Common Causes
Why Is My Period Late: 8 Possible Reasons
- Stress. Stress can throw off your hormones, change your daily routine, and even affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating your period — your hypothalamus.
- Low body weight. Women with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, may experience missed periods. ...
- Obesity. ...
Related Conditions
The most common cause is pregnancy. However, amenorrhea may also be caused by various lifestyle factors, including body weight and exercise levels. In some cases, hormonal imbalances or problems with the reproductive organs might be the cause.
What are the reasons to miss a period?
There are several possible causes of delayed or missing periods:
- stress
- low or high body weight
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- hormonal contraceptives
- chronic conditions such as diabetes or celiac disease
- thyroid issues
- menopause
- pregnancy
What can cause no period?
Then it’s likely the reason you have no period for 2 months white discharge. During breastfeeding, prolactin hormone that increases breast milk production prevents ovulation from occurring naturally. If ovulation does not occur, then you will not have period.
What could cause a missed period?
What causes no period for 2 months white discharge?
What causes menstrual irregularities?
Causes of absent menstruation 1 Natural causes most likely to cause amenorrhea include pregnancy, breast-feeding, and menopause. 2 Lifestyle factors may include excessive exercise and stress. Also, having too little body fat or too much body fat may also delay or stop menstruation. 3 Hormonal imbalances may cause amenorrhea. They are usually triggered by tumors on the pituitary gland or the thyroid gland. Low estrogen levels or high testosterone levels can also cause them. 4 Genetic disorders or chromosomal disorders, such as Turner syndrome and Sawyer syndrome, can sometimes cause late menstruation. 5 Medications can cause amenorrhea in some women. 6 Antipsychotics and antidepressants are often involved. 7 Chemotherapy drugs and medications that treat high blood pressure can cause problems with menstruation as well. 8 Suddenly stopping birth control pills may also lead to several months of absent periods before the cycle returns to normal. 9 Physical defects such as structural problems in the female reproductive organs might be responsible for absent or delayed menstruation. 10 These issues can result from birth defects, tumors, or infections that occurred in the womb or shortly after birth. 11 In rare cases, missed periods could be a symptom of Asherman’s syndrome. This occurs due to scarring in the uterus after surgery, which can prevent menstruation.
What does it mean when a woman doesn't have her period?
Absent menstruation, or amenorrhea, is the absence of menstrual bleeding. It happens when a girl hasn’t had her first menstrual period by age 16. It also occurs then a woman fails to menstruate for 3 to 6 months. Amenorrhea can happen for many reasons.
How to treat amenorrhea?
Treatment for amenorrhea varies depending on the underlying cause. Hormonal imbalances can be treated with supplemental or synthetic hormones, which can help normalize hormone levels.
What is secondary amenorrhea?
Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has stopped menstruating for at least three months. This is the more common form of amenorrhea.
What causes amenorrhea in women?
Natural causes most likely to cause amenorrhea include pregnancy, breast-feeding, and menopause. Lifestyle factors may include excessive exercise and stress.
What are the two types of amenorrhea?
The two types of amenorrhea are referred to as primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea is when a teenage girl has reached or passed the age of 16 and still hasn’t had her first period. Most girls begin menstruating between ages 9 and 18, but 12 is the average age. Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has stopped menstruating for ...
What causes late menstruation?
Genetic disorders or chromosomal disorders, such as Turner syndrome and Sawyer syndrome, can sometimes cause late menstruation. Medications can cause amenorrhea in some women. Antipsychotics and antidepressants are often involved.
Why does amenorrhea occur when taking birth control?
A study on the effect of antipsychotics on menstruation found that amenorrhea occurred because prolactin levels were imbalanced. Additionally, some birth control medications, such as an IUD, implant or shot, may cease your periods while on them.
What happens if you are stressed?
A little stress in your life is fine, but chronic stress can throw your body out of balance. Stress activates the hormone cortisol and pushes your body into survival mode. If you are experiencing prolonged stress, your body can induce amenorrhea and will prevent menstruation.
How many women have PCOs?
Little is known about what causes this disease, but about five million women in the United States may be affected by PCOS. Like thyroid dysfunction, PCOS can cause a hormonal imbalance in your body, causing missed periods.
How to lower estrogen levels in women?
Increased exercise. Working exercise into your schedule on a daily basis is great, but excessive exercising could lead to lower levels of estrogen, which is the hormone that regulates the female reproductive process.
What are the health problems associated with irregular menstruation?
Common health problems linked to weight and irregular menstruation include eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and uncontrolled diabetes.
Is it normal to not have periods after a baby is born?
Your period may not make an appearance after your baby is born, but don’t be alarmed! If you are breastfeeding your little one, a lack of periods is completely normal. Referred to as lactational amenorrhea, this is a phase that disrupts the rhythm of your menstrual cycle.
Is it normal to go without a period?
With the exception of missing your period while on some contraceptives, it is not normal to go without a period for several months and can be harmful to your health.
What part of the brain controls hormones that keep your menstrual cycle regular?
Mental stress: Stress can temporarily change how the hypothalamus works. 4 It's the part of your brain that controls hormones that keep your menstrual cycle regular.
What happens when you have low body weight?
Low body weight: This can interrupt the hormonal functions in your body, halting ovulation.
What are the symptoms of amenorrhea?
2 . Some of the signs or symptoms you may experience in addition to the absence of menstruation include: Milky nipple discharge. Hair loss. Headache.
What to do if you miss your period?
The treatment your healthcare provider recommends depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, contraceptives (the pill) or other hormone therapies can help. In other cases, different drugs or even surgery will be the better choice. It all depends on the reason for missed periods.
What tests are needed for amenorrhea?
Because there are so many possible causes of amenorrhea, multiple tests may be required, including: 1 Pregnancy test 2 Thyroid function test 3 Ovary function test 4 Prolactin test 5 Male hormone test 6 Hormone challenge test 7 One of a variety of imaging tests such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Can medications cause periods to stop?
Some medications can cause menstrual periods to stop. These include:
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How long does it take for a woman to get pregnant after stopping contraception?
But not every woman will need that long. “With the exception of the injection, which can take up to a year to wear off, your cycle should return to normal almost straight away when you stop taking contraception,” says Guillebaud. “In fact, it could even make you more fertile. A 2002 studyfound that ex-pill-takers were more likely to fall pregnant in the six months after coming off the pill than those who’ve never used it.”
How many women in Australia skip their period?
Sixty-three per cent of women in Australia now use contraceptives to manage their menstrual cycle, with one in five of those choosing to skip periods for several months at a time. Women's Health investigates what happens what happens to your body when you skip your period.
What happens if you skip your period?
What Happens To Your Body When You Skip Your Period. The number of women who are defying the laws of nature and deciding when to have their periods – if at all – is on the rise. Sixty-three per cent of women in Australia now use contraceptives to manage their menstrual cycle, with one in five of those choosing to skip periods for several months ...
Can you take a pill pack every day?
And if you don’t want to get pregnant just yet, running your pill packs together can actually make it more effective as a contraceptive. “All the time you take the pill, your ovaries are asleep, but in the seven days you stop taking it, your ovaries start to wake up again and begin ovulating,” explains Dickson. Taking it every day keeps your ovaries on snooze for weeks, if not months. You’re also less likely to forget to restart a pill pack and fall pregnant. Bateson agrees, but points out it’s still OK to take the break if you want to. “Some women prefer to have that bleeding, they might find it reassuring – and that’s their choice.”
Can you bleed on a contraceptive pill?
There’s also a misconception that regular bleeds on the contraceptive pill confirm you’re not expecting. “You can’t rely on that – in the same way you can’t even if you’re not on the pill, as some women have periods when they’re pregnant,” says Guthrie. “The absence of your withdrawal bleed could be either that you’re pregnant, ...
Does taking a pill cause depression?
Then there were last year’s headlines claiming that the pill has psychological as well as physical effects, upping depression by 23 per cent. “In a small minority it can lead to depression or severe mood changes,” according to Guillebaud. “But depression is very common, and what the study found was that out of every 123 pill-takers with depression, only 23 could truly blame their contraceptive. The other 100 would have expected to be diagnosed anyway.” Interesting.
Can you take a pill together to get pregnant?
And if you don’t want to get pregnant just yet, running your pill packs together can actually make it more effective as a contraceptive. “All the time you take the pill, your ovaries are asleep, but in the seven days you stop taking it, your ovaries start to wake up again and begin ovulating,” explains Dickson.
What are the functions of the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland regulates many metabolic and hormonal functions, including body temperature, heart rate, menstrual cycle, and more. But nutritional deficiencies, stress, autoimmune diseases, and other things can disrupt how the gland functions. There are two different conditions that might trigger menstrual disturbances: underactive and overactive thyroid .
What is the cause of a period that is skipped?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder associated with hormonal imbalances. PCOS can cause the body to produce more of male androgen hormones, which can cause various issues. One of them is difficulty regulating the menstrual cycle, resulting in skipped, irregular, or late periods.
What are the symptoms of PCOs?
If you suspect you might have PCOS (common symptoms include excess body hair, male pattern baldness, irregular periods, and acne), it’s important to see a health care provider for consultation.
How long does it take to adjust to birth control?
Usually, this adjustment period lasts from a few weeks to several months. During this time, it’s common to skip a period, experience irregular periods, and have period symptoms without menstruation. Additionally, when you’re coming off birth control, you may experience similar effects.
How soon after conception can you test positive for pregnancy?
A pregnancy test can detect pregnancy as early as 10 days after conception. But there are things that can make a positive urine home pregnancy test inaccurate, and here are some of them:
What is the hook effect?
The “hook effect,” which is something that happens when there are so many hCG molecules in the urine that they prevent the test from working properly. They are simply washed off the test, so the result will be negative.
Why do I miss my period?
Low body weight and body mass index (BMI) can also cause a missed period with some symptoms.
Does a Missed Period for 2 Months Mean I'm Pregnant?
When you are pregnant, your menstrual periods will stop. However, a missed period doesn't always mean you're pregnant. If you're wondering whether you might be pregnant, there are a few points that point to a possible pregnancy. These include:
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Other symptoms include hair loss, shaky hands, weight loss or gain, fatigue, and brain fog ( memory loss or trouble thinking clearly).
How many days does a woman have her period?
On average, women have a period every 28 days give or take a few days. A menstrual cycle can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days. If you have longer cycles closer to 35 days, you may only have around 11 cycles in a year and if you have shorter cycles, you may have as many as 13. It is possible due to other reasons to have late periods, including:
Why does my period stop?
This is because stress can cause the hypothalamus to stop producing hormones associated with the menstrual cycle. 3. Obesity or Extreme Weight Loss.
What is the name of the disorder that prevents ovulation?
6. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Also known as PCOS, This hormonal disorder prevents ovulation and may even prevent a regular monthly period. Other symptoms of this disorder include elevated blood sugar, obesity in some women, excess body hair growth and infertility.
How do you know if you're pregnant?
The only way to truly know if you're pregnant is a positive pregnancy test and confirmation by a doctor. However, there are a few signs that may give clues to a possible pregnancy. If a missed period for 2 months is due to pregnancy, you'll start feeling the symptoms below around the four-week mark.
How long after a period can you have a period?
3. Call Your Doctor. If you don't have a period after two or three months, you need to call your doctor. Going longer than two months is abnormal and you will need to be evaluated. The doctor will diagnose the cause and you may need medical treatment.
Can you still get pregnant if you don’t have your period?
And because you ovulate before having your period, it is possible to become pregnant even if you haven’t had a period in a while. Here are some other factors that can affect fertility.
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland plays a key role in regulating the hormones controlling reproduction. A tumor on the pituitary gland interferes with its function, according to the Mayo Clinc, so it doesn’t prompt the ovaries to release the eggs. Sometimes periods may become irregular, but in some cases periods stop completely.
What is the thyroid gland responsible for?
The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating many metabolic functions in the body, such as heart rate, breathing, and the reproductive cycle. For that reason, if you’re ever in doubt about this gland’s health, get your thyroid checked out. An over-active thyroid produces high hormone levels, which can cause periods to become irregular or stop altogether. Other symptoms of an over-active thyroid include anxiety, hyperactivity, sensitivity to high temperatures, trembling, and hair loss.
How do contraceptives work?
Contraceptive pills work by raising hormone levels in the blood, which ‘trick’ the pituitary gland into stopping ovulation.
What happens if you don't have a balanced diet?
The body reacts in a similar way if you don’t provide it with a healthy balanced diet. Sometimes people combine a rigorous exercise program with a restricted diet in an effort to get ‘lean and clean’, which hits the reproductive system with a double whammy.
Why does PCOs cause hair growth?
PCOS is thought to be caused by a resistance to insulin. It causes the body to produce extra testosterone, which interferes with egg production and causes periods to become erratic or even cease altogether. PCOS also causes unusual hair growth and weight gain around the stomach.
What are the signs of infertility?
infertility. issues during pregnancy. Thyroid conditions are more common directly following pregnancy or menopause. 9. Stress. Light periods or spotting instead of a period is also a sign of excess stress. This stress can be physical, meaning: too much exercise, strict dieting, or severe illness.
What causes spotting in women?
breathing exercises. 10. Birth control. Hormones in different birth control methods, like the pill, patch, or shot, may cause spotting instead of a normal period. Estrogen helps to stabilize the lining in the uterus. It may shed irregularly if you’re on a method that’s low in this hormone.
What hormones are involved in menstrual cycle?
Menstrual periods are the result of a complicated balancing act between the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
What happens when a fertilized egg doesn't implant?
If a fertilized egg doesn’t implant into the uterus, hormone levels drop and signal the body to have a period.
What does PID mean in STI?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) PID may result when an STI goes untreated for a long period of time. It usually means that the infection has traveled from the vagina to the reproductive organs. Like other infections, it may cause irregular bleeding and spotting at the time of your expected period, and otherwise.
How early can you get a positive pregnancy test?
If you suspect you may be pregnant, try taking a home pregnancy test. You may get a positive result as early as four or five days before an expected period. To avoid a false negative, it’s wise to wait until you’ve missed your period.
How long does it take to get a full period?
You may also experience spotting with these methods. To get a full period, take off three to five days between packs of pills or rings.