Question

I am 51, and had a hysterectomy in 2001 but still have one ovary. I just had my blood tested for menopause and was told I am in the luteal phase, not menopause. When I read up on that phase all I found was information on ovulation and infertility. How does the luteal phase tie in with menopause or does it? I thought with a hysterectomy I would have catapulted into menopause years ago.

Mary

Answer

Dear Mary,

The menstrual cycle consists of two phases: the follicular phase, from the first day of menses until ovulation, and the luteal phase, from ovulation until the next menses begins. It is called the luteal phase because the follicle that had contained the egg "leutenizes" upon rupture, producing higher levels of progesterone for the remainder of the cycle. Without your uterus, you are not experiencing the bleeding that would be associated with the menstrual cycle, but the cyclical hormonal changes initiated in the ovaries would still occur, until the ovaries cease functioning at menopause.

Sheila St. John

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