Latency periods and amplitude periods refer to different phases of the human menstrual cycle. A latency period occurs after ovulation, lasting about 14 days, when the uterine lining develops in preparation for potential pregnancy. In contrast, an amplitude period is the phase when the levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone either rise or fall, causing the thickening and shedding of the uterine lining if implantation does not occur. While latency periods involve uterine changes after ovulation, amplitude periods refer more broadly to the cyclical fluctuations in hormone levels throughout the entire menstrual cycle.