Medical Causes of Irregular Periods that Can Impact Fertility

Having irregular or no periods is often an indication that a woman isn’t ovulating – a condition clinically called “anovulation”. An irregular or abnormal ovulation is responsible for thirty to forty percent of all cases of infertility. And there are many, many illnesses and diseases that can cause irregular periods and abnormal ovulation.

So, when a woman experiences difficulty becoming pregnant, it is important that her fertility doctor either diagnose or rule out any underlying medical condition(s) that may be causing anovulation. Unfortunately, several of these disorders that can interfere with ovulation are not obvious to the untrained eye and/or cannot be identified without specific testing.

When Austin, Tx natural fertility Doctor Ruthie Harper, MD meets with you she will take a thorough medical history and look at “the big picture” of all of your medical signs and symptoms – as well as conduct thorough blood work – to identify health concerns that may be affecting ovulation. Some of the many diseases that can interfere with ovulation include the following.

Thyroid Issues Affecting Fertility

The thyroid gland is part of the hormonal system, interacting with every other hormonal system in the body including the adrenals, pituitary, and the ovaries. Thyroid problems come in two forms: hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) and hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid function). One in 8 women suffers from thyroid disease and yet 50% of them are unaware that they have it.

Hypothyroidism is a very common, but often undetected illness causing menstrual cycle and fertility problems. Thyroid problems are often associated with an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone levels which leads to irregular cycles and fertility issues. Additionally, low thyroid function can also cause low-quality cervical fluid, low libido, increased risk of PCOS, high prolactin levels which can suppress ovulation and more.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where an excessive production of thyroid hormone overstimulation of your body which can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, rapid heart rate, bone loss and difficulty getting pregnant.  Women having trouble getting pregnant should have their thyroid function checked BEFORE getting pregnant to make sure levels are optimal to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Affecting Fertility

PCOS affects about 10% of women and is caused by an imbalance and overproduction of hormones including insulin and male hormones. This imbalance leads to the production of immature follicles that rarely release eggs. It is is the most common cause of infertility in women who do not ovulate normally or have regular menstrual cycles. A new diagnostic test called the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test can help identify PCOS.

Endometriosis Affecting Fertility

Women with this endometriosis have tissue from the uterine lining that implants itself in places other than the uterus. It is usually accompanied by intense menstrual cramps, heaving bleeding during periods, and spotting in-between periods. Endometriosis often leads to infertility but can be tricky to diagnose definitively.

The “golden standard” for identifying endometriosis is a minimally-invasive procedure called laparoscopy that internally examines the tissue. Treatments for endometriosis that reduce bleeding and pain, however, will interfere with ovulation and therefore cannot be used while a woman is trying to get pregnant. In cases where other treatments have failed, laparoscopic surgery may be used to destroy the overgrown endometrial tissue.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) & Fertility

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) – also called Premature Menopause – is a condition in which a woman has lower than normal estrogen production before perimenopause. Women who are suffering from this condition are unlikely to get pregnant naturally. Unfortunately, many physicians will simply recommend donor eggs for women with this condition. But an experienced natural fertility doctor like Ruthie Harper, MD can often offer integrative therapies, that can restore healthy ovarian function which may allow pregnancy to occur.

Because the hormone deficiency of POI can also cause serious health problems such osteoporosis and heart disease, POI should almost always be addressed with estrogen-progesterone therapy – whether or not the patient is trying to get pregnant.

Ovarian Cysts Affecting Fertility

Ovarian cysts usually don’t cause serious health risks, but they can interfere with fertility. There are many different types of ovarian cysts that can cause anovulation, including:

• Follicular Cysts – a cyst surrounding an egg,
• Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Cyst – when an egg remains stuck in the follicle that is supposed to release it,
• Corpus Luteum Cyst – when an area of the uterus begins to seal off and fill with excess fluid or blood.

Ovarian cysts usually they resolve on their own – but surgery made be needed in severe cases as a last resort.

Adrenal Disease and Infertility

A much more rare cause of anovulation is congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal tumors and Cushing’s disease. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of genetic disorders caused by a gene mutation that affects the adrenal glands.

The rarer “Classic CAH” is a severe form of the disease that is usually detected at birth or in early infancy. But women with the milder, more common “Nonclassic CAH” may not know they have it until adulthood, when they encounter problems like infertility. Insufficient production of cortisol, as well as an excess of the male sex hormone androgen can cause abnormal development of the reproductive organs and other issues that interfere with ovulation.

Top Austin, TX Fertility Doctor

As you can see, there are many underlying medical conditions that may cause infertility issues. But the good news is that, in many cases, proper medical diagnosis and treatment along with certain lifestyle changes can help couples achieve their dream of building a family –without extreme and expensive measures such as IVF!

Natural fertility doctor Ruthie Harper MD specializes in using integrative, holistic and natural fertility treatments to help women get pregnant. If you have tried to become pregnant without success, Dr. Harper opens her practice doors to you with compassion, and more than twenty years of natural fertility experience. Through the science of personalized integrative medicine, she can help you identify the causes of your difficulty conceiving, so you can increase your chances of becoming pregnant naturally.

Top Fertility Doctor – Austin, TX: 512.343.9355