Menstrual cycles don’t always run like clockwork. While some women get their period right on schedule after 28-29 days, for others, it’s always a bit of a mystery, and they may not know for certain when their period will decide to show up.
It’s not uncommon for women to have an irregular menstrual cycle, but this can make it harder to keep track of your ovulation period and recognise signs of fertility. The good news is that there are many ways to improve your chances of pregnancy with an irregular menstrual cycle, and with timely medical intervention, your doctor can prescribe the right treatment to get your menstrual cycle back on track.
What Is An Irregular Menstrual Cycle
You can determine whether your menstrual cycle is regular or not by charting its duration. A menstrual cycle is the duration between the start of one period to the next, with day one being the first day of blood flow. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists consider a normal cycle length to last between 21 and 35 days.
However, if you get your period more frequently than 21 days or less often than every 35 days, then your menstrual cycle is considered irregular. Also, a cycle length that falls in the normal range but still varies by seven to nine days is considered abnormal too.
Causes Of An Irregular Menstrual Cycle
Stress, low-calorie diets, strenuous exercise, travel, or any other temporary change in your routine can cause occasional irregularities in your menstrual cycle.
A consistently irregular menstrual cycle can be caused due to factors such as sudden weight loss or weight gain, eating disorders, fluctuating thyroid levels, and hormonal imbalances. One of the other contributing factors could be starting or stopping the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or any other prescribed estrogen supplements. Chronically irregular cycles are caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian insufficiency, or endometriosis.
Can You Get Pregnant If You Have An Irregular Menstrual Cycle?
The answer is ‘yes’. In most cases, irregular menstrual cycles don’t affect a woman’s fertility. In fact, plenty of women with this condition conceive easily and go on to have a normal pregnancy. However, for some women, an irregular menstrual cycle can make it harder to conceive.
To help get pregnant faster, women are usually recommended to keep track of their ovulation cycle. But if you have an irregular cycle, chances are you won’t be able to find a discernible pattern that will help you recognise ovulation signs and time sex accordingly.
Moreover, in certain cases, an irregular period can be a sign of absent ovulation; and if you don’t ovulate, you won’t be able to get pregnant. Therefore, when planning for a baby, you should consider consulting your doctor and getting a thorough evaluation to determine your condition and get the right treatment to help you conceive faster.
8 Ways To Improve Your Chances Of Pregnancy
If an irregular menstrual cycle is hindering your chances of pregnancy, you can try the following methods to concieve faster.
- Monitor your ovulation period: Although this can seem a little bit difficult with an irregular cycle, tracking your ovulation period can help determine the right time for intercourse, for conception. For instance, if you have a 29-day menstrual cycle, you will ovulate on the 15th day. This means that the fertile window opens from the 10th to the 18th day, which is ideal for having sex. One of the ways to track your ovulation period is by checking the consistency of your cervical mucus or your basal body temperature. You can always consider downloading an ovulation tracker app on your phone to track your ovulation.
- Opt for follicular monitoring: If you are unable to track ovulation on your own, seek advice from your gynaecologist. They can determine the period with follicular monitoring. This method includes a blood hormone test and an ultrasound of the ovaries that can help determine the right time for ovulation.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help improve your fertility. Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, and consuming excess caffeine as they can adversely affect your chances of getting pregnant. Additionally, you should avoid the consumption of junk food and include more fruits, veggies, meat, fish, and dairy products in your diet.
- Have regular unprotected sex: To get pregnant faster, you should have regular unprotected sex (two to three days a week) with your partner. You should also stop taking contraceptive pills at least four months before you plan your pregnancy. This will help your body regain normal hormonal balance and increase the chances of conception.
- Maintain your body weight: Your body weight plays a crucial role in conception. Being overweight or underweight can lead to hormonal changes in your body, thus affecting your menstrual cycle. Follow a healthy diet and stay physically active to maintain the ideal body weight.
- Go for regular health checkups: Regular health checkups will help determine whether you are fit to conceive. It will also help diagnose any underlying conditions such as irregular or absent ovulation and help in the timely administration of treatments.
- Consume fertility-boosting foods: Nutrients like Vitamins A, C, D, and E, folic acid, and potassium are essential for enhancing fertility. These nutrients can be obtained from your diet or supplements and help in the production of healthy ovum.
- Take prenatal vitamins: If you are planning to get pregnant, talk to your gynaecologist and start taking prenatal vitamins. They can compensate for any nutritional deficiencies that could hinder your conception.
Irregular menstrual cycles can make it difficult for you to conceive easily. Therefore, you should get regular checkups done to monitor your condition and follow tips such as maintaining body weight, consuming a nutrient-rich diet, and reducing stress to keep your body healthy and increase the chances of conception.
