Dear Sugar,

I have an irregular period and I frequently skip up to two months at a time. It's been three months now and I know that I'm not pregnant.

I was wondering if girls like me have sex regularly, how am I supposed to know when I am ovulating if I am not bleeding? Am I at a higher risk of getting pregnant because I am irregular? Uncertain Olga

Dear Uncertain Olga,

Starting when your last menstrual cycle ends (that's your last day of bleeding), count to day 14 and that's when ovulation begins. It lasts for 2-3 days.

The problem here is that If you are skipping periods, there is no way to determine when you are ovulating after one cycle. My advice to you is to see a doctor. You are taking a high risk of getting pregnant if you are not using any birth control.

I am not sure how old you are, but past the first few years of puberty, your periods should regulate naturally. Irregular or abnormal ovulation and menstruation is called anovulation.

Anovulation can be treated with fertility drugs called Clomid and Serophene to stimulate ovulation when you are trying to conceive.

These drugs block the effects of estrogen throughout the body which leads to an increase in the production of luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) that bring about ovulation.

I've written a little bit about being "late" in a previous post titled, I'm 3 Weeks Late For My Period. Check it out and please call and make an appointment with your Gyno.