Problems with ovulation are one of the more common causes of infertility in women and, in the absence of any other obvious problem; your doctor will begin by investigating your menstrual cycle. Disruptions to ovulation can be minor and fixed easily, or may be more serious and require more complex treatment. It may be that your ovulation is just a little irregular, or that you ovulate only occasionally— oligoovulation —or that you do not ovulate at all— an ovulation. The effect on your fertility will depend on the cause and extent of the disruption (Michele C. Md Moore, Caroline M. De Md Costa, 2004).
Disruptions to the normal pattern of ovulation may be caused by an imbalance of the various reproductive hormones. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (see below) is the most common cause of this. Very occasionally, disruption can result from a lack of FSH produced by the pituitary gland due to a lack of Gn RH being released from the hypothalamus, a condition known as hypothalamic anovulation. Problems may also result from an increase in prolactin produced by the pituitary gland—a condition known as hyperprol actinaemia —or from a disruption of the hormones produced by the thyroid. These hormone imbalances can affect the normal development of the follicle and the maturation and release of the egg.
The most common symptom of ovulation problems is irregularities with your periods. Women who have no periods at all, amenorrhea, or periods longer than 35 days, oligomenorrhea, has an obvious ovulation problem. However, you may still have an ovulation problem if your periods are only sometimes irregular, or even if they are completely regular, although this is less common.
Ovulation induction
Depending on your particular circumstances, it may be possible to induce ovulation with drugs..............
