Several common factors can affect the rhythm of your cycles. Here are some possible causes of irregular cycles that are also infertility risk factors:

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): Irregular periods may be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  Other illnesses: Thyroid disorders can cause irregular periods if blood levels of the thyroid hormone go too low or too high. Other health conditions that may cause an irregular cycle include sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, fibroids, and endometriosis.
• Birth control: Any changes to your birth control can disrupt your cycles for a few months.
  Age. When teens first start having periods, their menstrual cycles may not always be on the same schedule every month. It may take several years to settle into a pattern. In addition, missed periods and lighter or heavier periods are common in women near menopause.
• Exercise, dieting & weight fluctuations: Extreme exercise, diet or body weight can contribute to irregular periods. Female athletes are more likely to experience infertility for this reason.
• Stress. Chronic stress or even short-term anxiety about a specific problem can wreak havoc with your hormone balance, causing a missed period and irregular cycle.

A missed or irregular period may be the first clue that you have a condition that needs medical attention. If you have consistently irregular periods, you should be evaluated for PCOS.

You should also be screened for thyroid disorders and other diseases that may be linked to irregular periods.

If you’re concerned about the regularity of your menstrual cycle, an easy first step is to keep a written record of your period.

This record can help set your mind at ease if it turns out that you’re more regular than you realized.

You will also be able to recognize when to take proactive measures. Schedule an appointment with your gynecologist if you experience irregularity over multiple cycles.

During your appointment, the OB-GYN will typically review your medical history with you and might also perform tests such as pelvic exams, Pap tests, MRI or CT scans and minimally invasive hysteroscopy.

An irregular cycle can make it more difficult to get pregnant, especially if you’re not ovulating every month. Your doctor can run tests to see if you’re ovulating. Women with irregular periods who are trying to have a baby are sometimes prescribed fertility drugs to increase ovulation.

Irregular or abnormal ovulation accounts for 30% to 40% of all cases of infertility. Having irregular periods, no periods, or abnormal bleeding often indicates that you aren’t ovulating, a condition known clinically as anovulation. If you’re not ovulating, you can’t get pregnant without the help of fertility treatments.

It is therefore a good idea to be checked out by a doctor just to make sure that nothing serious is going on.

Irregular periods are common but you shouldn’t accept them as normal. At Footsteps To Fertility Centre, our trusted fertility specialist advises that we should pay more attention to our lifestyle. The amount of sleep you get, eating habits and stress level all play an important role in your attempt to get pregnant. Another important thing you can do is to take good care of your health and emotional well-being.

Irregular periods are often a highly treatable condition. Understanding the causes of irregular periods and how you can help to restore cycle regularity can help as you embark on your trying to conceive adventure.

To increase the number of your ovulation period, doctors often prescribe medication and fertility drugs. These drugs induce ovulation that can result in multiple gestations in some women.

Timing intercourse around ovulation can increase your chances for pregnancy since you’ll need to have sex during your fertile window to conceive.

Treatments for menstrual irregularities often vary based on the type of irregularity and certain lifestyle factors, such as whether a woman is planning to get pregnant.

Treatment for menstrual irregularities include:

• Treatments for an underlying disorder that is causing the menstrual problem, such as counseling and nutritional therapy for an eating disorder.
• Oral contraceptives
• Use of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• If the cause is structural or if medical management is ineffective, then gynecologic surgery is recommended. It involves minimally invasive surgical techniques such as surgical removal of polyps or uterine fibroids, uterine artery embolization, endometrial ablation and hysterectomy. They provide a faster recovery and fewer complications than traditional open surgery. These approaches also preserve fertility.

You can count on the extensive experience of the team at Footsteps To Fertility Centre to identify the cause and effectively treat irregular periods.

If you have any questions about your menstrual periods, feel free to contact us or schedule an appointment online.