, due to LPD, the fertilized egg is unable to implant and is lost during menstruation. Many women with this disorder are quite often never aware that conception has occurred.
Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) can lead to mistiming of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles, which must work together for conception/pregnancy to succeed. In cases of LPD, the uterine lining isn’t thick enough to sustained pregnancy.
Also related to luteal phase defect is luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) where a relatively mature follicle receives just enough luteinizing hormone to cause progesterone production, but not enough to cause the egg to release from the follicle. Common in oligomenorrhea and possibly endometriosis, the LUF in essence behaves like a corpus luteum, producing progesterone and "faking ovulation." How is Luteal Phase Defect diagnosed? Properly-timed endometrial biopsy is the most accurate method of determining if LPD exists. Such biopsies of the uterine lining (endometrium) are usually done as an office procedure and are mildly uncomfortable.
In addition, the following less invasive tests is sometimes used:
Serum progesterone - At 7 DPO (days past ovulation), serum progesterone levels less than 14 are inadequate for conception.
Estradiol - At midcycle
Follicle size - At midcycle, via ultrasound
Women who are concerned about the possibility of LPD are encouraged to use several cycles of BBT charting and other ovulation detection methods in an effort to enhance the diagnosis.
Controversy around this diagnosis:
Some physicians, even reproductive specialists, downplay the significance of LPD in their diagnosis and treatment decisions. It is generally thought that all women, fertile and subfertile, experience at least occasional cycles in which a short luteal phase is present. Also, many believe that when LPD is present in a cycle, it is the result of an egg that was compromised from the start (and hence, would have resulted in miscarriage or fetal anomaly if pregnancy occurred.)
Allopathic (conventional) Medicine treatment for Luteal Phase Defect:
Treating LPD is a matter of effecting the hormone levels in a timely manner, in hopes of bringing the menstrual and ovulatory cycles into sync with one another. Specifically the following may be used:
Clomiphene citrate or injectable fertility medications Progesterone supplementation after ovulation injections of hCG to stimulate the corpus luteum for more natural progesterone supplementation
Traditional Chinese Medicine View of Luteal Phase Defect:
TCM treatment included: Nourish the ‘Kidney yin/ yang” or both with herbs Coordination of yin and yang using both Chinese herbs and acupuncture are effective Regulation of qi and blood Combination of tonification with reduction.
After a complete history is taken and the precise imbalance is identified the appropriate herbs are combined to correct this imbalance. The luteal phase is slowly lengthened without any side effects.
The following study is worth taking note of regarding the effectiveness of using
Traditional Chinese Medicine:
J Tradit Chin Med. 1991 Jun;11(2):115-20. Related Articles,
TCM treatment of luteal phase defect--an analysis of 60 cases.
Lian F. Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Sixty cases of infertility due to luteal phase defect were treated with herbs to tonify the kidney and regulate the menstrual cycle. After the treatment, the hyperthermal phase score of basal body temperature (BBT) was markedly increased (P less than 0.05), the hyperthermal phase 7-8 days after ovulation improved (P less than 0.001), the transitional period of BBT remarkably shortened, and the pregnancy rate in 32 uncomplicated cases of luteal phase defect was 56%. The close relationship between luteal phase defect and the kidney deficiency syndrome in TCM was discussed. The key points of the treatment included coordination of yin and yang, regulation of qi and blood, and combination of tonification with reduction.
PMID: 1861518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dietary Suggestions for Luteal Phase Defect:
Insufficient progesterone levels can be aided by increasing your consumption of foods rich in vitamin B6: tofu, kelp, whole grains, walnuts, and wheat germ. Progesterone production in the luteal phase can also be affected if prostaglandin impairs the functioning of the corpus luteum. Avoid arachidonic acid, a precursor of prostaglandin, found in animal fat.
.
To understand how LPD stands in the way of conception let’s first understand the ovulation cycle:
Two phases of the ovulation cycle:
Follicular phase: Part of cycle prior to ovulation when the growth and development of the ovarian follicles (which contain the eggs) is of primary importance.
Luteal phase: Part of the cycle between ovulation and start of new follicular phase when the luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone in preparing the body for pregnancy.
Average length of time
Follicular phase - 14 days
Luteal phase - 11 to 16 days
When the luteal phase is shorter than normal the implantation of a fertilized egg cannot happen which in turn results in apparent infertility. I say "apparent" infertility because in many of these cases, the egg is indeed being fertilized by sperm, thus, conception is taking place. However, due to LPD, the fertilized egg is unable to implant and is lost during menstruation. Many women with this disorder are quite often never aware that conception has occurred.
Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) can lead to mistiming of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles, which must work together for conception/pregnancy to succeed. In cases of LPD, the uterine lining isn’t thick enough to sustained pregnancy.
Also related to luteal phase defect is luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) where a relatively mature follicle receives just enough luteinizing hormone to cause progesterone production, but not enough to cause the egg to release from the follicle. Common in oligomenorrhea and possibly endometriosis, the LUF in essence behaves like a corpus luteum, producing progesterone and "faking ovulation." How is Luteal Phase Defect diagnosed? Properly-timed endometrial biopsy is the most accurate method of determining if LPD exists. Such biopsies of the uterine lining (endometrium) are usually done as an office procedure and are mildly uncomfortable.
In addition, the following less invasive tests is sometimes used:
Serum progesterone - At 7 DPO (days past ovulation), serum progesterone levels less than 14 are inadequate for conception.
Estradiol - At midcycle
Follicle size - At midcycle, via ultrasound
Women who are concerned about the possibility of LPD are encouraged to use several cycles of BBT charting and other ovulation detection methods in an effort to enhance the diagnosis.
Controversy around this diagnosis:
Some physicians, even reproductive specialists, downplay the significance of LPD in their diagnosis and treatment decisions. It is generally thought that all women, fertile and subfertile, experience at least occasional cycles in which a short luteal phase is present. Also, many believe that when LPD is present in a cycle, it is the result of an egg that was compromised from the start (and hence, would have resulted in miscarriage or fetal anomaly if pregnancy occurred.)
Allopathic (conventional) Medicine treatment for Luteal Phase Defect:
Treating LPD is a matter of effecting the hormone levels in a timely manner, in hopes of bringing the menstrual and ovulatory cycles into sync with one another. Specifically the following may be used:
Clomiphene citrate or injectable fertility medications Progesterone supplementation after ovulation injections of hCG to stimulate the corpus luteum for more natural progesterone supplementation
Traditional Chinese Medicine View of Luteal Phase Defect:
TCM treatment included: Nourish the ‘Kidney yin/ yang” or both with herbs Coordination of yin and yang using both Chinese herbs and acupuncture are effective Regulation of qi and blood Combination of tonification with reduction.
After a complete history is taken and the precise imbalance is identified the appropriate herbs are combined to correct this imbalance. The luteal phase is slowly lengthened without any side effects.
The following study is worth taking note of regarding the effectiveness of using
Traditional Chinese Medicine:
J Tradit Chin Med. 1991 Jun;11(2):115-20. Related Articles,
TCM treatment of luteal phase defect--an analysis of 60 cases.
Lian F. Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Sixty cases of infertility due to luteal phase defect were treated with herbs to tonify the kidney and regulate the menstrual cycle. After the treatment, the hyperthermal phase score of basal body temperature (BBT) was markedly increased (P less than 0.05), the hyperthermal phase 7-8 days after ovulation improved (P less than 0.001), the transitional period of BBT remarkably shortened, and the pregnancy rate in 32 uncomplicated cases of luteal phase defect was 56%. The close relationship between luteal phase defect and the kidney deficiency syndrome in TCM was discussed. The key points of the treatment included coordination of yin and yang, regulation of qi and blood, and combination of tonification with reduction.
PMID: 1861518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dietary Suggestions for Luteal Phase Defect:
Insufficient progesterone levels can be aided by increasing your consumption of foods rich in vitamin B6: tofu, kelp, whole grains, walnuts, and wheat germ. Progesterone production in the luteal phase can also be affected if prostaglandin impairs the functioning of the corpus luteum. Avoid arachidonic acid, a precursor of prostaglandin, found in animal fat.
.
To Get Your Individual Custom Herbal Formula
Fill Out the Health Form
or Call
910-420-2194
