By Our Correspondents
Irregular periods can indicate that you are
ovulating inconsistently or, in some cases, not at all. As you already know, it
is impossible to conceive without an egg, so the less you ovulate the less
opportunities you have to conceive.
So here is a guide to improving your chances of
getting pregnant if you have irregular periods.
Firstly, it will be important to try to restore
some regularity to your cycle and increase the frequency of ovulation.
Lifestyle changes can help you improve the balance of your hormones and help to
make your periods more regular:
•Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet: Try to
incorporate more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and avoid foods that are
high in refined carbohydrates and fat.
•Attain a healthy weight: If you are overweight,
losing a few pounds through a moderate calorie restriction and moderate
exercise can be very beneficial, especially if you have been diagnosed with
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Likewise, if you are underweight, try adding
on a few pounds. Extremely low body fat can be associated with low estrogen
levels, which can cause cycle irregularity.
•Exercise regularly and moderately: Getting
regular exercise is a key to fertility. On the other hand, too much exercise
that is too strenuous in nature can have a detrimental impact on fertility.
The next equally important step will be to
pinpoint your fertile window each cycle. Remember that in order to conceive,
sperm must be waiting in your Fallopian tube at the time the egg is released
from the ovary. And because sperm can only survive for up to five days in the
female reproductive tract, it is important for you to be able to predict when
you will ovulate so that you can time intercourse appropriately. For women with
irregular periods, ovulation prediction can be a frustrating endeavour.
How to know you are pregnant with irregular
menstrual cycle
Many women face problems of irregular menstrual
cycle (periods). However, this hardly disrupts the normal life; it is a cause
of worry when you are trying to get pregnant. Irregular or abnormal ovulation’s
make up to 40 per cent of infertility cases. Therefore, it is increasingly
important to pay attention to your menstrual cycle whether or not you are
planning a family immediately.
The easiest way to suspect pregnancy is a missed
period. But what in case of women who have an irregular cycle? For women with
irregular cycle, it is important to keep in mind the other than missed periods
pregnancy symptoms such as: Tender breasts, fatigue, morning sickness,
darkening of the skin around areola, food cravings and vomiting.
However, hormonal fluctuations can cause fatigue,
even in case of irregular or delayed periods, frequent urination and nausea are
one of the closest pregnancy signs that one can observe.
The best way is to visit a gyneacologist and get
checked thoroughly, including the tests suggested by the doctor for fertility.
If, after the tests, other medical conditions are ruled out, irregular periods
would be the only cause of anxiety, especially for those sexually active women
who are not planning a pregnancy.
