Irregular cycles can be frustrating. Maybe you're caught without a tampon or pad, or you have cramps during an event you were sure you wouldn't. Yet irregular cycles, when they occur often, aren't just annoying — they can affect your fertility, too. 

What It Is   Why You Might Have Them  Boosting Your Fertility

What Is an Irregular Cycle?

Irregular cycles are characterized by missed, delayed, or erratic periods, or abnormal bleeding patterns.

30% of women have irregular cycles (either short, long, or inconsistent).

Irregular cycles can vary from month to month. Some cycles may be long while others may be very short. Women whose cycles fluctuate greatly from month to month are more likely to experience obstacles in their fertility than women whose cycles are typically long or short.

Why Do I Have Irregular Cycles?

Irregular cycles could be a sign of thyroid gland irregularities, elevated hormone levels such as prolactin, androgens, PCOS, or diminished ovarian reserve.

>>RELATED: PCOS and Understanding Our Cycles

Short cycles can be a sign of hormonal imbalances, reduced fertility, approach of menopause, or ovaries with fewer eggs. Longer cycles can indicate hormonal imbalances, lack of ovulation, other fertility issues, or increased risk of miscarriage.

Boosting Your Fertility With an Irregular Cycle

Irregular cycles can make it more difficult to become pregnant because you're insure of when you're ovulating. To boost your fertility, you can:

• Increase your frequency of sex
• Use medication to regulate your cycle
• Reduce stress to regulate your cycle
• Track and predict your ovulation

Oova's at-home test allows you to measure your exact hormone levels to learn if and when you ovulate each cycle. Oova is the only fertility tool that tracks, predicts, and confirms ovulation with lab-grade accuracy in the comfort of your home.