One of the common questions that fertility expert asks their patients is about the first day of the period. This may seem like a normal routine question for you, but the answer to this can offer great insight to your doctor. This is crucial for those who are trying to conceive. The timing of your last period, the days, the quantity of shedding, etc., helps them to know whether you are experiencing hormonal imbalances or ovulation issues. Even, Dr. Alice Domar, a part-time associate officer in gynecology, reproductive biology, and obstetrics at Harvard said, “Understanding and tracking the menstrual cycle can provide a valuable insight into fertility and potential health issues”.
Some women don’t even know how their monthly menstrual cycle works. Even, Harvard studies on women show that nearly 44% of menstruators don’t even know about it when they get their periods. This is because of fear, discomfort, and shame, but there is nothing to worry about. Typically, women go through four phases in their menstrual cycle which keeps on repeating, and this includes-
Yes, it matters!
Your menstrual cycle length indicates the first day of periods to the next cycle, and by measuring every possible link with that, your fertility expert can indicate what is causing infertility.
– Normal cycle: the normal period cycle happens between 24 to 35 days, and this indicates that ovulation is occurring, a woman does not have any hormonal disbalance, and the sex hormones are supporting the natural conception.
– Long menstrual cycle: if the next period is happening after more than 35 days, this projects that either irregularity is occurring in ovulation, or ovulation is not happening. When the uterus lining gets so thick that it becomes unstable, then this type of cycle occurs. It resulted in prolonged bleeding which is known as menorrhagia.
Several reasons behind these issues include hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, etc. This unable ovary to develop a dominant follicle and release the mature eggs. The most concerning fact is that irregularities in the thyroid gland disrupt the brain’s ability to get information related to ovulation, resulting in anovulation.
– Small menstrual cycle: if the cycle occurs before 24 days, then it is considered a small menstrual cycle, and it means that the ovaries contain fewer eggs than expected. This decreases the quality of the remaining eggs, as the dysfunctional ovaries are unable to communicate with the brain. Additionally, this makes the luteal phase come early which shortens the menstrual cycle because the body doesn’t make enough progesterone to develop uterine lining properly.
It often indicates that ovulation is not occurring, which means, eggs are not released regularly which makes it difficult for women to get pregnant. It can be caused by certain conditions like anorexia, stress, obesity, PCOS, thyroid, endometriosis, obesity, etc.
There is a myth that most women think, if you are having regular periods, you can get pregnant easily, but that doesn’t guarantee your pregnancy. Yes, you ovulate regularly, but there are several factors like the quality of eggs, fertilization, the egg’s ability to transport to the uterus, the ability of the sperm, and many more impact the ability to conceive. So, let’s just be clear about the menstrual cycle and how it works.
The cycle is basically controlling the hormones of women and every time, it raises the oestrogen level which makes the ovary develop and release an egg. In the second half of the cycle, the development of the embryo starts when progesterone prepares the womb for implantation.
Then eggs float through fallopian tubes and create the chances of pregnancy. If it doesn’t occur, then eggs are reabsorbed in the body. If the women faced difficulty with a short period cycle, then their chances decreased. Sometimes, this process occurs outside the fallopian tubes and is known as Ectopic pregnancy, which results in miscarriage, and abnormality in the baby. The studies conducted by Boston University revealed that a short menstrual cycle is also linked with reduced fecundability (women have less ability to conceive). Because the uterine lining is not enough thick it makes it difficult for the embryo to develop.
There are several reasons for the menstrual cycle which restrict women to get pregnant, and these include-
This is classified into two:
The common causes behind this include-
Irregular periods, hormonal issues, or ovulation problems make it difficult for couples to predict the fertile window which directly decreases the chances of conception. The biggest problem related to the menstrual cycle is that it lowers the number of eggs, resulting in the risk of miscarriage, and low fertility rate, but also remember, this can also be influenced by aging or genetic issues.
Moreover, due to the absence of menstruation, ovulation does not happen which directly results in the inability of eggs to be released from the ovaries, which is a basic concept of getting pregnant. If the menstruation cycle is not happening that means the body will react resulting in hormonal imbalance. Over time, it develops the condition called PCOS and increases health complications like Osteoporosis (a bone disease where women lack bone mineral and mass density), heart disease, and pelvic pain.
It is highly recommended to visit a doctor if you are missing your periods in a row without any reason. This can cause some severe issues and can result in health complications as indicated above. Women’s bodies go through several changes and the menstrual cycle is one of the processes which help to regulate the system. Although, for some, it might be a touchy topic to start, you can’t risk your life because of social pressure.
Don’t worry, medical science has all the solution to your questions. With proper medications and treatment, the issue can be resolved. And the important question related to pregnancy, yes you can get pregnant through IVF. It is one of the most successful options for women who are experiencing amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea. This treatment bypasses the need for ovulation and controls the stimulation of the ovaries to create multiple eggs.
Although the success rate is highly dependent on the condition, severity of the issue, and causes, IVF treatment increases the chances of pregnancy by 30%. Rather than giving up on having a child, it is better to talk to fertility like Aveya IVF Centre.
Never, ever consult some random person when it comes to your health. Never means Never. If you are experiencing unbearable pain, very low or heavy flow, issues with the length of the cycle, or the color of the blood, it is time to take a step.
Your first instinct should be to consult with an expert, they can help you know the reason by understanding the symptoms. Make sure to communicate each and every problem with your doctors. Based on the condition, they conduct a physical examination which allows them to assess the health of reproductive organs. Additionally, numerous tests that your doctors may conduct including-
Sometimes the habits we adopt impact the menstrual cycle, but you can not neglect that, there might be some hidden issues that you might know of. So, stop predicting, and visit an expert. Whether you are planning to conceive or not, knowing the condition of reproductive health is better.
Aveya IVF Centre emphasizes the importance of understanding the menstrual cycle, as this is the key indicator of reproductive health, and issues should be addressed promptly. Furthermore, if you have any queries related to fertility, menstrual cycle, or reproductive health of males or females, consult with Aveya.
For a consultation, contact us today!