30/05/2026
The female body is incredibly intelligent. Ovulation and regular periods rely on a careful balance of hormones, nutrition, body weight, and general wellbeing. When that balance is disrupted, your cycle is often one of the first things to change.
For example, women with very low body weight or inadequate nutritional intake may stop having periods altogether because they are no longer ovulating. In many ways, this is the body's way of recognising that it may not have the resources needed to support a pregnancy.
I also see menstrual cycles affected by significant weight changes, stress, and hormonal conditions such as thyroid dysfunction. The thyroid plays an important role in regulating many processes throughout the body, and when it isn't functioning properly, ovulation and fertility can be affected.
Because ovulation is essential for conception, changes to your cycle may be an important clue that something else is going on beneath the surface.
If your periods have become irregular, have changed significantly, or you've been struggling to conceive, it's important not to ignore these signs. Understanding the cause is often the first step towards improving your reproductive health and fertility.
