Dr. Vandermolen can address irregular periods and infertility to improve the odds of pregnancy
No woman looks forward to a monthly period, but regular cycles are one sign that your reproductive system is functioning appropriately. When you are trying to have a baby, this routine event is a positive sign that ovulation is working correctly. In some cases, patients have menstrual irregularities, including no periods, very long cycles or abnormal bleeding. David T. Vandermolen MD, MS, our Northern Louisiana fertility expert, understands the strong connection between irregular periods and infertility.
A review of female fertility basics
As part of puberty, young women begin to have menstrual cycles, usually between the ages of 12 and 15. During each monthly cycle, your body produces important hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, and the uterine lining thickens to support a potential pregnancy. If conception does not occur, these hormones drop, your body releases the lining buildup, and a period occurs.
What is a normal menstrual cycle?
An average monthly cycle is 28 days, but it can range from 24 to 35 days. Your menstrual cycle length is measured from the first day of one period until the first day of the next period. For pregnancy to occur, the female reproductive system needs to work as expected, which includes regular ovulation and menstruation.
Women with menstrual irregularities may experience cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, skipping three or more periods in a row, bleeding that lasts more than seven days, bleeding between periods, or periods with severe cramping.
Common causes of menstrual irregularities
Although some differences in your monthly cycles are expected, wide variation in timing, bleeding or frequency of your period could warrant closer examination by our Northern Louisiana fertility expert. There is a correlation between irregular periods and infertility, so Dr. Vandermolen takes a detailed reproductive history during every fertility evaluation to ensure that he has the full picture about any barriers to pregnancy.
The following conditions are often linked to menstrual irregularities.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Uterine fibroids
- Experiencing stressful events
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Declining ovarian reserve, or low egg supply
- Being overweight or underweight
How we treat irregular periods and infertility
Before beginning any treatment, our fertility specialist will start with basic fertility tests, such as blood tests, a physical exam and an ultrasound, to determine the reasons for any irregularities. These results will allow Dr. Vandermolen to decide on the best course of action. Treatment recommendations will vary depending on the underlying issues, and may include lifestyle modifications, medication or surgical intervention.
If you are dealing with menstrual irregularities, don’t wait for your symptoms to get worse. Dr. Vandermolen can treat irregular periods and infertility, so that you can realize your dreams of parenthood. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with our Northern Louisiana fertility expert.