Many women ask, “Can I get pregnant if my periods are regular, but I don’t know if I am ovulating or not?” There can be menstrual cycles in which you may not ovulate; these cycles mimic normal periods, but ovulation does not take place. These cycles are known as anovulatory cycles, in which the building up of the uterus lining, shedding of the uterus lining, and bleeding are caused by fluctuations in the estrogen hormone. If ovulation is taking place, you can get pregnant naturally.
What if you do not check if ovulation is happening?
If you do not check whether ovulation is happening or not, that does not mean there is no ovulation. Unless there is a reason for ovulation not to happen, ovulation takes place normally with every period in a woman’s body. The chances of getting pregnant without knowing or confirming if ovulation is happening are still high, because you do not know. If ovulation is not happening (anovulation) there are several reasons for it, the first reason for anovulation is imbalance of one or more hormones which are involved in ovulation like Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH).
Other hormones and glands that cause anovulation include: -
- High levels of androgen
- Pituitary gland dysfunction
- High prolactin levels
- Underactive thyroid gland
- Low levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Why do regular periods not always mean ovulation?
Regular periods do not always mean ovulation because your body can still build up and shed the uterine lining, which causes bleeding, even when the ovaries do not release an egg. These are called anovulatory cycles. A rise in estrogen levels builds up the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). When it grows thicker, it sheds due to fluctuations in estrogen, and bleeding happens just like in a regular cycle. This bleeding and shedding of the uterus often happens at a predictable time; most people think of it as a normal period and assume ovulation took place.
Can you get pregnant naturally if ovulation is not confirmed?
Getting pregnant does not depend on whether you are sure about ovulation; rather, it depends directly on ovulation. If you have not checked and ovulation is not happening (anovulation), then you cannot get pregnant naturally. If you have not checked and ovulation is happening every month, regularly or occasionally, you can get pregnant naturally. You can confirm if ovulation is happening or not using ovulation test kits and other kits and get treated for anovulation.
What are the signs that ovulation is happening?
There are some physical signs and symptoms that can indicate whether ovulation is taking place. The signs include: -
- Cervical discharge becomes thin, clear, and slippery, which facilitates the sperm to travel to the egg.
- A mild cramp, ache, or sharp twinge can be felt in the lower abdomen, on either side depending on which ovary is releasing an egg; this is also known as ovulation pain.
- Fluctuations in hormones can cause tenderness or swelling in the breasts.
- Sex drive increases during ovulation or just before ovulation takes place.
- When the follicle ruptures, a little spotting or bleeding can be observed.
- During ovulation, hormones fluctuate, which can cause abdominal swelling.
- Not all people, but some people may notice a sharper sense of smell, taste, or sight.
These are some of the physical signs of ovulation that can be observed in every female, which confirm ovulation. Other ways to check ovulation are by taking basal body temperature because during ovulation the resting body temperature drops slightly and then rises by 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit, or by using ovulation predictor kits (OPKs).
What can you do to improve the chance of getting pregnant?
If you want to get pregnant, there are certain things you can do, but the most important among them is timing your intercourse with the fertile window.
- Check your fertile window, which is 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation. These 5 days are the days you are most fertile.
- Have regular intercourse during these 5 days, which is during your fertile window.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in getting you pregnant. Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, take vitamins, protein, and healthy fats, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit drinking caffeine and stop drinking alcohol or smoking because they can hinder egg production, deteriorate egg quality, and reduce overall fertility.
- Try managing stress with yoga, meditation, and light exercise because stress can interfere with hormones that are helpful in ovulation.
- If you are experiencing anovulation, meet with a health care expert, share your problems, and get proper treatment; then you can try to get pregnant.
Ayurveda’s view on anovulation
According to Ayurveda, anovulation is a functional disturbance which is related to the imbalance of Vata and Kapha dosha, weak Agni (digestive fire), and Srotorodha (Blockage in the reproductive channels).
In Ayurveda, the root cause of anovulation is hormonal imbalance, stress, metabolic issues, PCOS/PCOD, and poor nutrition. Anovulation is similar to Artavakshaya (defective menstrual fluid) and Vandhyatava (Infertility).
To treat anovulation, Ayurveda focuses on clearing blockages, balancing hormones, and restoring ovulation through a multi-step approach. These steps include: -
Nidana Parivarjana
This means avoiding factors that may cause the issue, such as dietary, lifestyle, or environmental factors that imbalance Vata and Kapha dosha. These factors include excessive cold and processed foods, sedentary habits, and chronic stress.
Deepana and Pachana
In this step, the focus shifts to correcting the metabolism. Digestive herbs are used to clear metabolic toxins, improve tissue metabolism, and improve Agni. This method helps in conditions like PCOS/PCOD and insulin resistance.
Shodhana
Shodhana corresponds to purification therapies like Vamana, Virechana, or Basti. These procedures are done under expert supervision to clean the blocked channels of the body.
Shamana
These are therapies that calm the body and mind using herbal formulations (kashayam ), powders, or ghritas. These formulations aim to balance the endocrine-hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and nourish Artava.
Along with these procedures, Ayurveda aims to change some lifestyle habits and diet, including a warm, balanced, whole-food diet, regular light exercise to maintain a healthy weight, and stress-reduction practices like Yoga and meditation.
So you can get pregnant if ovulation is taking place and if it does not happen then you can track it and know through the lack of symptoms and get treated by an expert doctor if you are experiencing anovulation.
