Anovulation is the absence of ovulation.
Anovulation is the cause of infertility in about a third of couples attending infertility clinics.
Symptoms of anovulation
- Irregular menstruation.
- Excessive or light menstruation.
- Lack of menstruation.
- Lack of cervical mucus.
- Irregular basal body temperature (BBT)
Some of the important causes of anovulatory infertility.
- Extreme exercise.
- Extremely high stress levels.
- Hyperprolactinemia.
- Low body weight.
- Obesity.
- Perimenopause or low ovarian reserves.
- Premature ovarian failure.
- Thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroiditis
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine problem affecting women and the most common cause of anovulatory infertility.
Women who are underweight—as a result of illness, anorexia nervosa, or over exercise—also become amenorrhoeic.
Hyperprolactinaemia
Premature ovarian failure
Idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and Kallmann’s syndrome
Diagnosing anovulation
- Testing blood progesterone levels.
- Testing blood thyroid and prolactin levels.
- Ultrasound exam of the pelvic organs.
- Other tests may be recommended, such as testing the lining of the uterus or other blood tests, depending on the woman’s evaluation .
How to treat
If these cycles are related to an outside influence like nutrition or lifestyle, effective treatments will include regulating eating habits and moderating physical activities. Making changes to your weight (gaining or losing weight ) may also be enough to restart ovulation.
There are drugs designed to ripen the follicles, increase estrogen, and help the ovaries release an egg.
