Late ovulation - normal or pathological. Why does ovulation come late and what can this mean?

The menstrual cycle is a unique process inherent in the body of every woman by nature to maintain reproductive function. And ovulation, although the shortest, is quite important point in him. The time of its onset must be determined accessible ways to monitor and plan conception. Late ovulation often causes difficulties in planning pregnancy.

Late cell maturation

Ovulation in any female with varying cycle lengths is observed 14 days before bleeding(menses). The first part of the cycle has a different duration, but the second is normally a static value.

Symptoms and concerns

With an ideal cycle, which is considered to be 28 days, the follicle ruptures on the 14th day. With other indicators, exit on days 11-16 is possible. If ovulation occurs on days 17-18 or later, it is considered late. This phenomenon causes concern among the fair sex about conception and possible infertility.

But such a delay should not worry, since the extended first phase does not affect the exit of the cell and its fertilization, it just happens later. If there are no health problems and hormone production is normal, then late ripening is not considered a problem.

Pregnancy countdown

It should be remembered that in in this case counting pregnancy on the first day of menstruation is irrelevant. The degree of embryo development on ultrasound will be less than during counting, sometimes up to 2-3 weeks.

The only downside for a girl with late There is a rare maturation of cells: once every 35-40 days, and in some even once every 1.5-2 months.

Causes and diagnosis

It is necessary to control the cycles according to the calendar. If, based on the study, late ovulation is constantly observed, the reasons that caused it may be the following:

• constant stress;
• various gynecological diseases;
• hormonal imbalance;
• infectious diseases genitals.
• immediately after childbirth or miscarriage;
• the onset of menopause;
• climate change.

There are many reasons and they are all probable. To determine which of them is delaying the release of the germ cell, you need to consult a doctor in order to deal with the problem in a timely manner.

What to do if you ovulate late

First you need to learn how to determine ovulation, if the reasons late ovulation caused by disorders in the body, you must adhere to certain rules.

Ovulation detection

Ovulation can be detected with such maturation features in ways similar to those for any woman. Only the woman will receive a response later than expected:

• using tests (although a false result cannot be ruled out);
• by measuring basal temperature (the graph will show a decrease and then an increase in indicators with a shift towards the second phase, and not in the middle of the curve);
• examining saliva at home using devices such as microscopes (the fern leaf will be visible later than expected);
• taking a blood test for hormones;
• observing your secretions and others physiological changes;
• by performing an ultrasound as the most accurate and reliable method.

Cycle recovery

When late ovulation is established, the causes and symptoms confirming it, restoration of normal menstrual cycle and eventually the offensive favorable conception possible, subject to certain rules:

• listen to your gynecologist’s advice on treatment;
• avoid stress;
• lead healthy life;
• do not use dangerous and harmful substances.

conclusions

As you can see, late ovulation is not a problem if the doctor has not identified the reasons that caused it. With normal cell maturation at 17-18 days, it is also possible normal conception. However, you need to be able to correctly identify a given day in order to plan sexual intercourse for the desired effect.

Women who are planning a pregnancy are sensitive to their own ovulation and scrupulously calculate its date. But sometimes it happens that the middle of the cycle has already passed, and a couple more days, but the basal temperature chart has not changed and the ovulation test shows only one line. And only just before your period, the long-awaited signs suddenly appear.

This situation is called late ovulation. It can occur occasionally, for reasons unrelated to disease, but observed every month, this condition indicates pathology. Below we will analyze its main causes, as well as the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant during late ovulation and how to determine that conception has occurred.

Determination of late ovulation

The release of the egg (oocyte) from the follicle must occur strictly certain time. Usually this period is considered the middle of the cycle, that is, with a cycle of 25-26 days, “day X” is expected on the 12-13th day, but in fact the calculation is a little more complicated.

The menstrual cycle is divided into two: the period before ovulation ( follicular phase) and after it (luteal phase). In the first period, complex processes occur. First, the functional layer of the endometrium, which has not accepted the embryo, is rejected within three days, then wound surface begins to heal, and by day 5, the formation of a new endometrium begins to replace the rejected one. The synthesis of the “fresh” functional layer continues for 12-14 days (starting from the 5th day of the cycle).

The duration of this period is not strictly fixed, because the uterus needs not only to “grow” new cells, but also to give them the opportunity to grow to 8 mm, and also to provide them big amount tubular glands.

The duration is strictly defined only for the second phase of the cycle and is 14±1 days (that’s how long a person lives corpus luteum in anticipation of pregnancy). That is, to find out the day of oocyte maturation, you need from the first day of the expected menstrual bleeding subtract 13, maximum 14 days. And if this figure is less than 13 days, ovulation is considered late. That is, late ovulation with a 30-day cycle - when it occurred later than the 17th day from the first day of the expected menstruation. When the cycle is longer, for example, 35 days, then the release of an oocyte that occurred after 21-22 days can be called late.

Many women are interested in the question of when the latest ovulation may occur. The answer is difficult to calculate, because it depends on the duration of the cycle. So, if the cycle is within 30-35 days, then the release of the egg less often occurs later than 10-11 days before menstruation. That is, after the 25th day (if from one period to another - no more than 35 days) you should not wait for it. Most likely, this cycle is anovulatory, and if you are under 35 years old and anovulation happens 1-2 times a year, this normal situation, requiring no intervention.

If more than 35 days pass between menstruation, then such a cycle itself is already considered a sign of illness that requires examination, and it is very difficult to predict the release of an egg.

Hormonal support of the menstrual cycle

To understand why a doctor might prescribe a certain hormonal drug To normalize the cycle and eliminate late ovulation, we will consider what mechanisms control the period from one period to another.

Regulation of the menstrual cycle is carried out by a 5-level system:

1. The cerebral cortex and its structures such as the hippocampus, limbic system, and amygdala.
2. Hypothalamus. This is the body that “commanders” the entire endocrine system. He does this with the help of two types of hormones. The first are liberins, which stimulate the production of the necessary “subordinate” hormones (for example, folliberin gives the pituitary gland the command to produce follicle-stimulating hormone, and luliberin gives the “order” to synthesize luteinizing hormone). The second are statins, which inhibit the production of hormones by the underlying endocrine glands.
3. Pituitary. It is he who, at the command of the hypothalamus, produces FSH hormone, which activates the synthesis of estrogen, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers the production of progesterone.
4. Ovaries. Produce progesterone and estrogen. Depending on the balance of these hormones, the production of which is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary system, the phase and duration of the menstrual cycle depends.
5. Hormonal balance is also affected by organs that are sensitive to changes in the level of sex hormones. These are mammary glands adipose tissue, bones, hair follicles, as well as the uterus itself, vagina and fallopian tubes.

In the first phase of the cycle, the pituitary gland produces FSH and LH. The latter causes synthesis male hormones in the ovary, and FSH – the growth of follicles, the maturation of the egg in one or more of them. During the same period, the blood contains a small amount of progesterone. There must be a strictly defined amount, because both a decrease and an increase will negatively affect the onset of ovulation.

In addition to its effect on the follicles, FSH causes the conversion of androgens into estrogens. When the amount of estrogen reaches its maximum and because of this the amount of LH increases, after 12-24 hours the oocyte should leave the follicle. But if luteinizing hormone or androgens become higher than normal, ovulation does not occur.

After the oocyte is released into “free swimming,” LH decreases and progesterone levels increase, reaching its peak 6-8 days after the oocyte is released (days 20-22 of the 28-day cycle). These days, estrogen also increases, but not as much as in the first phase.

If the egg leaves the follicle late, on day 18 or later, this may be the result of one of the following situations:

• During the period before ovulation, estrogen “dominates” in the blood, to which the body cannot “oppose” anything. This prevents the uterus from preparing for pregnancy. If a woman wants to get pregnant, she is prescribed progesterone during late ovulation, in a course of 5-10 days from the second half of the cycle (usually from 15-16 to 25 days, but optimally - immediately after determining the release of the follicle, even if it happened late).
• The concentration of LH and androgens increases. In this case, contraceptives with an effect that suppresses androgen production help solve the problem.
• There is a deficiency of estrogen, which can be suspected from the fact that follicle growth during late ovulation is very slow. This is corrected by prescribing estradiol drugs in the first half of the cycle (usually from the 5th day). You cannot plan a pregnancy while taking synthetic estrogens.

Reasons for “late” ovulation

Late release of the egg can be caused by: long-term stress, change of climate and time zone, abortion or cancellation of OK. The reason is also a change in hormonal balance in the first year after childbirth if a woman is breastfeeding. Can cause menstrual irregularities such as late ovulation past illnesses, especially infectious (flu, etc.). Also, a shortening of the second period of the cycle will be characteristic of the upcoming one. Finally, sometimes such a deviation in the functioning of the reproductive system can be individual feature women.

Often the reasons for late ovulation are gynecological diseases, which are characterized by an increase in estrogen in the blood (some types), diseases with increased level male hormones (pathology of the adrenal cortex). Late ovulation in a 28-day cycle may be the only sign of low-grade inflammation of the uterus or fallopian tubes, ovarian cysts, as well as genital tract infections caused by chlamydia, trichomonas, and ureaplasma.

A similar symptom (displacement of the egg release cannot be called a disease) also occurs with various endocrine pathologies pituitary gland, hypothalamus, adrenal glands or ovaries. It also develops with obesity, which is also a disease, because adipose tissue is involved in the metabolism of hormones.

Symptoms

The following signs will tell you that an oocyte is still being released, albeit later than expected:

1. Change vaginal secretion: it becomes similar in viscosity to chicken protein, there may be streaks of blood in it, and all the mucus may come out colored brown or yellowish color. Implantation bleeding occurs in a similar way, occurring only after ovulation, a week later.
2. A pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, usually below the navel and on one side.
3. Enlargement and extreme sensitivity of the mammary glands: any touch causes discomfort or even pain.
4. Irritability, sudden changes mood, increased emotionality.
5. Increased sexual desire.

Pregnancy directly depends on a process such as the release of a mature egg from the follicle, which is fully prepared for fertilization. This process called ovulation, which usually occurs in the middle of the cycle. But sometimes the egg is delayed in maturation and release. The reasons for late ovulation may be different, but the main thing is that such shifts can make it difficult to conceive if a woman follows the ovulatory calendar. Why do such disturbances occur and how to eliminate them, can such a deviation be the norm, how to correctly determine the date of ovulation if it is delayed - we will tell you everything below.

Ovulation refers to the period when a mature female cell enters the abdominal space. It is difficult to say in advance exactly when day X will come, but approximately it falls approximately in the middle of the cycle. When it is 28 days old, the follicle matures on the 13-14th day, and when it is 36 days old, on the 18th day. If, with a 28-day cycle, maturation occurs on the 18th day or later, then late ovulation is suspected.

A similar condition occurs when various reasons. Moreover, it can be detected with equal probability in sick and relatively healthy patients. Doctors say that menstruation is closely related to ovulation; the longer the cell matures, the longer the cycle will be and the more abundant the periods will be. Late ovulation is extremely rare, but it still happens.

Why is ovulation delayed?

As already mentioned, quite a variety of reasons can affect late ovulation. Sometimes they are caused by female physiology and are considered the norm, but there are also pathological factors. The most common factors why ovulation is delayed are:

• Infectious pathologies of the reproductive system;
• Recent childbirth, induced termination of pregnancy or spontaneous abortion;
• Excessive stress of a psychological or physical nature, therefore, it is recommended to avoid such overloads during planning;
• Hormonal disorders in the body;
• Little weight. A deficiency of adipose tissue negatively affects estrogen production, causing a delay in the maturation and release of the female cell;
• Uncontrolled reception emergency contraceptives in past. Similar drugs contain loading doses hormones, which means that these drugs lead to hormonal imbalance, leading to various ovulatory disorders;
• Hard training and sports activities, strength training coupled with taking steroid medications.

In addition, factors such as menopause, unfavorable environmental conditions, etc. can provoke a delay in cell maturation.

Signs of delayed ovulation

Signs of late ovulation usually frighten patients because they begin to think that something is happening in the body. serious violations, or there is a certain pathology. Signs of late maturation of a female cell are closely related to the reasons for such a deviation. Since one of the common factors is stressful state or overwork, then similar states - characteristic features delayed arrival of ovulation. If a girl is planning to conceive, then it is better for her to refrain from worries, categorically avoid stressful environments and nervous overstrain. Unnecessarily frequent flights with shifts are not recommended climatic conditions and time zones, you need to avoid any overwork, not only moral, but also physical.

Hormonal imbalance or imbalance pituitary hormones also refers to late ovulatory manifestations. To clarify the ovulatory state in the first half of the cycle, the patient is recommended to undergo a hormone test. If a woman suffers from reproductive infectious lesions, then a delay in the ovulatory period is inevitable. In addition, against the background infectious processes various menstrual irregularities, there are often delays that make you think about pregnancy. That's why infectious pathologies genital area – characteristic signs and reasons for the late onset of the ovulatory phase.

Gynecological pathologies such as cystic processes, infections and absence of menstruation are also characteristic companions to the late arrival of ovulation. Girls should also expect ovulatory delays during the 3-month post-abortion period and a year postpartum period, as well as ladies over 40 years of age.

How to calculate ovulation if it is late

It is quite possible to calculate such a state yourself. For this they use basal measurements, a woman’s internal sensations and special ovulation tests. Each of the methods is simple in its own way, but requires compliance certain conditions so that the data obtained is as reliable and correct as possible.

To determine the exact date the onset of ovulation, professional medical assistance is required. They spend gynecological examination And laboratory research levels of pituitary hormones, as well as ultrasound monitoring. Similar procedures are also carried out over several cycles, which allows you to most accurately determine all the manifestations of late ovulation. Such measures are necessary only for those patients who are trying to get pregnant, because against the background of the late ovulatory period, various deviations can occur, which prevents conception.

How does late cell maturation affect pregnancy?

Having figured out what late onset of ovulation is, patients are often worried whether they will be able to conceive and give birth to a baby at similar condition. Yes, it is quite possible to get pregnant in such a clinical situation, but it is quite difficult. This condition is quite often associated with various difficulties in conceiving. Why does this happen? If this ovulatory shift occurs only in rare cycles against the background of completely harmless factors, then such a feature will not be an obstacle to conception. In the first or second cycle, pregnancy will indeed be impossible due to temporary hormonal imbalances, but by the third cycle the condition will stabilize and nothing will prevent pregnancy.

If late ovulation is a regular occurrence, then this is a more serious problem for pregnancy, but it is also completely solvable. For many women, a cycle of more than 30 days is considered normal, while the egg matures only on the 15th day or later. It's theirs physiological norm, in which there are no deviations, and reproductive system completely healthy. IN similar situation There will also be no problems with conception, the main thing is that the second, postovulatory phase is no shorter than 13-14 days.

If late ovulation is due to pathological disorders, then such factors can cause serious problems with the onset of pregnancy. This is usually observed with ovulatory delays due to gynecological ailments or serious hormonal imbalances, sexual infectious lesions And age characteristics like post-menopause. Miscarriages and abortions, flu and colds, irregular cycle- all this also affects ovulation and leads to problematic conception.

When ultrasound diagnostics will show conception with late ovulation

If the patient knows for sure that her follicle is growing and maturing longer than usual, and the ovulatory period occurs later, then this feature should be reported to her gynecologist, otherwise he may give inaccurate pregnancy dates, which will entail a variety of worries, worries, and sometimes unnecessary appointments , which you can completely do without. But a woman can definitely say about late ovulation only if the patient experienced a late onset from cycle to cycle. of this period on basal charts or when measured by ovulation tests.

• When such mothers are registered with the LCD, their card indicates two probable dates: one according to the date of their last menstruation, and the other according to the date of late ovulation.
• After the patient has passed ultrasound examination, it will be possible to accurately determine at what stage of pregnancy a reference point should be taken.

Ultrasound can see inside the uterus ovum at about 4 weeks of gestation. Before this time ultrasound diagnostics pointless. If the gynecologist has established approximate period according to the last menstruation, then you need to add 2-3 weeks to this period, then you can go for an ultrasound.

Sometimes women during pregnancy are prescribed maintenance treatment that is not necessary. The reason for this error is some features of late ovulation. For such patients, the gestation period is often incorrectly determined, so in the future the doctor discovers some delay in fetal development. Sometimes a pregnant woman is diagnosed misdiagnosis- anembryony only because real time pregnancy does not correspond to obstetrics.

How to restore a cycle

Before determining the need for treatment, the patient needs to be fully examined. There is no specific therapy to eliminate late ovulation, since this is not a pathology, but a consequence of certain processes in the body. Therefore, to eliminate it, you need to identify the cause of the deviations and neutralize it. Usually to therapeutic activities they start if a woman wants to conceive, but late ovulation prevents this. To do this, they resort to stimulating ovulatory processes with the help of medications, diet therapy and lifestyle correction.

To be brief, ovulation is the process of the release of a mature egg (ready for fertilization) from its follicle into the female abdominal cavity. This process happens every month for everyone. healthy women childbearing age. As a rule, the period between ovulations ranges from 21 to 30 days, and it occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

The classic, most standard value is 28 days. This value is taken as starting point for performing various calculations. If the average duration of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, then ovulation should occur on the 14th day. When, with such a length of the cycle, ovulation occurs after 18 days, then we can already say that this is late ovulation. However, it is not correct to assume any problems due to one delayed ovulation; it is necessary to carry out observations no less than within three consecutive menstrual cycles.

Causes of late ovulation

- overwork, stress, influence environment;
- diseases of the genital area, including infectious ones;
- hormonal imbalance;
- premenopausal period;
- consequences of artificial abortion
- postpartum period.

The effect of late ovulation on the likelihood of getting pregnant

Late ovulation is detected using ultrasound, tests of the level of the pituitary gland (it is taken during certain period) or using a regular ovulation test, which can be purchased at pharmacies. As a rule, such examinations are carried out during the period when it is planned to conceive a child. If any deviations are found, you mandatory will appoint complex therapy to fix the problem.

The greatest value on Earth is life, and the main mystery is its origin. Ovulation plays a leading role in this process. In a healthy woman, it happens unnoticed and they think about it only when they begin to plan for the arrival of a baby in the family. During this period, the expectant mother may hear from the doctor the unfamiliar term “late ovulation,” which is alarming, like everything new.

What is this – a normal variant or a pathology? Should you worry? And, most importantly, can late ovulation be an obstacle to motherhood?

Ovulation involves the release of a mature egg into the woman’s abdominal cavity. It is impossible to predict in advance exactly what day this will happen. Ovulation occurring in the middle of the menstrual cycle is considered normal. With a period of 28 days between menstruation, ripening occurs approximately on the 14th day. If the cycle lasts 34 days, this should happen on day 17.

We can say that a woman has late ovulation if, with a cycle of 28 days, the egg matures, for example, on the 18th day.

This delay is due to a number of factors. This happens both in absolutely healthy women due to physiological characteristics, and under the influence of diseases and various third-party influences. Late ovulation and menstruation are related. The longer the egg matures, the longer the cycle will be.

The main question that worries a woman who is planning to have a child is whether pregnancy is possible with late ovulation? Given that healthy body and with the help of minor medical correction, motherhood occurs. So pregnancy and late ovulation are not mutually exclusive.

What causes late ovulation?

The delay in egg maturation that occurs during late ovulation depends on many factors. Sometimes it's caused physiological characteristics women and is considered a normal variant.

The most common causes of late ovulation:

1. Increased physical and psychological stress. It is advisable to avoid them during pregnancy planning.
2. Infectious diseases of the reproductive organs.
3. Hormonal changes in the body.
4. Abuse of funds emergency contraception in past.
5. Underweight in women. Lack of adipose tissue negatively affects estrogen production, which provokes late ovulation.
6. Increased strength loads, sports in combination with taking steroids.
7. Spontaneous and recent birth.

How to recognize a deviation?

If a woman suspects a cycle disorder, she should visit a doctor and get diagnosed. Exist various techniques determination of ovulation. Some can be used at home, while others are carried out in a medical facility.

The simplest method for calculating the maturation of an egg is to determine the basal temperature.

Measurement is taken mercury thermometer immediately after waking up. This must be done rectally, without getting out of bed. The obtained data is recorded to create a graph. Immediately before ovulation occurs basal temperature decreases sharply and increases the next day.

For getting reliable information measurements are carried out over a long period of time (from 3 months or more).

The next method is an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, which allows you to see the maturation of the follicle and ovulation. Diagnosis requires several ultrasound examinations carried out at intervals of 2-3 days.

You can also use home tests to determine ovulation. They are available at most major pharmacies. The principle of the test is based on the determination of luteinizing hormone in the urine, which appears a few days before ovulation.

Of the listed methods, the most accurate results gives an examination by a gynecologist with an ultrasound scan.

However, one-time observations cannot reliably judge the presence of late ovulation. Therefore, any method must be used over several menstrual cycles.

The relationship between pregnancy and late ovulation

To understand whether late ovulation is an obstacle to pregnancy, it is necessary to establish its causes. If this phenomenon is caused by health problems, then planning a child may be delayed, since they rarely go away on their own.

In most cases, treatment prescribed by a doctor helps establish regular cycle and the onset of a long-awaited pregnancy.

Even ovulation does not occur in the middle of the cycle, this does not mean a violation. It is important that it occurs approximately 2 weeks before menstruation. When these deadlines are shifted in one direction or another, it is worth thinking about. Problems with conceiving a baby arise if the duration of the second half of the cycle is always shorter than the first.

Pregnancy with late ovulation can occur almost before menstruation. Therefore, the terms determined by ultrasound and obstetrics may differ. This must be taken into account in order to calmly respond to the alleged developmental delay of the fetus.

HCG during late ovulation is lower than it should be at the corresponding obstetric period (counting from the first day of the last menstruation). There is no need to worry about this, but after pregnancy is detected, it is advisable to observe its growth over time.

Further, to the expectant mother you need to notify the doctor antenatal clinic about the characteristics of your menstrual cycle.

How to correct the cycle?

One of the drugs used to regulate the cycle is Duphaston.

The prescription of Duphaston for late ovulation is currently controversial. He has many opponents. For example, the product has not been produced in the UK since 2008. However, in many countries, late ovulation and Duphaston go hand in hand. It is prescribed to stimulate menstruation and regulate the cycle.

But the drug is still not recommended for those who want to get pregnant in as soon as possible. This is due to the need to use the product on a schedule. Even a single mistake in the timing of administration or dosage can lead to an effect opposite to the desired one. That is, instead of the long-awaited pregnancy, menstruation will come.

Some medical experts (Institute medical research and education of Essen in Germany) argue that the use of the drug Duphaston to eliminate late ovulation is not only not justified, but can also lead to its complete absence, delaying the onset of motherhood.

Sometimes the prescription of the drug is not confirmed by the results of the analysis, but is based only on the assumption of a lack of progesterone in the blood. If you have doubts about the competence of the doctor recommending Duphaston, you should consult other specialists on this issue. Easier to pass additional examination than to eliminate the consequences of illiterate and inept intervention in the body.

Except drug treatment and following the recommendations of the attending physician, the woman herself can take measures to conceive as quickly as possible.

To get pregnant faster, you need to:

• be active sex life with a permanent partner;
• observe the work and rest schedule, do not overwork;
• avoid increased psycho-emotional stress;
• adhere to a healthy diet;
• eliminate smoking and minimize alcohol consumption;

Replies