Ovulation

The ovulation process is when the ovary releases a matured egg, which will survive for about 12 to 24 hours. This process repeats itself in about 28 days, and when the matured egg does not infuse with sperm, then comes menstruation. 

Causes of late Ovulation

The time between every ovulation may fluctuate, but there will still be a pattern and regularity. There is no cause for concern regarding your ovulation process when your next period arrives between 24 and 38 days later. The delay in menstruation can indicate late ovulation. One of the late ovulation symptoms is irregular menstruation which happens due to several reasons, including:

  • Stress

It can be one of the reasons for late ovulation reasons. The stress you experience can create an impact on your hypothalamus, the gland situated in the brain. This gland controls your mood, hunger, and ovulation by signaling the creation of the hormones needed for the process. Keeping your mind at peace is proportional to your ovulation and menstrual cycle.

  • Breastfeeding

During the period when you breastfeed, the body produces a high level of prolactin, which will have an impact on the ovulation cycle. Even though there is late ovulation, it does not mean that the feeding mother will not become pregnant during this phase. It is essential to take certain birth control measures, as the mother’s body will need some postpartum period to stabilize her health. 

These are temporary reasons which will lead to late ovulation. There are a few medical conditions, which can be the cause of late ovulation, including:

  • Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) 

PCOD is a condition where cysts develop on the ovaries and impact hormonal production, with an increase in the testosterone level, a male hormone. It will make it difficult for the ovaries to produce eggs and have an overall impact on the way the body functions and projects itself through symptoms like excessive facial hair, weight gain, acne, and pigmentation. 

  • Hyper/hypothyroidism

Hyper/ hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body produces lower or excessive levels of thyroid hormones. With lower or excessive production of thyroid hormones, the level of prolactin production increases, and thus the level of ovulating hormones fluctuates. All of this leads to difficulty in the production of eggs and the process of ovulation.

These conditions have to be looked upon and treated to regulate ovulation.

Ways to treat late ovulation

When you find a delay in your menstrual cycle and observe late ovulation, visit a gynecologist and determine the underlying cause of late ovulation in the cycle. If the reason is apparent, if you are stressed or you are breastfeeding, the delay in the ovulation will fall back eventually. If you are diagnosed with conditions such as PCOD and thyroid, ensure to take the measures and medications prescribed. Keep yourself in a better state of mind, and do not stress about the delay in ovulation. Lifestyle changes and monitoring the bodily changes will help regulate your hormone levels and thus make ovulation better. 

This blog hopes to bring awareness among people and is not a substitute for a doctor. Please visit a doctor, if you have late ovulation and irregular menstruation.