The Luteal Phase: Progesterone and Body Temperature
The role of the corpus luteum in producing progesterone, stabilizing the endometrium, and raising basal temperature.
Cycle literacy - Cycle Phases & Hormones, about 2 min read
The Corpus Luteum at Work
After releasing an egg, the remnants of the ovarian follicle collapse and transform into a temporary endocrine gland called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum begins pumping out progesterone.
Progesterone converts the estrogen-built endometrium into a secretory structure, halting lining growth and making it receptive to embryo implantation.
Thermal and Body Changes
Progesterone acts directly on the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center, causing resting basal body temperature (BBT) to shift upward by approximately 0.5°F to 1.0°F (0.3°C to 0.6°C). This thermal shift persists until progesterone levels decline at the end of the luteal phase.
Sources
- Textbook: Williams Obstetrics (26th ed.)
- Textbook: Yen & Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology (9th ed.)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: The Menstrual Cycle: Menstruation, Ovulation, and How Pregnancy Occurs
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning