Discovering that you are pregnant is a thrilling experience that brings both excitement and joy. The most common indicator of pregnancy is a missed period, but what if your periods are irregular, to begin with. Let us discover all about irregular periods and when should you take a pregnancy test if you have irregular periods. Show
Menstruation, or periods as we know them, is a routine exercised by a female's body that anticipates a pregnancy every month, from menarche to menopause. Most women have a menstrual cycle that's 28 days long (though the range varies from 24 to 38 days). If the periods are less than 24 days or more than 38 days apart and the duration of the cycle keeps changing, they are termed irregular. Causes of Irregular PeriodsOther than pregnancy, various factors can lead to irregularity in periods. Irregular periods can cause a delay in pregnancy since ovulation may vary from month to month. Some common causes of irregular periods are: 1)Irregularity of periods is common during adolescence and perimenopause. 2)Uncontrolled diabetes 3)Stress 4)Eating disorders 5)Certain medications 6)Polycystic ovarian syndrome 7)Rigorous exercises 8)Change in sleeping schedules 9)Breastfeeding 10)General illnesses How to Plan Pregnancy with Irregular Periods?A woman gets pregnant when she has intercourse during her ovulation period. In the case of irregular periods, determining the period of ovulation gets tricky. But the good news is that a human sperm has a shelf life of five days once ejaculated into a female's body. So, the easiest way to get pregnant with irregular periods is to have regular unprotected sex throughout the month. When intercourse is performed every 2 or 3 days, the chances of the sperm missing the egg get minimal. How to Check Pregnancy with Irregular Periods?When a woman has a regular cycle, a missed period is the most important indicator that she might be pregnant. But in the case of irregular periods, this is unclear since you may be unsure if it is just delayed periods, or if you have missed a period. Most women who have irregular periods have various questions in their minds, such as - When to test pregnancy after sex? When to do a urine pregnancy test? How soon will a pregnancy test read positive? After how many days pregnancy can be confirmed by urine test? When to take a pregnancy test after missed period? Well, there are many signs that are present even in cases of pregnancy with irregular periods, which you must watch out for: 1)Implantation Bleeding or SpottingImplantation of the fertilized egg takes place 1 or 2 weeks after fertilization. It may be mistaken for a light period. The differentiating points are: * Implantation bleeding has no clots * It's very light * It's pink or brown, while bleeding during periods is reddish * It lasts only for 1 to 3 days. 2)Nausea or Morning SicknessHormonal changes result in low blood sugar levels in the morning leading to nausea, which might or might not be accompanied by vomiting. Though mornings are usually affected, such nausea can bother a pregnant woman any time of the day. 3)FatigueIncreased progesterone levels lead to changes in the body that prepares itself for the fertilized ovum. Those changes physically drain pregnant women. 4)Frequent urinationThis symptom stays throughout the pregnancy. 5)Mood Swings6)Swollen or tender breasts7)Headaches8)Backaches9)Cravings and aversions toward certain food itemsWhen to Take a Pregnancy Test with Irregular Periods?If you suspect that you are pregnant, even if you have irregular periods, you can count 36 days from the start of your last menstrual cycle or 4 weeks from the time you last had intercourse. At this time, your HCG levels will be high enough to be detected in a urine test if you are pregnant. Diagnosis of Pregnancy with Irregular PeriodsHome pregnancy test kits are usually accurate in ladies with regular periods. But in a lady with irregular periods, if she experiences signs of pregnancy or her periods get later than expected, the situation can get tricky. The kit will detect pregnancy as early as 28 days after the last intercourse as it detects the hCG levels in urine which start rising right after conception. If the test comes out negative and the signs and symptoms of pregnancy persist, the test should be repeated a few days later. If the test is still negative, you should see a doctor. When to See a Doctor for Pregnancy with Irregular Periods?If your home pregnancy test comes out negative even after experiencing pregnancy symptoms and an unusually delayed period, you should see a doctor for pregnancy. The doctor will conduct the following examinations to confirm the pregnancy: 1)Pelvic Examination 2)Urine examination in a laboratory 3)Blood Tests 4)Ultrasound scan 5)Heart Rate 6)Weight 7)Blood pressure 8)24 Hours urine analysis 9)Pap smear How to Determine Pregnancy Due Date with Irregular PeriodsIn the case of pregnancy with irregular periods, it can be very difficult to determine the due date of delivery using the LMP, i.e., Last Menstrual Period. In such circumstances, ultrasound plays a crucial role. An ultrasound scan can be done at any time after 6 weeks into the pregnancy. It studies the development of the embryo and hence helps calculate the gestational age. This further helps determine the exact due date of delivery. TreatmentIf pregnancy is confirmed in a lady with irregular periods, the normal protocol is followed as in the case of a lady with regular periods. 1) Cyclic hormonal treatment in case of ovarian insufficiency and PCOS. 2) Oral contraceptives are used to regularise the periods. 3) Treatment of other illnesses like Diabetes if they are the root cause. 4) Treatment of stress. 5) Regularising the sleep pattern. 6) Paying attention to and treatment of eating disorders 7) A breastfeeding mother will gradually get regular periods after weaning. SummaryIrregular periods are unpredictable and hence confuse a sexually active woman as to whether she is pregnant or not. A keen watch on the symptoms and timely medical intervention helps smoothen her journey. So, if you have irregular periods but have had an unusually delayed period and experience some other pregnancy symptoms, you can take a pregnancy test to find out if you are pregnant or not. References
Trending Articles tips for normal delivery | step by step instructions on how to change a diaper | severe back pain during pregnancy | disposable diapers vs cloth diapers Popular Articles sex positions for conceiving | how to deal with pregnancy stretch marks | when to start solid food for babies india | doppler scan pregnancy |
My periods are irregular when should i test for pregnancy
Copyright © 2024 nguoilontuoi Inc.
