Dr. Basil Noah: 25% of women who have delayed childbearing suffer from ovulation disorders.

Weight gain, ovarian cysts, and thyroid disorders reduce the chances of ovulation

Is there a difference between the fertile period and ovulation?

A question was answered by Dr. Basil Noah, fertility and In vitro fertilization (IVF) consultant at Health Plus Fertility Centers owned and operated by United Eastern Medical Services Group in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Basil says, absolutely, there is a difference, taking into consideration that the fertility that is being talked about here is the period during which the ova is capable of fertilization. The ovulation stage is the period during which the woman’s body releases the ova. The day of ovulation is usually in women is the 14th day from the beginning of The menstrual cycle, which is repeated on average every 28 days, bearing in mind that it may be more or less than that by a day or more.

He added “with the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the releasing of some hormones that help in the maturation of the ova increases, which ends approximately on the 14th day from the beginning of the cycle. Here the ovulation phase begins, in which the ovary releases the mature egg. This period is the peak of fertility. The egg remains valid for fertilization for 24 hours, and it is considered a Sufficient duration for pregnancy to occur in normal cases.

He explains that the fertile period we are talking about includes all the days in which the egg is able to fertilize. It also depends on the sperm, which lives from 72 to 96 hours. This means that a woman’s fertile period is five days, beginning four days before ovulation and 24 hours from the moment of ovulation. Peak fertility is on the day of ovulation and a day before.

He points out that there are factors that affect the ovulation process, which recurs monthly and an average of 12 times annually. These factors include overweight in women. It leads to the accumulation of fat and thus to a disorder in the balance of hormones. That leads to reduce chances of ovulation or ends up not occurring at all, which also happens, but by a different mechanism in the weight loss condition.

He adds: Thyroid disorders and excessive prolactin production lead to disturbances in the ovulation process, which delay childbearing.

He confirms that the most common cause of ovulation disorder and delayed childbearing is ovarian cysts. This is a result of hormonal disorders. This condition is often accompanied by an increase in weight, an increase in insulin resistance, and a defect in sugar metabolism, which increases the secretion of male hormones, which reduces the chances of ovulation. 20 to 25% of women who have delayed childbearing suffer from ovulation disorders, which reduces the chances of pregnancy.

He confirms that such disorders have successful treatments, which requires an evaluation of each case, determining the reasons behind these disorders or the lack of ovulation, and prescribing the appropriate treatment. Some cases require prescribing medications that stimulate the ovulation process to increase the chances of pregnancy.

Reducing weight helps in hormones regulating in females and males, Whether by following healthy nutritional programs and exercising regularly or by surgical intervention in the case of obesity. Reducing weight also helps in regulating the insulin hormone, which increases ovulation, which is essential to complete the pregnancy.