Irregular Periods Frustrate Pregnancy Plans
Treating, Defining Irregular Periods
UPDATED: 2:38 pm CST November 4, 2003
BALTIMORE -- Gynecologists say irregular periods are among the most common complaints among women trying to have a child.
Despite having irregular periods all her life, Marnie Plovan had her daughter, Melissa, almost 18 months ago."They would be irregular, light, heavy, painful, not painful. [It was] always a guessing game as to when [the periods were] going to come," Plovan said. But a bigger problem for Plovan was trying to get pregnant. It took four years and fertility drugs to get Melissa, and now she's trying again."We've been trying since May. Nothing. Or you don't get it at all, so you think you're pregnant but you're not," Plovan said.Dr. Michael Richman, a gynecologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said many women live with irregular cycles for years."The first thing I do when a patient comes is to determine why they're having abnormal periods, hormonal imbalance or a structural problem," Richman said.A hormonal problem can often be helped with hormones, like birth control pills. But a structural problem my require surgery, Richman said.But what is considered a normal period?"Most women think if they don't have a 28-day cycle, they're not normal. But that's not the case. Cycles can range from 21 days to 42 days. That can be normal," Richman said.Richman said a woman's body only needs to have a cycle three to four times a year.Meanwhile, Plovan continues her quest to get pregnant, and, with a little luck, Melissa will soon have a baby brother or sister.
Despite having irregular periods all her life, Marnie Plovan had her daughter, Melissa, almost 18 months ago."They would be irregular, light, heavy, painful, not painful. [It was] always a guessing game as to when [the periods were] going to come," Plovan said. But a bigger problem for Plovan was trying to get pregnant. It took four years and fertility drugs to get Melissa, and now she's trying again."We've been trying since May. Nothing. Or you don't get it at all, so you think you're pregnant but you're not," Plovan said.Dr. Michael Richman, a gynecologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said many women live with irregular cycles for years."The first thing I do when a patient comes is to determine why they're having abnormal periods, hormonal imbalance or a structural problem," Richman said.A hormonal problem can often be helped with hormones, like birth control pills. But a structural problem my require surgery, Richman said.But what is considered a normal period?"Most women think if they don't have a 28-day cycle, they're not normal. But that's not the case. Cycles can range from 21 days to 42 days. That can be normal," Richman said.Richman said a woman's body only needs to have a cycle three to four times a year.Meanwhile, Plovan continues her quest to get pregnant, and, with a little luck, Melissa will soon have a baby brother or sister. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
