Infertility due to irregular menstruation

Hanoi – A 26-year-old woman, married for one year without children, went for a check-up and discovered she was infertile due to ovulation disorders and irregular menstruation.

The patient reported irregular menstruation for two years, with periods occurring only every two to three months, but without pain or other unusual symptoms, so she didn't seek medical attention. A year after getting married, the couple went for a check-up due to difficulty conceiving. Test results showed infertility due to an ovulation disorder.

On October 16th, Dr. Phan Chi Thanh, from the Outpatient Department of the Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, stated that individuals with ovulation disorders are prone to infertility. In such cases, doctors need to conduct further examinations, especially of ovarian function and other indicators, to determine appropriate treatment. If medication is ineffective, doctors may recommend artificial insemination to conceive.

According to doctors, the causes of female infertility usually fall into three main groups: problems in the uterus, where the embryo implants and the fetus develops; damage to the fallopian tubes, such as inflammation or blockage, which prevents sperm from meeting the egg for successful fertilization; and problems with the ovaries, where the "golden egg" is stored for fertilization to form an embryo. Additionally, the menstrual cycle is a "mirror" reflecting a woman's reproductive health and future fertility.

A normal woman has one menstrual cycle each month, meaning one egg matures and is released. Therefore, in a year with 12 months, women with good reproductive health and regular periods will have 10-12 eggs.

Conversely, women with ovulation disorders, who only have periods every two to three months, or even every six months or not at all, will experience a decrease in the number of mature eggs released. In many cases, only one or two eggs mature in an entire year. At this point, the chances of pregnancy for patients with ovulation disorders are low.

"If conception occurs naturally, it can take many years due to the low number of mature eggs," the doctor said.

Furthermore, egg quality plays a crucial role in a woman's ability to conceive. In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome or ovulation disorders, the rate of abnormal oocytes and eggs is higher than in normal women. During in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the rate of abnormal embryos is also higher.

Menstrual disorders are abnormalities in the menstrual cycle, including the number of days of menstruation and the amount of menstrual blood compared to previous normal cycles. These can be symptoms of an underlying medical condition, possibly due to hormonal imbalances, physical damage to the female reproductive organs, or changes in living conditions and environment. This condition can still cause infertility if women suffer from certain gynecological diseases and do not receive timely treatment. Cases of menstrual disorders that cause infertility include polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, uterine fibroids, etc.

Therefore, women should be aware of certain abnormalities such as menstrual cycles longer than 35 days (oligomenorrhea) or shorter than 22 days (frequent menstruation), or even the absence of menstruation for 6 months or more (amenorrhea).

Abnormalities in the quantity and duration of menstruation include menorrhagia (menstrual bleeding exceeding 20 ml), oligomenorrhea (menstruation lasting less than two days with less than 20 ml of menstrual flow per cycle), and metrorrhagia (menstruation lasting more than 7 days).

Menstrual blood is usually dark red, has a slightly fishy smell, and does not clot. If menstrual blood contains blood clots or is bright red or pale pink, it is abnormal.

Doctors advise women to improve their diet, sleep, and work habits. They should exercise regularly, maintain a relaxed state of mind, and strive to work and live in a clean, healthy, and stress-free environment. They should also limit the use of stimulants such as alcohol, beer, and tobacco.

Women should proactively undergo regular gynecological checkups at reputable medical facilities to detect early abnormalities in the reproductive organs, hormonal disorders, or menstrual irregularities.

Thuy An

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