Do irregular periods mean I am infertile?
No, irregular periods do not mean you are infertile. Irregular means ovulation is unpredictable, not absent. Many women with scattered cycles conceive without help; it may simply take longer because the fertile window is harder to find.
That said, the causes behind irregularity, PCOS and thyroid conditions chief among them, are worth diagnosing before trying, since treating them often regularizes ovulation and smooths the path.
Under 35 and trying for a year without success, or over 35 and trying for six months, is the standard point to seek fertility assessment, sooner when cycles are very sparse.
Source: NHS, irregular periods
See a doctor promptly if
- No period for three months or more, when you are not pregnant and not on a method that stops bleeding
- Bleeding between periods, after sex, or any bleeding after the menopause
- Rapidly worsening hair growth, a deepening voice, or clitoral enlargement over months rather than years. This needs urgent assessment
- Very heavy bleeding after a long gap, with dizziness, breathlessness or a racing heart
- Excessive thirst, passing large amounts of urine, blurred vision or unintended weight loss
- Low mood that stops you functioning, or any thoughts of harming yourself
Try the cycle tracker30 seconds, free, nothing to installCycle day, the next one and the fertile window, kept on your own device.
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
For muscle aches and period pain
Heat works for cramps and sore muscles, without side effects. An electric pad beats a hot water bottle for steady, safe temperature.
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