I am a woman aged 30 with a 14 to 18-day LP. Is it normal?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 31-year-old woman. My menstrual cycle usually lasts between 27 and 30 days. I usually ovulate on day 12 of my cycle. I usually track ovulation, so I know I do ovulate. I recently took a blood test that showed the following.

My MCV is 77, and my MCH is 25, both below the normal range.
My HbA1c was 5.90, and my ALP levels were mildly elevated at 134 (the report said it had to be between 42 and 128). My TSH was fine and well within range.

My problem is that my follicular phase seems fine, but my luteal phase keeps changing. It lasts anywhere between 14 and 18 days. I wonder, is that normal? Do I need to test myself for PCOS/PMOS?

I never had acne problems. I have gained weight, but that has been over five years. I have never missed a period yet.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It is really good to know that you are very knowledgeable about your cycle routine. Let me add a few things further to it.

The first thing is that the luteal phase is always fixed (14 days) while the follicular phase varies in women's cycle due to hormonal changes in the first half of the cycle.
If you want to calculate your ovulation day, we usually deduct 14 days from the total cycle length. So in your case, your ovulation day is around 14 to 16, depending on whether your length varies between 28 and 30 days, in my view.
Ovulation on the 12th day is possible in those women who have a cycle length of 26 days. I hope it has cleared how to calculate ovulation day.
Secondly, all your tests are normal, and you have nothing to worry about PCOS/PMOS as you do not have that because the cycle length of 26 to 35 days is considered normal for any woman, and you are falling within this criteria.

I hope this information has helped you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know.

Take care.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If you have a 26-day cycle, then yes, your ovulation day is the 12th. All these things you have mentioned are not very accurate; they only give an idea about it. Your period length is perfectly normal, even if it is 25 days, as you have periods every month.

In polycystic ovarian disease/ polyendocrine metabolic ovarian Syndrome (PCOD/PMOS), there is oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstruation), which you do not have. For your weight, first, you have to look at your dietary routine as it might have changed, and with weight gain, the cycle gets infrequent. So, you have to watch your weight both for physical and hormonal reasons.

I hope it has helped you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know.

Take care.