Cycle basics · 5 minute read
The luteal phase: progesterone after ovulation
What the corpus luteum does, how progesterone affects the uterus and temperature, and how the phase ends.
Evidence-informed · Editorial review August 2026 · Links to trusted sources are available in the interactive app
After the follicle releases an egg
The emptied follicle becomes the corpus luteum. It produces progesterone, along with some estrogen, to support the uterine lining after ovulation.
Temperature usually shifts upward
Progesterone has a warming effect. Basal body temperature often rises slightly after ovulation and remains elevated through much of the luteal phase. Illness, poor sleep, alcohol, and measurement time can also change temperature.
If pregnancy does not occur
The corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone and estrogen fall, and menstruation begins. The interval from ovulation to the next period varies, so apps should present a range rather than claiming one exact day.