How To Get Pregnant With Irregular Periods
If youre ovulating, you have the ability to get pregnant, but if you have irregular periods, your chances for pregnancy may be more limited than a woman with regular periods.
The most important thing is to have regular unprotected sex. Aim to have intercourse at least every two to three days.
If you have an underlying medical condition thats affecting fertility, treating that condition may increase your chances for pregnancy.
Your doctor may prescribe clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation. Clomid has when used in women with PCOS.
Side effects from Clomid may include:
- hot flashes
- abdominal bloating
- release of multiple eggs in one cycle, which can lead to pregnancy with multiples
Weight loss or weight gain may also help. According to the PCOS Awareness Association, losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help regulate ovulation in women who are overweight.
Get your doctors recommendations for gaining or losing weight. They may be able to provide you with meal plans and exercise guidelines, or point you to resources.
If your irregular periods are caused by an underactive or overactive thyroid, your doctor will prescribe drugs that increase the thyroid hormone or block it.
One study published in the found that of women with hypothyroidism and infertility who were treated with the drug levothyroxine got pregnant versus 26 percent treated with a placebo.
How To Quickly Get Pregnant With Irregular Periods
A health care provider can help find a diagnosis and suggest treatment for those with irregular menstrual cycles. There are also habits that may make it easier to get pregnant fast with irregular periods naturally. Although these habits cant replace medical treatment, they may help improve the chances of conception.
How To Get Pregnant Fast With Irregular Periods Naturally
Having irregular periods isnt uncommon. Irregular cycles can result from polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian insufficiency, thyroid disorders, hyperprolactinemia, uterine fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, different coagulopathies, and other causes. But having irregular cycles doesnt mean that natural conception isnt possible. Read on to learn how to get pregnant fast with irregular periods naturally. The best way to get pregnant will largely depend on the cause of the irregular menstrual cycles.
On average, a regular menstrual cycle typically lasts about 28 days from the first day of one period until the start of the next. However, menstrual cycles that consistently last from 21 to 35 days are still considered regular.
A cycle is considered irregular if it lasts less than 21 days or more than 35 days, but less than 90. It can also be considered irregular if it varies widely from month to month. For example, a cycle that lasts 22 days one month and 34 days the next is also considered irregular, even if these lengths are within the normal range.
The menstrual cycle doesnt have to last exactly the same amount of time each month to be regular. Menstrual cycles can vary by a few days each month and still be normal.
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Should Women With Irregular Periods Panic
Irregular periods are concerning. More so if getting pregnant is on the cards. Missing periods can also be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Theres no need to panic. Take action early. Seek advice from your OB/GYN, as doctors can help increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
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Does Late Ovulation Affect Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. Because the body only produces hCG once an egg implants in the uterine lining, late ovulation can certainly affect the readingespecially if you thought you ovulated earlier than you actually did.
After implantation, hCG levels double roughly every 48 hours. Baseline hCG levels, early pregnancy hCG levels, and hCG doubling time vary from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy, influencing how early you can get a positive pregnancy test. If your period is late but you have a negative pregnancy test, its probably because you ovulated later than usual.
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How Irregular Periods Impact Your Ability To Get Pregnant
The unpredictability of irregular periods can be frustrating for anyone, but what about when youre trying to conceive? Not being able to easily track your menstrual cycle and find your fertile window can add an obstacle on the path to pregnancy, but that doesnt mean conception wont happen.To better understand irregular periods and how they can impact fertility, we sat down with OB-GYN and Modern Fertility medical advisor Dr. Jennifer Conti, MD, MS, MSc. Keep reading for the answers to the following questions:
- When it comes to period length and frequency, whats considered irregular?
- How can irregular periods impact fertility and getting pregnant?
- If you use birth control to regulate your periods, what should you do when youre trying to conceive?
- How can you increase your chances of getting pregnant when you have irregular periods?
- Do you need to talk to your doctor if youre trying to get pregnant and have irregular periods?
- What fertility treatments can help when you have irregular periods?
How Do I Know If Im Ovulating With Irregular Periods
If your doctor confirms that you are ovulating and there are no serious health conditions causing your irregular periods, it is usually possible for you to get pregnant. One of the biggest challenges for these couples, though, is tracking ovulation. An irregular period simply makes it more difficult to know when you should have sex to get pregnant.
Thankfully, there are a number of tools couples can use. To start, always track your periods using a paper calendar or app. Even if your cycle is irregular, you still may see patterns and you can share these with your doctor.
In addition to tracking, the American Pregnancy Association suggests:
- Testing cervical mucus consistency
- Tracking your basal body temperature
- Using an ovulation predictor kit that detects luteinizing hormone in your urine
Another option is to have sex more frequentlythree to four times a weekso you increase your chances of intercourse lining up with ovulation.
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Top Reasons Your Vaginal Bleeding May Not Be A Period
One of the biggest margins for error while using fertility awareness as a method of birth control comes from a misidentified period. Not all vaginal bleeding is a period. A woman may bleed from a hormonal imbalance, cervical lesion, recent trauma and even pregnancy.
If you are tracking your menstrual cycle and the bleeding is consistent in terms of heaviness, color and timing, then you can likely count on it being your period, Harper said. However, there are many women that find it difficult to track their period because irregular bleeding can be due to illness or another underlying cause.
If you are having difficulty or need help starting, talk with your OB-GYN or primary care provider.
Irregular Periods May Occur After Miscarriage Pregnancy Loss
Also referred to as a spontaneous abortion, a miscarriage happens when an embryo or fetus dies before the 20th week of pregnancy. After 20 weeks, pregnancy loss is considered a stillbirth. After these events, it can take a couple of months before you will start having regular periods again, says Lynn.
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How Do Irregular Periods Affect Fertility
What is an irregular periods affect on fertility? First its important to understand the ovulation cycle. Ovulation occurs when the ovary releases a mature egg into the fallopian tube, where it survives for 12-24 hours. A woman can become pregnant if this egg is fertilized with sperm. .
If you have a regular cycle, ovulation generally occurs 14 days before your next period is due, says Dr. Kudesia. For example, if your cycle is 28 days long, ovulation will probably occur on day 14 . Similarly, a woman with a 30-day cycle will ovulate around day 16.
Naturally, woman with irregular periods cant calculate ovulation the same way, since it’s impossible to predict when their ovaries will release a mature egg. Having unpredictable menstruation may also indicate anovulation, which is a complete lack of ovulation.
A Curious Case Of Anovulation
Irregular periods may also be a sign of anovulation. During the menstrual cycle, a mature egg releases. When ovulation does not occur, the cycle is anovulatory. Though not a disease, research shows consistent anovulation indicates an underlying fertility or hormonal issue. In most cases, doctors prescribe fertility drugs or other treatment to improve ovulation and regulate the period.
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Can I Use My Menstrual Cycle To Predict My Due Date
Yes. You can work out how far along your pregnancy is by counting from the first day of your last period.
This can be confusing because you probably didnt get pregnant until around 2 weeks later, after you ovulated. Even if do you know the date you got pregnant, this is counted as day 14 of your pregnancy , not day 1.
Your pregnancy is calculated from your last menstrual period because every time you have a period this is the bodys way of getting ready for pregnancy. It also gives healthcare professionals a standard to follow because its very difficult to know exactly when the sperm fertilised the egg.
If your period is irregular or if youve recently been on the pill it will be harder to try and work out your due date.
The most accurate way to work out your due date is to have an ultrasound scan when youre around 11 to 14 weeks pregnant. This is used to see how for along you are and check your babys development.
Exercise Or Lack Of Body Fat
You may be an athlete who is neither over- nor underweight . However, its not your weight that really impacts your reproductive cycleits the amount of fat.
Athletes may have a high percentage of muscle and a low percentage of body fat. This can cause their menstrual cycles to be irregular or even stop completely. Excessive exercise can also cause your periods to become irregular or stop.
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What Happens If You’ve Had Sexual Intercourse Within The First Five Days Of Ovulation
If you have, then there must be a sperm waiting in your reproductive system. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive system for approximately five days. Theres a higher chance of getting pregnant if you have sex in the five days of your ovulation. This is also known as the fertile window. You will become pregnant if a sperm fertilizes the egg. An embryo will not implant itself into the lining of your uterus. The ideal time for this is about 7 to 10 days after ovulation. Different hormones will not be triggered to prepare your body
Can You Get Pregnant On The Last Day Of Your Period
If you stop bleeding on Day 6, have sex on Day 7 and ovulate on Day 11, its possible the sperm from Day 6 will be waiting in your fallopian tubes for conception. Your chances of conceiving right after your period increase each day after your bleeding has stopped. If you are trying to conceive this is a good time to have sex. Increase your chances of conception by having sex every other day for the next 14 days.
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What If You Didn’t Conceive
In case, you didnt conceive, your bodys progesterone level will drop. A low level of progesterone will signal the endometrium to break down and expel itself. This is your period.
After the endometrium is expelled, your body will release hormones that will trigger the next months ovulation. Your period marks the end of one menstrual cycle.
Ovulation Without A Period
Again, since your period results from ovulation, it is uncommon to ovulate without having a period, but not impossible. Factors such as uterine scarring or becoming pregnant can cause your period not to occur.
If you have had a dilation and curettage procedure, a C-section or reproductive disease, you may have scarring on your uterus. If so, the usual thickening of the uterus lining that normally happens after ovulation does not occur. You may ovulate without having a period, or you might have a light period.
You also may ovulate without periods if your ovaries release an egg between 12 to 16 days before you expect your period to begin.
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Underactive Or Overactive Thyroid
The thyroid controls practically every process in the body. Hypo- or hyperthyroidism can cause infertility, weight changes, depression, anxiety, and many other symptoms. Once someone has started treatment and their thyroid levels return to normal, they are typically more likely to get pregnant faster.
Ive Been Using Contraception Will This Affect My Cycle
This depends on what type of contraception youve been using. If youve been taking the pill, your period may be irregular when you first come off it, so try to give yourself up to 3 months for your natural menstrual cycle to get back to its normal routine.
The first period after stopping the pill is known as a withdrawal bleed. The next one after this is your first natural period.
The contraceptive injection can also affect your cycle. Your periods may change and become irregular, heavier, shorter, lighter or stop altogether. This can carry on for some months after you stop the injections.
If you use the contraceptive implant your fertility will return to normal as soon as it is taken out.
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When To Talk To Your Doctor About Irregular Cycles
If you have irregular periods, the best thing to do is see your gynecologist. Even if you weren’t trying to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to get checked out.
Usually, the recommendation is that you try to get pregnant for one year , and then, if you don’t conceive, to see a doctor. This doesn’t apply if there are signs of a problem. Irregular cycles are a risk factor for infertility.
Your doctor can run some simple blood tests to see if you are ovulating or not. If your blood work indicates that you are ovulating, and you’re not over 35, you might want to keep trying to get pregnant on your own for a bit longer.
If You Use Birth Control To Regulate Your Periods What Should You Do When Youre Trying To Conceive
There are many reasons to use birth control to regulate your period. For example, endometriosis, a disorder in which uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, and PCOS, a hormonal disorder that causes irregular ovulation, are frequently managed by hormonal birth control.
But what if youre trying to get pregnant? Dr. Conti says this is a moment in your fertility journey when you should reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss alternative treatments. If you live with endometriosis, you might be able to start taking over-the-counter medicines like Advil or Motrin for pain relief. If you have PCOS and have irregular ovulation, you may start taking an ovulation-inducing medication like Letrozole, which is helpful in multiple ways since it can also help you get pregnant more on that in the next section.
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