QuestionI'm concerned about my menstrual cycle after I had my daughter. I gave birth in July and didn't have a period until Nov. Then I didn't have one until Feb. and haven't had another one since Feb. I've taken many pregnancy tests and neg. My husband and I would like to get pregnant again and I am unsure of when that will ever be...
AnswerDear Sam,
It sounds like you have been experiencing cycle irregularity since the delivery. Often this is because your body has just not gotten your hormones regulated quite right again.
There are many various potential causes for irregularities in our cycles. They are:
-Significant weight gain or loss
-Excessive or strenuous exercise
-Poor nutrition (or a diet too high in carbohydrates)
-Smoking
-Drug use
-Excessive caffeine intake
-Excessive alcohol use (interfering with how the liver metabolizes estrogen and progesterone)
-Eating disorders
-Increased stress
-Polycystic ovarian syndrome/estrogen dominance
-Uterine abnormalities (fibroids/cysts/polyps/endometriosis)
-Hormonal imbalance related to perimenopause
-Medications
-Chemotherapy
-Thyroid dysfunction
-Recent childbirth, miscarriage, or D&C
-Breastfeeding
Often your doctor can run some blood tests to see if your hormones are back to normal levels again if this becomes an issue. But the recommended time between pregnancies is typically 18 months to two years. Researchers found that infants born to women who conceived less than six months after giving birth had a 40% increased risk for being born prematurely and a 61% increased risk of low birth weight, compared with infants born to mothers who waited 18 months to two years between pregnancies.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
