Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat HappensCauses & Risk FactorsSymptomsTreatmentRisks of Not OvulatingNatural Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Happens
Causes & Risk Factors
Symptoms
Treatment
Risks of Not Ovulating
Natural Remedies
Anovulation, a common cause of infertility, occurs when the ovary does not release an egg during a menstrual cycle. In people who ovulate regularly, an egg is released every month, or most months. During an anovulatory cycle, you’re not ovulating, meaning no egg is released and pregnancy cannot take place.
Anovulation Instead of Ovulation Phase
During theovulation phase, a mature egg is released from anovaryinto a fallopian tube. Without the release of a mature egg, fertilization with sperm cannot occur, and pregnancy cannot result.
In people of reproductive age who have ovaries,ovulationoccurs in the middle of an average monthlymenstrual cycle. In a 28-day cycle, you’ll ovulate approximately 14 days before your period starts. Cycle lengths can vary significantly and still be considered “normal” or typical. The length of your cycle will impact ovulation timing.
Many people who menstruate regularly experience an occasional anovulatory cycle. It’s also possible to never ovulate or to ovulate in a very irregular way. Anovulation and irregular ovulation make it challenging to conceive without medical support.
Anovulation and FertilityConception cannot occur without ovulation. Hormones largely regulate ovulation. A hormonal imbalance can be a cause of both anovulation andinfertility.Your hormones may be fluctuating if you are in or enteringperimenopause—the time leading up tomenopause, when menstrual periods have ended for 12 consecutive months and menstruation ceases. This can also result in anovulation and reduced fertility.
Anovulation and Fertility
Conception cannot occur without ovulation. Hormones largely regulate ovulation. A hormonal imbalance can be a cause of both anovulation andinfertility.Your hormones may be fluctuating if you are in or enteringperimenopause—the time leading up tomenopause, when menstrual periods have ended for 12 consecutive months and menstruation ceases. This can also result in anovulation and reduced fertility.
Conception cannot occur without ovulation. Hormones largely regulate ovulation. A hormonal imbalance can be a cause of both anovulation andinfertility.
Your hormones may be fluctuating if you are in or enteringperimenopause—the time leading up tomenopause, when menstrual periods have ended for 12 consecutive months and menstruation ceases. This can also result in anovulation and reduced fertility.
Do You Still Get a Period?
If you have an anovulatory cycle, you may see heavy vaginal bleeding or light spotting that looks red, pink, or brown. It can be hard to tell the difference, but this blood is not technically aperiod (menstruation).
During a typical menstrual cycle, your ovaries produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that prepare your body for pregnancy. One of the jobs of these hormones is to prepare the uterine lining for a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg implants and adheres to the uterine wall, it becomes an embryo.
If conception does not occur, the uterine lining (endometrial tissue) will break down and shed. Menstrual blood includes this discarded tissue plus other components, such as blood.
Anovulatory bleeding (abnormal uterine bleeding)differs from menstruation. If you have an anovulatory cycle, you may notice light spotting or bleeding that is heavier than usual. Without hormonal regulation, your endometrium may shed in an erratic, unpatterned way. It may also build up over months and shed spontaneously, causing a heavy, long flow.
If you have chronic anovulation, it is very unlikely that you will have vaginal bleeding every month.
Causes and Risk Factors
A main cause of anovulation is hormonal fluctuations. This is very common in adolescents who are just starting to ovulate and menstruate. It’s also to be expected in people who are in perimenopause. Hormonal fluctuations and irregular periods are typical during these stages of the reproductive lifespan.
Hormonal disorders, such aspolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also cause irregular periods and anovulation.PCOS is a treatable and common cause of infertility. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it can run in families.
People with PCOS have excess hormone levels that make it difficult for the body to trigger ovulation. This can cause small cysts to form on the ovaries, which secret androgens, such as testosterone. Not every person with PCOS has cysts on their ovaries.
Many health conditions can interfere with hormonal balance and cause anovulation. They include:
Birth Control and Anovulation
How to Know You Are Not Ovulating
If your periods are irregular or nonexistent, you may be ovulating irregularly, or not at all. You can try using anat-home ovulation kit, to see if there is any evidence that ovulation is taking place.
Medical testing is probably the best way to determine whether you’re ovulating. This is particularly important if you’re trying to conceive and having trouble doing so. A gynecologist or another specialist, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, can order blood tests that check your hormone levels and thyroid levels.
Other tests, such as an ultrasound, may also be done to check your ovaries for cysts, which might indicate PCOS.
Do You Need to Treat Anovulation?
The need for treatment will depend upon the underlying cause. If you were assigned female at birth and are of reproductive age but don’t get a period, talking to your healthcare provider may make sense.
Anovulation can be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such asdiabetesor thyroid disease, which can cause health complications.These conditions should be treated to optimize health.
If you wish to get pregnant, ovulation induction may be needed to eliminate anovulation and increase your chances. This may be done with medications likeclomiphene citrate.
Not every person who takes Clomid finds it to be effective. If it isn’t effective, other medications may be recommended either alone or in addition to procedures, likeintrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Some causes of anovulation, such as perimenopause, do not require treatment unless you have accompanying symptoms, such ashot flashes and night sweats, that you wish to treat.
Chronic anovulation could increase your risk for certain types of cancer, such asendometrial cancer, which affects the lining of the uterus.Of course, not everyone who has irregular periods or no periods at all will get this or any other type of cancer. If you’re concerned, talk to a healthcare provider about proactive steps you can take to eliminate or reduce this risk.
Reasons to Consider Medication
It’s also very important to know why ovulation is not taking place. Other symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, or changes in weight, often accompany anovulation. Thyroid medication or other types of drugs may help treat the root cause of these issues.
Natural Anovulation Remedies
A review of eight studies of acupuncture for PCOS showed the studies were of low quality, and the evidence is weak. Still, the review did not rule out that acupuncture may help balance hormones, increase ovulation rates, and reduce stress.
Lifestyle habits may also help alleviate anovulation in some instances:
Summary
Chronic anovulation impairs fertility. If you wish to get pregnant, lifestyle changes or medical support can be helpful.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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