Can I get pregnant with irregular periods?

Irregular periods is something that can happen to any woman of reproductive age. Sometimes you start off great after you first start your periods it will go on every month without any delay. But after a couple of months, they may stop but after treatment, you will get your normal period duration back. In some women, the case is entirely different. The periods will start off good but after a couple of years, they start getting irregular. There could be many reasons behind it such as you may be suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) where irregular periods considered a symptom resulting in this condition, thyroid imbalance, hyperprolactinemia, etc.

When something like this happens, it becomes difficult to comprehend if the delay in pregnancy is caused because of the irregular periods or not. And some women also have the doubt that if they will be able to conceive with irregular periods. A study found that women who have regular cycles were 4 times more likely to get pregnant as compared to women whose menstrual cycles vary for over 10 days. Your chances of getting pregnant with irregular periods depend on:

1. How irregular periods are yours?
2. What is the reason behind your irregular periods?
3. Are you able to time your sexual intercourse accurately?

So let us talk about why and how are irregular periods may affect your fertility and your ability to get pregnant soon. 

Do you actually have irregular periods?

An irregular period is characterized by a menstrual cycle which is either shorter than 21 days or longer than 36 days. A cycle may also be considered irregular if it varies from month to month. For example, if you’re one month cycle is 23 days and another is for 35 days then your cycles will be considered irregular. 

An irregular cycle is not always abnormal and it does not always result in fertility issues. Sometimes an irregular cycle may also be caused by stress or illness. If you have suffered from only a couple of irregularities in your periods than you don’t have to worry. However, if your periods are frequently irregular and its always a long time between two cycles then it is time to consult your doctor. 

How to detect ovulation when your cycles are irregular?

If you are periods are irregular, it means your ovulation may also be irregular. It also means that you will have to make more efforts than others to figure out your most fertile time in order to get pregnant. There are numerous ways to predict ovulation. For example, you can opt for an ovulation predictor test which works a lot like a pregnancy test. If you pee on the test strips it will tell you when you are most fertile. However, for some women, the tests can give false positives. This is especially common if you are suffering from PCOS. 

You can also chart your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to check when you are ovulating and plan your pregnancy accordingly. You can consult a doctor about your BBT and they will be able to explain to you how to proceed with this option. 

Is there any other method which can help to get pregnant with irregular periods?

If tracking your ovulation is not going right, you can just try to have frequent sexual intercourse. There are women who find timing ovulation difficult and stressful. If you are one of them then just go for frequent sex. With this method, you won’t have to time anything and just have to have sexual intercourse 3 to 4 times a week which will increase your chances of having sexual intercourse on a fertility day. 

Is there any other method which can help to get pregnant with irregular periods?

As mentioned earlier in the article, irregular periods can be the symptoms of an underlying condition. It may point to hormonal imbalance. Here are some conditions because of which you might be suffering from irregular periods. 

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a condition which affects 1 in every 5 women of reproductive age. One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is irregular periods. In PCOS women may sometimes experience infertility and delay in pregnancy. Moreover, women with PCOS have a high risk of miscarriage. 

• Anovulation: Irregular periods can also be a sign of anovulation. Anovulation is just the opposite of ovulation. It means you don’t ovulate. If you are not ovulating you cannot get pregnant.

• Hyperprolactinemia: Prolactin is a hormone whose one of the responsibilities is to stimulate the breasts to produce breast milk . Hyperprolactinemia is a condition in which a woman suffers from high levels of prolactin which can lead to irregular periods and in worst case scenario it can also stop your periods completely. 

• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): POI or premature ovarian failure (POF) can cause irregular periods. It can also stop periods completely. POI can result in low estrogen levels sometimes which can lead to pain during sexual intercourse, hot flashes, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness, etc. 

• Thyroid Imbalance: Thyroid imbalance can also be a reason for your irregular periods. An overactive or underactive thyroid condition can cause irregular periods. These conditions can also lead to infertility in some cases.

• Being underweight: Your irregular periods can also be caused by you being underweight. If you are underweight then you might be susceptible to irregular periods as well as fertility issues. 

• Being overweight: Obesity is yet another cause for irregular periods. Obesity is also a symptom of PCOS. It can cause issues with periods as well as getting pregnant. 

What are the treatments for irregular periods?

Your treatment will depend on the reason behind your irregular periods. If you are not ovulating you may be given fertility drugs to boost your ovulation which will, in turn, help you get pregnant. If your ovulation is irregular then also you may need fertility treatment to help you conceive. 

There are many medications available in the market like clomid and letrozole which are often prescribed by doctors to treat ovulatory dysfunction. If medications don’t work on you and you want to get pregnant then the doctors may suggest other treatments like injectable fertility drugs, IUI or IVF treatment. 

Conclusion:

Irregular periods can sometimes be caused by a normal phenomenon like stress and sometimes it could be the indicator of some underlying condition. If you are suffering from irregular periods for a long time then it is advised to consult a doctor. Irregular periods can affect your ability to get pregnant especially if it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Although, there is nothing to worry to about as there are many medications and treatments available in the market to help you get over it. But it always good to stay ahead of a condition and get the treatment as soon as possible.