Irregular periods and trying to conceive
There is no doubt that irregular periods can make it difficult for you to conceive – in fact, they account for 30 to 40 percent of all cases of infertility. But having them doesn’t mean you will never become pregnant or have a baby. It all depends on what is causing your irregular periods, how infrequent they are and whether it’s possible for you to time sex to improve your chances of conceiving a baby. While it’s possible you may need to use assisted reproduction techniques, this is by no means definite.
What are irregular periods?
A menstrual cycle that is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 is defined as irregular. If you suffer from irregular periods you also may have a cycle where you get a period each month but sometimes it’s just a couple of days and others it lasts for a week or more.
In and of itself, an irregular period isn’t necessarily a problem as long as it isn’t underpinned by a deeper health issue. But it does become a problem once you start trying for a baby because an irregular cycle means you will likely have no idea when you are ovulating.
What causes irregular periods?
There are several factors that might be causing your period to be irregular. If you are under stress this can impact on hormone levels and send your system haywire. You can end up in a vicious cycle where the fact you aren’t getting pregnant sends stress levels rocketing, and the raised levels of stress hormones make it even more unlikely that you will conceive. Many women who tried years to get pregnant say that they only conceived once they had given up, probably because their stress levels reduced.
It’s also possible to have an irregular cycle of you are under or overweight, and also if you have an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Illness can be a cause, as can excessive exercise – irregular periods are common among endurance athletes. Losing excess weight, eating a more balanced diet and trying to gain weight if you are underweight could help to stabilize your menstrual cycle.
However, there can be
deeper health issues involved, so do speak to your doctor or OB-GYN if you have irregular periods or your cycle suddenly becomes irregular having been consistent before. Some of the conditions that can be at fault include polycystic ovarian syndrome. This occurs when a hormone imbalance interferes with normal ovulation and is a major cause of infertility. As well as irregular periods, common symptoms include weight gain, acne, male-type hair growth on the face and body, and raised insulin levels. Irregular periods also may be caused by a condition called anovulation, where eggs are not being released from the ovaries, or oligovulation, where eggs are released infrequently. Your doctor may also want to check for thyroid problems and diabetes.
How do irregular periods affect getting pregnant?
For a couple with no
fertility problems, the chance of getting pregnant is about 25 percent each month. Irregular periods reduce this chance hugely because you may not be releasing an egg, and if you are you can’t predict when ovulation will happen. Plus, the fact that hormonal imbalances might be the culprit mean that even if you do ovulate and the egg is fertilized, it might not be able to implant in the uterine wall and you might not produce the hormones required to support a pregnancy if one does result.
It’s likely that if other conditions are ruled out, your doctor will prescribe
fertility drugs to boost your ovulation. Clomiphene is the standard treatment: it is taken orally and corrects infrequent ovulation by stimulating the ovaries to increase egg production.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 23/08/2009
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