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Irregular Periods Could Signal Fertility Disorder

Primary ovarian deficiency affects 1 in 100 women under 40

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2010 3:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – Women with irregular periods usually blame stress or other lifestyle factors, and often use hormonal birth control to make their cycle regular. But an irregular period could signal something serious: primary ovarian insufficiency, characterized by a lack of reproductive hormones. The condition affects 1 in 100 women by age 40, and it greatly reduces fertility, NPR reports.

Birth control pills can be a dangerous deception to sufferers of POI, because the external hormones regularize periods. After starting on the Pill, a woman may think, "'Oh, it looks like things are fine now, because my periods are coming,'" said a POI researcher. "But, in fact, their ovaries aren't supplying the hormones to make that happen, so it's masking the fact that their ovaries aren't working."

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A sperm and an egg are seen in a microscope image. (Wikimedia Commons)

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The menstrual cycle is just seen more as a nuisance by many women. But actually, when periods are regular it's the sign that the ovaries and the whole endocrine system related to reproduction is working the way it should.
- Lawrence Nelson, gynecologist

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

cognitivefilter

May 6, 2010 5:45 PM CDT

does birth control have an effect on this or not--i'm unclear

HappyHabenero

May 4, 2010 8:36 AM CDT

similiar issue with "hypoglycemics"...the pancreas is slow to respond to elevated glucose levels, then when it does, it overreacts....and later in life they have a high tendency to become diabetic...so it makes sense that if the regulatory mechanisms involved in ovulation, and subsequent menses are erratic, fertility issues will be of an issue more frequently in that group...old news indeed...as sally posted

sallythedoctor

May 4, 2010 1:40 AM CDT

None of this is news. There are plenty of other ovarian disorders that cause irregular periods and fertility problems. PCOS is the most common one.

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Irregular Periods Could Signal Fertility Disorder

Primary ovarian deficiency affects 1 in 100 women under 40

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

fertility • birth control • birth control pill • menstruation • primary ovarian insufficiency • ovaries

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More Newser Stories

Women Overrate the Pill, Condoms

Many don't realize they're usually not as effective as IUDs, implants: study

Hey, Men: Contraception Is Your Fight, Too

This is not just a women's issue: Glenn W. Smith and James Moore

Make Birth Control Over the Counter

The pill is as safe as everything else in the drug store: Virginia Postrel

Human Stem Cells Can Make Egg Cells

Discovery could lead to major fertility advances, researchers say

New Hampshire GOP Moves to Alter Birth Control Law

It has been in place for 12 years without controversy

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