Diagnosis and treatment of luteal phase deficiency: a Committee Opinion.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Expert committee opinion without primary human data or systematic review methodology.
PubMed 42414147 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2026.06.014
What was done
An updated committee opinion evaluating the definitions, potential etiologies (progesterone duration, levels, or endometrial resistance), diagnostic modalities, and clinical management of luteal phase deficiency (LPD), superseding a 2021 guidance document.
What was found
The abstract provides no empirical numbers, effect sizes, or trial results. It notes that LPD is associated with a luteal phase length of 10 days or fewer and occurs in both medical conditions and fertile, regularly menstruating women. It concludes that LPD has not been proven to be an independent cause of infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, and controversy persists regarding diagnostic criteria and whether treatment improves clinical outcomes.
Why it matters
This guidance clarifies that routine clinical diagnosis and targeted treatment of luteal phase deficiency lack proven benefit for improving fertility or preventing pregnancy loss.
Limits
This is an expert committee opinion without a systematic review methodology or primary data. The abstract provides no quantitative metrics or sample sizes. Standardized and validated diagnostic criteria for LPD remain absent.