Conceiving with Irregular Periods

When you have irregular periods, it is more difficult to calculate when you are ovulating. If you don't know when you are ovulating, it will be more difficult to get pregnant.It can be annoying and troublesome when your cycle doesn't come on time. However, it's only a slight inconvenience and not something to be too worried about when it comes to conceiving. Some women experience irregular menstrual cycles, but a lot of times, these occur for no apparent reason. For this reason, it is very important to discuss any unusual changes in your menstrual cycle with your doctor. A physician can often diagnose your problem and prescribe the right treatment to help you regain regular periods and fertility.

What are irregular periods?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 9-14% of women have irregular periods between their first period and menopause. An irregular period is when the length of your menstrual cycle is outside of your typical range. If you have irregular periods, the amount you bleed and the number of days you bleed are similar to a typical period, but happen at unusual intervals, more than 35 days or fewer than 21 days apart.

What causes irregular periods?

Irregular periods can occur if a woman has an underlying medical condition, but are most commonly due to stress, travel, temporary changes to normal routines, or excessive exercise. Cycles that are consistently irregular can be due to a number of factors including: eating disorders, changes in weight, imbalance of thyroid levels, hormonal imbalances and most commonly, polycystic ovary syndrome.

Can I still get pregnant?

You can still get pregnant with an irregular period. Irregular cycles do not always affect fertility. For some women it may be harder to conceive, but many go on to have no problem getting pregnant and maintaining healthy, normal pregnancies. The hardest part with irregular periods is to track your cycle and look for key factors such as ovulation. Women who are planning on becoming pregnant who have regular cycles track their ovulation for the best time to conceive. Having irregular periods without any patterns can make tracking unreliable and impossible at times. For women with irregular periods, it is important to look for signs of ovulation.

The biggest concern with irregular periods is that on occasion this could indicate an irregular or absent ovulation. Without ovulation, it is impossible to become pregnant. Issues with ovulation account for 30% of all infertility cases. You will want to consult with your physician to evaluate if there are any underlying health issues that should be addressed with concerns to your fertility, ovulation, and cycle.