Do You Have Periods if You're Infertile?
The short answer to this question is yes. You can certainly struggle with infertility and still have a period every month.
Most fertility problems arise from an ovulation disorder that could influence your period. But your struggles with conception could be caused by other factors.
Reasons for Infertility
There are a variety of reasons you may not be able to get pregnant but still, have a period. For example, a chronic health condition like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure or rheumatoid arthritis may make it difficult to become pregnant.
Other reasons you might have difficulty getting pregnant, but still have a period include:
- Endometriosis,
- Being significantly overweight or underweight,
- Blocked fallopian tubes,
- Uterine fibroids,
- Pelvic inflammatory disease,
- STDs,
- Age,
- Smoking,
- Excessive exercise,
- Stress, or
- Excessive drinking or recreational drug use.
Ovulation Issues
Even so, irregular ovulation is one of the biggest reasons why women can't conceive. In order to become pregnant, a woman must ovulate. The process occurs when an egg is released from the ovary and through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Conception can occur if the egg is fertilized by a sperm sometime between the time it leaves the ovary and the time it reaches the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, you will have a period. If it is fertilized, you will not.
If ovulation does not occur or does not occur regularly, you may have trouble getting pregnant. Polycystic uterine disease is a primary reason a woman can't ovulate. Others include:
- Primary uterine insufficiency,
- Hypothalamic dysfunction,
- Premature ovarian failure,
- Too much prolactin.
In cases where ovulation doesn't occur spontaneously, you may need to consider ovulation induction. This pharmacological treatment will prompt your body to release an egg. After an egg is released, additional interventions can occur.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a very common fertility treatment better known as artificial insemination. If IUI isn't effective, many couples move to in vitro fertilization (IVF) where the egg is fertilized outside the body, then implanted in the uterus.
Learn more about these options by scheduling a consultation with our fertility experts. Call today to discuss fertility treatment options in New York City.
