Many ladies with irregular period wonder how they will get pregnant. The good news is that conception is certainly possible. It may take longer than expected, but you should not lose hope. Here’s what you need to know about the link between an irregular period and getting pregnant.
What is an irregular period?
Irregular period means menstruation that begins less than 21 days after the last period or after more than 35. Fluctuations of several days in the length of the period can be normal, since not every period is the same. Your period can also be considered irregular if it varies greatly from month to month. For example, if one month your period is 23 days and another month is 35, your periods are also considered irregular. [1,3]
Why does an irregular period affect your ability to get pregnant?
It’s easier to get pregnant if you have intercourse when you’re ovulating. Irregular menstruation makes it difficult to reliably track when this moment is. The fertile window refers to the time shortly before ovulation, as well as the day itself. Having sex during ovulation increases the chances of getting pregnant. [1]
Hidden illnesses could potentially be the main cause of your irregular periods. Some of these conditions or causes include: endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause, uterine polyps, uterine fibroids, certain medications, overweight or underweight, a lot of stress, and breastfeeding. [1]
How do diseases affect the period?
There are many possible causes of irregular menstruation, and many of them can affect ovulation or make getting pregnant more difficult. In some cases, the culprit of the irregular period remains unknown. The main reasons for the lack of a period are:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which the female body releases too many androgens and they can prevent mature eggs from developing and being released from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes.
PCOS affects up to 21% of women. It is the most common cause of infertility due to lack of ovulation. PCOS can be a genetic disorder, but it can also be influenced by lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and sedentary. [2]
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time in a woman’s reproductive life when estrogen and progesterone naturally decrease. This causes irregular ovulation and, accordingly, periods until they finally stop completely, signaling the onset of menopause. Typically, perimenopause lasts about four years, but some women can go through it much longer.
The average age of onset of perimenopause is 47 years, with 51 being the average age of the last menstrual period. Menopause is considered to occur when you have not menstruated, for 12 months. [2]
Diseases of the thyroid gland
Your thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck and helps regulate hormones that, among other things, affect ovulation and menstruation. In one study, nearly 14% of adolescent girls with thyroid disorders also had irregular periods. Other symptoms that are associated with a disorder in thyroid function are: weight change, problems with the cardiovascular system, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, etc. [2]
Body weight
Being overweight or underweight can cause a chain reaction in the body that interrupts hormonal function. This can lead to lack or irregular ovulation, which can also lead to lack or irregular menstruation.
According to a study published in BMC Women’s Health Trusted Source, women with a body mass index below 20 or over 25 were at least 1.1 times more likely to have menstrual irregularities than women who had a BMI between 20 and 25. [2]
Hyperprolactinemia
Prolactin is a hormone primarily responsible for stimulating the breasts to produce breast milk. Hyperprolactinemia means high levels of this hormone without a woman being pregnant or breastfeeding.
Abnormally high levels of prolactin can cause irregular menstruation or even stopping it. Other possible symptoms may include swollen or sensitive breasts, leakage of breast milk from the nipples, or painful intercourse. [3]
How to get pregnant if you have an irregular period?
Irregular menstrual periods do not always affect fertility. In fact, many women become pregnant and have a normal pregnancy. If you’re wondering if an irregular period means infertility, the answer is no, but it can make it difficult to get pregnant.
When your menstruation is irregular, it’s harder to know when to try to conceive. Typically, women track their periods to determine when ovulation occurs.
True anxiety comes when there is irregular or absent ovulation. Problems with it are responsible for up to 30% of all cases of infertility, but when the cause is established, it is treatable.
One effective way to get pregnant with an irregular period is to have sex more often and avoid the stress of ovulation. With this method, you do not have to worry about lack of ovulation. If you have intercourse three to four times a week, you are more likely to ovulate. [1,4]
Symptoms associated with the onset of ovulation
Usually, ovulation occurs in the middle of the period. With irregular periods, it is a bit more difficult to determine it. If you still want to find out if you ovulate or not, here are a few tips:
- Increase in cervical mucus – Watch for transparent, eggwhite-like discharge on your underwear. This is a sign that ovulation is near.
- Jump in your basal body temperature – Measure your basal body temperature with a basal thermometer in the morning before getting out of bed. Plot your temperature throughout the month. When you notice a slight increase, usually from half a degree to a full degree, you may have ovulated. This method shows, only that ovulation has already occurred. [3]
- Ovulation tests – with Oview you can easily predict and register the ovulation period.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if:
- You have not had a period of three or more months.
- You have menstrual bleeding that lasts more than a week.
- You change a tampon every hour or two for several hours during your period.
- Your period is very painful.
- You have been trying to get pregnant unsuccessfully for one year and are under 35 or for six months or more and are 35 or older. [2]
An irregular period can be an unpleasant and disturbing condition, but that doesn’t mean you’re infertile. There are ways to determine whether you ovulate or not. To find out why you have an irregular period, contact your doctor so that you can find the cause that leads to this result and successfully treat it.
[1] https://wfmchealth.org/maternity-health-care/what-to-know-about-irregular-periods-and-pregnancy/
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/irregular-periods-and-pregnancy#seek-help
[3] https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-get-pregnant-with-irregular-periods-1959933 [4] https://www.whattoexpect.com/getting-pregnant/fertility/irregular-periods/
