If you know you ovulate each month, especially if your cycle days are regular, then you will more easily be able to maximise your chances of conceiving by working out when you are most fertile. However, not all women have regular periods. That does not mean they will not be able to conceive, but there are some ovulation problems that can affect your chances…

  • Irregular cycles - irregular cycles make it very difficult to predict ovulation and to know when ovulation has taken place if you're not charting your primary fertility signs. Irregular cycles are also a symptom of PCOS (see below)
  • PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - a number of small cysts on the ovaries release chemicals which can affect the balance of hormones and so prevent ovulation. Click here for more about PCOS
  • Hypothyroidism - Low thyroid function can affect both men and women reproductively. For men it can lower the sperm count and in women it can impede ovulation or shorten the luteal phase. Once diagnosed the condition is usually treated relatively easily
  • Anorexia nervosa - Anorexics are highly likely to be clinically underweight and so unable to reach threshold levels of oestrogen to trigger ovulation