QuestionQUESTION: I am a healthy average weight 25 year old. I have never had any health concerns until this. In Sept. I had no period (no spotting, negative pregnancy test) Oct. my period came as normal. Then in Nov. I missed another period (again no spotting, negative test) Normal period in December, now this month (Jan.) i am 2 weeks late with no spotting and a negative test. I haven't been on the pill since high school and until now my periods have always been normal. Are these bi-monthly periods nothing to worry about or is it a sign of low fertility?
ANSWER: Hello Kate from the U.S.,
It is abnormal for you to be having a period every two weeks. It needs to be evaluated. There are many possible causes. Many of these causes can certainly affect your ability to get pregnant but does not indicate "low fertility." Fertility is dependent on many things. I would recommend that you see a gynecologist for an evaluation.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I am not having periods every two weeks, I am having them every two months.
AnswerHi Kate,
Sorry for my misunderstanding because of the term "bi-monthly" which is twice per month (bi-yearly is twice per year, etc.).
In any case, if you skip periods that is a sign that your ovaries are not functioning correctly and you probably have a hormonal imbalance as a result. This definitely would impair your fertility. The most common cause of irregular menstrual cycles is an ovarian disorder called PCO or polycystic ovarian disease. It has nothing to do with cysts but is an ovarian dysfunction disorder. My blog has a lot of information regarding this very common disorder.
As I said in my previous note, you need to undergo evaluation because there are other things that could cause this as well. This evaluation can be done with a Gynecologist or a Reproductive endocrinologist. Whether the cycle problem is every two weeks (my mistake) or every two months, the evaluation is still the same.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
