By Independent
An ovulation disorder is any condition that
affects the normal ovulation process, which is necessary in order to conceive.
Other factors, such as stress and diet, can also adversely affect ovulation, so
you should not assume that you have an ovulation disorder just because your
attempts to conceive have been unsuccessful.
In normally fertile couples, there is a 25 per
cent chance of getting pregnant each cycle, meaning that about 75 to 85 per
cent of women who have regular unprotected sex will get pregnant within one
year. If you have been unable to become pregnant after trying for at least one
year, then you may want to consider seeing a fertility specialist or a
reproductive endocrinologist.
A fertility specialist can determine whether you
have an ovulation disorder that is affecting your ability to conceive.
Types of Ovulation Disorders
A woman with ovulation dysfunction may have
anovulation (absent ovulation), a condition in which the follicles on her
ovaries do not release eggs. Or she may have oligoovulation, in which ovulation
is irregular – infrequent but not completely absent. In oligoovulation, eggs
are released at times that do not coincide with fertilization or implantation.
A problem can occur at any point during the
ovulation phase. The problem may begin with the hypothalamus in the brain,
which signals when it is time for ovulation to begin. Disorders of the
hypothalamus can result in the absence of ovulation and menstrual periods (amenorrhea).
Psychological stress can also trigger hypothalamic dysfunction.
In women who are underweight, exercise-induced
stress can result in amenorrhea. A woman needs to have a certain percentage of
body fat in order for the brain and endocrine glands to function properly and
for ovulation to occur. Likewise, women with eating disorders may also have
fertility problems.
When a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs, she
stops ovulating. When this occurs in a woman who is not yet menopausal, this
condition is termed ovarian failure, or poor ovarian reserve.
Ultimately, a woman with an ovulation disorder has
fewer opportunities to conceive and will have difficulty determining when she
is fertile.
Symptoms of Ovulation Disorders
Some women suffer from oligomenorrhea- infrequent
periods – or they may not menstruate at all. A menstrual cycle that is shorter
than 21 days or longer than 36 days is a sign of ovulation dysfunction. Another
sign of ovulation dysfunction is when the length of a woman’s cycle fluctuates
considerably from month to month – for example, a cycle that arrives a week
early one month a week late the next month. In rare instances, a woman may have
a regular cycle and not ovulate (this is called an anovulatory cycle).
Infertility and hormone irregularities are other signs that an ovulation
disorder may be present.
