Can I Get Pregnant With Irregular Periods?

Getting Pregnant

Obie Editorial Team

When I stopped having periods I was absolutely thrilled I was finally pregnant. We’d been trying for a while with no luck, but when pregnancy tests all read negative I immediately visited my gynecologist who suggested I see a fertility specialist. During the next two years, I had only two periods and I got pregnant each time. You can get pregnant with irregular periods, but you have to be ready when the time is right and never stop trying.

When is the right time to get pregnant when you have irregular periods?

In my case, the right time was all the time. There is a connection between menstrual cycles and ovulation, but not every woman menstruates every time she ovulates, so you can get pregnant without having a period at all. In my case, we continued trying the entire time we faced irregular periods and we conceived immediately after I had a menstrual cycle each time. Not all women are as lucky, but sometimes trying is the best solution to winning the infertility battle. 

When should I see a doctor about irregular periods?

If you are trying to conceive, visit your gynecologist as soon as you notice irregular periods. Sometimes all it takes is a low-dose birth control pill to bring your menstrual cycle back on track and other times there is a simple solution to your irregular periods that your doctor can help you work through to increase your chances of conceiving. Keep track of your menstrual cycles for a few months before running off to the doctor unless there are other problems or symptoms that lead you to believe something serious is causing the problem. 

What life changes can I make to bring my period back into a more even cycle?

Some women find simply changing their diet and adding a bit of exercise solves the problem of irregular periods. Other lifestyle choices like smoking and alcohol consumption can also hinder fertility and may affect the menstrual cycle. On the opposite end of the spectrum is eating too little and exercising too much. Eating disorders and over-exercising are both associated with irregular menstrual cycles and complete cessation of periods altogether. 

Yes, you can conceive with irregular periods and you may be surprised to find out that some women have only a few periods a year and never have trouble conceiving.