Treatment for Irregular Ovulation
Issues with ovulation and regular menstrual cycles can make conceiving a major challenge. According to WebMD, irregular ovulation (sometimes known as an anovulatory cycle) accounts for 30 to 40 percent of all infertility cases. That number is consistent with the patients we’ve seen in the Encino, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, CA areas. Thankfully, Dr. Marc Kalan and Dr. Nurit Winkler can help address these problems through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other less invasive means.
Below, let’s consider some of the causes, signs, and treatments for irregular ovulation. This will help you understand what issues may be facing and how it can be addressed by our team of professionals.
Causes of Irregular Ovulation
While age may play a factor in irregular ovulation and changes in monthly cycles, the most important factor tends to be changes in hormone levels. This could be due to a number of factors, including:
- Obesity
- Low body weight
- Fluctuations in body weight
- High stress levels
- Extreme exercise and workouts
- Thyroid problems
Signs and Symptoms of Irregular Ovulation
Common signs and symptoms of irregular ovulation include changes in length of regular cycle and no signs of ovulation. Some common signs of ovulation include changes in cervical mucus, tender breasts, acute sense of smell, lower abdominal pain, and so forth. A lack of these common signs of ovulation during you cycle is generally a sign of an anovulatory cycle.
If you notice irregular cycles in conjunction with the above signs and symptoms, it’s best that you speak with your general practitioner. They can run tests and diagnose the exact health issue you’re experiencing.
Making Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes the issues with irregular ovulation can be addressed simply through making lifestyle changes. That may include changes in your diet, changes in your exercise habit, and other health and wellness matters.
The benefits of these lifestyle changes may take a few months to become apparent. Working with your general practitioner and a fertility specialist, a custom treatment plan can be developed to ensure healthier living and a greater chance of becoming pregnant.
Fertility Drugs
If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, patients may be prescribed fertility drugs. These medications can be taken to help promote the development of viable eggs and trigger ovulation. The exact fertility drugs used can be discussed in more detail during your consultation.
Fertility Treatments
Usually, a combination of lifestyle changes and the use of fertility drugs will result in a regular cycle and greater chance of becoming pregnant. If you continue to struggle with fertility after making lifestyle changes and using fertility medications, more involved fertility procedures may be recommended. That could include IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
While visiting our practice, we can go over your situation and discuss all of the pros and cons of your treatment options. We will help you get the treatment you need.
Contact Los Angeles Reproductive Center
For more information about treating irregular ovulation and helping you build a family, be sure to contact our experienced team of fertility doctors. You can reach our fertility specialists in LA and Encino by calling (818) 208-5481, our fertility specialists in Thousand Oaks by calling (805) 427-2959, and our fertility specialists in Bakersfield by calling (661) 889-5173.