Lack of ovulation - causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
The absence of ovulation in a menstrual cycle means that no egg cell has been released from the ovary. For women who are trying for a baby, this means that they have no chance of getting pregnant in a given cycle. If you are trying for a baby but suspect that you are not ovulating, come to Invimed for a consultation with cycle monitoring.
When does the absence of ovulation occur?
Most women's cycles are ovulatory cycles and ovulation occurs about 14 days before the start of the next cycle (the first day of the cycle is the first day of menstrual bleeding).
Ovulation-free cycles are a common phenomenon in pubescent girls (in the first years of menstruation, up to half of their cycles are without ovulation) and in women in the so-called premenopause (the stage before menopause).
Cycles without ovulation in women of childbearing age generally occur in the course of specific medical conditions, for example hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). They can also occur in healthy women, once or twice a year.
If you are trying for a baby and suspect you have an abnormal or absent ovulation come to Invimed for a consultation with cycle monitoring or for an initial infertility consultation.
Make an appointment for a consultation with cycle monitoring
If you are not yet an Invimed patient and want to be sure of your ovulation date, make an appointment for a consultation with cycle monitoring at the Invimed clinic of your choice. Our gynaecologist will help you to accurately determine the day on which your chances of conceiving are the best.
Lack of ovulation and period
Regular menstruation is, in popular opinion, one of the key signs of a woman's good health, and one should only be concerned when bleeding occurs too infrequently or too often. This statement is true to some extent, as menstrual irregularities are a worrying sign and a gynaecologist should be consulted. However, it is worth realising that regularity of bleeding is not a 100 per cent guarantee of health. Moreover, the mere the appearance of menstruation does not mean that ovulation has occurred during the cycle in questionand the woman has a chance of becoming pregnant.
A situation in which there is a lack of ovulation and menstruation is not very objectionable can last for months or even years - as a rule, it is only after a period of unsuccessful efforts to have a baby that women begin to suspect that their reproductive system is not functioning properly.
Lack of ovulation - causes
Lack of ovulation is most often the result of hormonal disorders due to abnormalities in the organs that control the menstrual cycle, namely the ovaries, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Among the conditions responsible for non-ovulatory cycles are:
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polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);
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thyroid dysfunction;
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tumours and other diseases of the pituitary gland;
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fibroids, cysts and tumours in the ovaries;
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hyperprolactinaemia;
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premature cessation of ovarian function;
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excessively high concentrations of male sex hormones (e.g. in the course of adrenal disorders).
It is often the case that the lack of ovulation in the menstrual cycle is due to abnormal body weight - both underweight and overweight adversely affect ovulation. Prolonged stress, excessive physical exertion, poor mental health (depression, neurosis), the use of contraceptives and certain psychotropic, antiemetic or antihistamine drugs are also significant.
How do you recognise the absence of ovulation?
If you want to recognise the lack of ovulation yourself, observe your vaginal mucus and measure your body temperature. If you already have hormone test results, you can use the e-ovulation programme. If you want to know the answer quickly, make an appointment for a consultation with cycle monitoring just before your expected ovulation.
Absence of ovulation - symptoms
The way in which ovulatory disorders manifest themselves can vary from woman to woman, for example some women have normal periods, while others have very heavy or extremely scanty monthly genital bleeding.
Ovulatory cycles are often indicated by the absence of specific symptoms, typical of the various phases of the cycle, such as lower abdominal pain during ovulation, stretchy and clear mucus during fertile days, and a rise in body temperature accompanying ovulation. Irregular cycles are also a worrying sign.
In addition to the symptoms typical of ovulation disorders, women may also experience other symptoms resulting from conditions responsible for the lack of ovulation, e.g. patients with PCOS develop excessive body hair, acne lesions or obesity.
If non-ovulatory cycles recur monthly, after a certain period of time, they can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, lipid disorders, hypertension or hyperinsulinaemia.
Lack of ovulation - treatment
The basis for successful treatment of ovulation-free cycles is the correct identification of the cause of the ovulation disorder. If the source of the problem is abnormal body weight or too intensive exercise, changes in lifestyle and returning to an appropriate weight are the first - and often the only necessary - step towards restoring ovulation. In the case of hormonal disorders, on the other hand, it is necessary to use individually selected medication to regulate the hormonal balance and thus the menstrual cycle.
What does the lack of ovulation mean for women planning a pregnancy?
Ovulation disorders are a serious problem for many couples who are trying to have a baby, so it is important that once a diagnosis is made, the woman takes treatment. The good news is that in about 90% patients, ovulation can be restored with the help of properly selected medication, so they have a good chance of becoming pregnant naturally. If drug treatment does not work, in many cases an IVF procedure offers a chance of having a baby.
Read about hormonal ovarian stimulation >>
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Medical consultation: Dr Tomasz Rokicki, gynaecologist-obstetrician and medical director of the Invimed clinic in Warsaw. He deals on a daily basis with guiding couples trying to have a child. He is an expert in reproductive medicine, one of the founders of the Invimed network of infertility clinics and the author of the e-ovulation.pl programme.
Lack of ovulation - causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment