There’s No Reason to Ignore Menstrual Irregularities

If you’re one of the millions of women who experience fertility issues as a result of menstrual irregularities, it’s time to start seeking intervention for your condition.

When menstruation happens on a regular basis (usually every 28-35 days), a woman has the ability to predict when she is most likely to be able to conceive a child.  On the flip side, when menstrual irregularities occur, a woman cannot easily calculate when (or if) ovulation will happen.

Menstrual irregularities can include, but are not limited to: amenorrhea (the absence of menses); menstrual cramping; sporadic (e.g., unpredictable) menstruation; unusually-long periods; and vaginal “breakthrough” bleeding.  Though many women experience these problems, they may not realize that the problems can play a significant role in a woman’s infertility.

For instance, if a woman’s menstrual irregularities are due to amenorrhea, no matter how many times she and her partner have sexual intercourse, they will not be able to conceive due to a lack of ovulation.  Without an ovum to fertilize, conception is impossible.  In the case of a woman whose menstrual irregularity manifests itself as painful and lengthy periods, intercourse may be so uncomfortable that it happens very seldom.  Again, this leads to a reduction in the opportunities for that woman to become pregnant.

There can be many causes of menstrual irregularities, even between women experiencing the same symptoms, which is why it’s important that a reproductive health specialist be involved in solving the riddle of this female health concern.  Without a doubt, the reasons for an irregular menses vary widely and can include:

·         A past (or current) eating disorder;

·         Over-exercising or extreme athleticism;

·         Poor nutrition;

·         Hereditary factors;

·         Perimenopause or menopause;

·         Weight gain/loss;

·         Vegetarian diets;

·         Uterine cancer;

·         Uterine abnormalities;

·         Stress;

·         Polyps; and more.

Consequently, for any female who is unable to effectively track her period and who has been unable to conceive after trying for 6-12 months (after stopping all birth control methods), it’s imperative that she seek the assistance of a physician who specializes in diagnosing this kind of common problem.

Says Dr. Abraham K. Munabi, M.D., Reproductive Science Institute, suburban Philadelphia, “Menstrual irregularity is absolutely one of the most common ‘culprits’ of infertility.  But the causes behind the problem can differ greatly from patient to patient.  This is why we have to take each woman’s health into consideration on a highly individualized basis.  One size definitely doesn’t fit all when it comes to treatment of irregular menses.”

If you’re concerned about the way that menstrual irregularities may be affecting your fertility, it’s time to get answers. 

Contact RSI for an appointment to discuss your health experiences today.

http://www.rsiinfertility.com/