Anovulation is the cause of infertility in up to 40% of the infertile women. Below is comprehensive information about anovulation, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and where you could find help when you are suffering from the condition.
What Is Anovulation?
As stated above, anovulation is the absence of ovulation. This happens when an egg does not mature, and the woman does not ovulate. As a result, there could be irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all. Learn more about menstrual problems here.
Considering that there must be ovulation for one to conceive, it is almost impossible for women with an anovulatory cycle to conceive.
Symptoms of Anovulation
Some of the signs that will show you that you could be having an anovulatory cycle are such as:
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Cycles less than 21 days and more than 36 days
- Cycle varies widely from month to month
Causes of Anovulation
While there are many reasons why one may have the anovulation condition, the most common cause is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Other causes of anovulation are such as:
- Low body weight
- Extreme stress levels
- Premature ovarian failure
- Perimenopause
- Obesity
- Thyroid dysfunction
Diagnosis of Anovulation
When going to have a diagnosis for anovulation, your doctor will first enquire about your menstrual cycles and might suspect an ovulatory dysfunction in case the cycles are irregular or absent.
You may then have a blood test to determine your hormone levels. Your doctor could also recommend an ultrasound to check the size of your ovaries and uterus among other signs of Pcos. The ultrasound could also be done to track your ovulation or follicle development. However, this is rarely done as it will need several ultrasounds to be done within a week or two.
Treatment for Anovulation
The treatment used to treat the condition is determined by the cause of the condition. For instance, in the event low body weight is the reason for anovulation, then this could be solved by gaining weight or limiting exercises.
On the other hand, losing some weight could help restart ovulation in case one is obese. Fertility drugs could also be used as the treatment option in case of premature ovarian failure among other Pcos symptoms.
Disclaimers:
Please note that development differs from one child to another.
Content intended for educational purposes only, and not a substitute for medical advice from your doctor.
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Last reviewed March 2019
Sources: medicalnewstoday, verywellfamily, healthline, flo.health
