The menstrual cycle is one of the most important parts of a woman's biological process. It is an indirect indicator of a woman's fertility. Infertility is a huge issue among couples across the world. The underlying issue behind infertility is multiple. At the same general functioning of the body plays a vital role including periods. Menstruation is not just a few days in a month but instead a whole cycle. It includes ovulation, egg release and bleeding if the eggs are not fertilized. A menstrual cycle can reveal a lot about a woman's fertility and a healthy cycle makes it better.
Let's understand the relationship between a healthy menstrual cycle and fertility in women.
The Significance of the Menstrual Cycle
A woman's menstrual cycle works like clockwork. Disruption in the period can be a sign of an unhealthy menstruation cycle. The number of days between the first day of bleeding and the start of the next menstrual cycle determines the length of a menstrual cycle. It offers an easy way to determine if ovulation is normal or not as well as the hormonal balance.
Not every woman gets lucky with normal periods throughout their life. Women who are trying to conceive and experience failure are often suffering from irregular period cycles.
Types of period situations and their relationship with fertility
Missed periods
Missing a period while trying to conceive suggests that the woman might be pregnant. But the negative pregnancy report nullifies all hope. If the missing periods are consistent then one should see a fertility doctor. A missing period will make it tricky to pin down the fertile window between the cycles. This window of a few days is the best opportunity for successfully conceiving.
Apart from that repeatedly missing periods is clearly not good for your fertility. Because hidden conditions might be the reason behind it. And if that is the case the chances of conceiving will only diminish if you fail to seek treatment on time.
Heavy period
If the period is regular and heavy then it is not normal. Again a heavy period is not normal even if it is regular. Several serious conditions could be the cause behind heavy periods. These conditions can severely affect a woman's ability to conceive and may even hinder at the time of pregnancy.
Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, hormone imbalance etc can be the cause behind heavy periods.
These are the symptoms of a heavy period:
Using one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a rowHaving to wake up during the night to change sanitary protectionMore than a week of bleedingDue to high menstrual flow, curbing daily activitiesAnaemia symptoms include weariness, exhaustion, and shortness of breath.If you encounter these symptoms while trying to conceive then visit a fertility doctor for assistance.
Light period
Light bleeding is comparatively less painful and is often viewed as a good thing. There is usually no need to worry if your period has always been light. However, if it stands as an obstacle while trying to conceive then get it checked. Also, a sudden change in the period resulting in light flow is something to be concerned about.
The light period also means that the woman's uterine lining is not thick enough. This reduces the chances of fertility in women. The uterine lining allows the embryo to grow but will have a hard time growing if the lining is thin.
Types of the menstrual cycle
Normal menstrual cycle: A normal menstrual cycle typically lasts 24 to 35 days and they indicate ovulation. It is also a sign that all your hormones are in balance and can help you naturally conceive.
Short menstrual cycle: These cycles do not last for more than 24 days and are prominent among older women. It is an indication that the ovaries contain very fewer eggs. Also, the quality of the eggs is inferior. A shorter cycle can also indicate that ovulation is not taking place.
Long or irregular menstrual cycle: Longer menstrual cycles are a subtle indicator that ovulation is not consistent or is not occurring. This complicates conception and may cause infertility. These longer menstrual cycles last for more than 35 days.
A lack of regular ovulation results in longer cycles. The decline of progesterone during a normal cycle is what causes bleeding. If a follicle does not mature then no progesterone is released, and the uterine lining continues to grow in response to oestrogen. The lining gradually becomes so thick that it becomes unstable, it eventually collapses and the bleeding ensues. This bleeding can be unpredictably heavy and last for an extended amount of time.
What does this mean for fertility?
It is clear that the menstrual cycle plays an imminent role in fertility. The significance of a healthy and regular menstrual cycle determines fertility. A healthier menstrual cycle directly affects a woman's ability to conceive. The period gets abnormal with time and thus reduces the chances of conception.
Seek Help
If you are a woman who is battling abnormal periods while trying to conceive then you should seek help from an expert. Banker IVF is the best IVF centre in Ahmedabad, helping couples to achieve their dream of parenthood. Dr. Manish Banker and his skilled team will be more than happy to find out the infertility cause and treat it appropriately. From fertility therapy to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are available at Banker IVF hospital in Ahmedabad.
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