What are ovulations problems?
To get pregnant, the ovaries must produce and release an egg, a process known as ovulation. However, there can be various factors that may disrupt the process of ovulation. When a woman has problems with ovulation, she may ovulate irregularly, infrequently, or even not at all. The most common cause of ovulation dysfunction is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
In addition to lack of ovulation, the symptoms associated with this condition include– pain in the lower abdominal and pelvic areas, heaviness in the abdomen, bloating, irregular & painful periods, possible weight gain, hormonal imbalances which can lead to male-pattern baldness, excessive facial hair etc.
What are the causes of ovulation problems?
Some of the common causes that result in ovulation problems would be pregnancy-related complications, infections of the pelvic region, pre-existing or previous ovarian cysts and others. Ovulation disorders could also be a result of the loss of eggs (oocytes) from the ovaries. This results from chromosomal defects, exposure to toxins and chemicals, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and autoimmune conditions.
What are the changes during the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is a complex procedure that involves various hormonal changes. The hormones involved in the procedure include – luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as the female sexual hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Primarily there are three phases to a menstrual cycle – follicular that is prior to the release of the egg, the ovulatory which includes the release of the egg, and luteal phase which is the phase after the release of the egg.
The follicular phase starts on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation, which occurs around the 10th day of the cycle. Usually, only one follicle will mature into an egg while the others die.
Following the release of the egg, the developing follicle causes a rise in the level of oestrogen. The egg is funnelled into the fallopian tube, with life span of the typical egg being around 24 hours. During ovulation, the egg bursts from its follicle, but the ruptured follicle stays on the surface of the ovary. The ovulation phase is the only time during your menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant.
Following the release of the egg the developing follicle causes a rise in the level of oestrogen. The egg is funnelled into the fallopian tube with a life span of the typical egg being around 24 hours. During ovulation, the egg bursts from its follicle, but the ruptured follicle stays on the surface of the ovary. The ovulation phase is the only time during your menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant.
If the individual doesn’t get pregnant, the body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin. During this phase, the female may experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
How are ovulations problems diagnosed?
Each woman’s menstrual cycle is different, and therefore the ovulation problems experienced by them may be just as different. Some women get their period at the same time each month. Others are more irregular. Some women bleed more heavily or for a longer number of days than others. The common methods of diagnosing ovulation problems include – understanding the history of the menstrual cycles, general health history, blood & urine sample tests, and possible ultrasonography.
