Common Causes
Some of the other signs or symptoms you may experience with missed periods include:
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Vision changes
- Excess facial hair
- Pelvic pain
- Acne
Related Conditions
If you are not using hormonal birth control and you are naturally not having your period, you may have a condition called amenorrhea. “Primary” amenorrhea refers to a someone age 15 or older who has not begun menstruating.
What happens if I don't get my period?
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 does it mean if you don't have your period?
One of the most common questions I hear from patients is whether or not it is safe to not have periods. Most women are so accustomed to their menstrual cycle that the notion of not having a monthly period feels strange and unnatural. However, the reality is that not having a period can be perfectly safe in certain situations.
What can cause no period?
Is not having a regular period bad for You?
Why am I not getting my period?
Causes of absent menstruation Natural causes most likely to cause amenorrhea include pregnancy, breast-feeding, and menopause. 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. Hormonal imbalances may cause amenorrhea.
Is it normal to miss a period and not be pregnant?
Menstrual irregularities, such as missed or late periods, occur in 14–25% of women of childbearing age. They can result from a range of conditions besides pregnancy, including hormonal imbalances, hormonal birth control, stress, weight loss, trauma, and certain health conditions.
When to worry if you don't get your period?
You should consult a doctor if: You have not had a period for three months and your periods were previously regular. You have not had a period for 6-9 months but your periods have always been infrequent. You could be pregnant.
How long can a period be late?
If you don't have any known condition affecting your menstrual cycle, your period should start within 21 to 35 days of your last period, depending on your normal cycle. Regular periods can vary. If your regular cycle is 28 days and you still have not had your period on day 29, your period is officially considered late.
What kind of infection stops period?
You contracted pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). As the infection spreads to the cells of the uterus, it can lead to problems with menstruation. The Office on Women's Health lists irregular menstrual cycles (like late periods) as one of the symptoms of PID.
Can stress delay your period?
Yep! Stress can affect your hormones in a way that changes your menstrual cycle. Other things can delay your period, too, like being sick, exercising a lot, having a low body weight, using a hormonal birth control method, or taking certain other medications.
Is it normal to miss your period for 1 month?
The good news is that it's actually very common to miss a period once or twice. And in most cases, it's nothing serious.
Why haven't I got my period in 2 months but Im not pregnant?
Some medical problems (such as hormone imbalances) and lifestyle changes (such as stress, too much exercise, or large amounts of weight loss or gain) can cause girls to miss their periods. Your doctor will be able to look into the cause of any possible problems.
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.
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 happens if you miss your period?
Late or missed periods may be an early sign. You may also experience hot flashes, night sweats, and trouble sleeping.
Why does my period come late?
Extreme increases or decreases in body fat can lead to a chaotic hormonal imbalance that causes your period to come late or stop entirely. In addition, severe calorie restriction affects the part of your brain that “talks” to your endocrine system, giving instructions for the production of reproductive hormones.
How long does it take to get your period back after you missed it?
Missing a period can be alarming, but there’s usually a simple explanation. Still, if your period hasn’t arrived for more than 40 days , it’s best to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to see what’s going on. Last medically reviewed on July 29, 2019.
How soon after your period should you take a pregnancy test?
You’re pregnant. If there’s a chance you may be pregnant and your cycles are typically regular, it may be time to take a pregnancy test. Try to do this about one week after your period was supposed to start. Taking a test too early can result in a false negative.
How long does it take for a pill to stop working?
Similarly, when you stop taking the pill, it can take a few months for your cycle to get back to normal. As your body returns to its baseline hormone levels, you may miss your period for a few months.
What happens if you lose weight and miss your period?
You’ve lost or gained weight. Severe changes in body weight can lead to a condition known as secondary amenorrhea, which means missing your period for three months or more. This is particularly common when your BMI undergoes a rapid change.
Why does Aunt Flo leave you hanging?
It’s normal miss a period once in a while. It could just be your body’s response to stress or changes in your eating or exercise habits. But sometimes, it can also be a sign of a larger issue. Here’s a look at 10 potential reasons why Aunt Flo might leave you hanging. 1.
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.
Why does my period stop?
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.
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 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 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.
What tests can help you determine if you have a period?
These diagnostic tests may include: Blood tests, which will allow your doctor to check hormone levels in your body. Prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone are all related to menstruation. Determining these levels can help your doctor determine or rule out the cause of your absent periods.
When should a girl start her period?
A teenage girl who hasn’t started her periods by at least age 16 should see a doctor. A trip to the doctor’s office is also necessary if she is age 14 or older and hasn’t experienced any signs of puberty yet. These changes would include the following in numbered order of appearance:
Why is my period not showing up?
There are a number of reasons why your period may not show up on time — or at all. Missed-period culprits are often as simple as a shift in your schedule or a bout of illness. However, since an irregular or skipped period can also indicate a more serious underlying medical condition, such as thyroid disease or another hormonal imbalance, ...
When do you stop having your period?
You may also skip a period at the end of your menstrual years as you approach menopause. During this time, it’s not unusual for your period to wax and wane, sometimes disappearing for months, until it stops completely (you’re technically in menopause when you’ve gone over 12 months without a menstrual period).
What is the most common medication that causes menstrual changes?
Probably the most common medication to cause menstrual changes is birth control . Hormonal contraceptives such as the pill or patch work by stopping the body from ovulating — and no ovulation means no period. But what about that monthly bleeding you have while using one of these methods? What you're really experiencing is withdrawal bleeding, a “fake” period caused by the drop in hormones when you take the placebo pills in your pack or go patch-free during the fourth week of your cycle.
How old is the average woman when she goes through menopause?
The average age of menopause is 51. Anywhere from two to eight years before that, a woman experiences what's known as perimenopause, a period when the body gradually produces less estrogen. During this time, it's not uncommon to experiences changes in your menstrual cycle — periods may come more or less frequently, be shorter or longer, or be lighter or heavier. But you'll also likely experience hot flashes and night sweats, sleeping difficulties, vaginal dryness and mood swings. If you're concerned about your symptoms, your doctor can check your hormone levels with a blood test.
What does it mean when you have a late period?
Sometimes a late period means exactly what you think: You're pregnant! Because many of the earliest pregnancy symptoms — including cramps, bloating, nausea, spotting, fatigue, breast tenderness and even food aversions — can be similar to what you may experience in the days before menstruation, it can be difficult to tell if your cycle is simply off by a few days or if you're pregnant .
How long before your period can you test for pregnancy?
Pregnancy tests are most reliable the day after your missed period, but some brands claim to be able to detect a pregnancy up to five days before your period is due.
What medications cause irregular periods?
Some other medications that can cause your period to be irregular include antidepressants, some antipsychotics, corticosteroids and chemotherapy drugs.
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 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.
Can medications cause periods to stop?
Some medications can cause menstrual periods to stop. These include:
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 ...
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.
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.”
Is it normal to have a period every 3 weeks?
The ‘period’ you have when you take a break from the oral contraceptive pill every three weeks isn’t 'natural'. “A withdrawal bleed occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds in response to the pill’s artificial hormones being taken away, while a period is the lining of the uterus responding to the changes in natural hormone levels ...
Can you take hormone break with a pill?
She adds that having a pill with a reduced-hormone break can be another option. “With the traditional seven-day hormone break, if women miss the first tablets in the first week, it puts them at risk of pregnancy. So it makes sense to reduce or get rid of that break in this case. Combined pills with shorter breaks of four or [fewer] days may also result in no withdrawal bleed because the lining of the uterus is thin, which can be beneficial.”
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, ...
What does it mean if you are spot when your meant to have your period?
Light period: The main reason for light periods is change in hormone levels. Causes for what seems to be a light period can include: thyroid problems, eating disorders, excessive exercise, initial periods for a girl, use of an intrauterine device, oral contraceptives, perimenopause ; implantation bleeding in early pregnancy which rarely occurs.
What does it mean when you spot a week after your period?
Pregnant: We are always suspicious of pregnancy when a woman of your age has a change in menses (period) please do a fist voided urine pregnancy test ( the first pee in the morning) for best, most accurate results.
What does it mean when you spot after your period?
Dribs & drabs: Often the period blood is still present in the vagina when the period has seemingly stopped. It will later come out with exertion, sexual activity or straining at the stool as 'spotting' or 'giblets'. If this continues have a gyn md check for other uterine , or cervical problems.
What does it mean when you spot when you're suppose to have your period?
Common complaint: Irregular periods are one of the most common problems obgyns treat. If this is one time problem it usually resolves on its own. If this is a recurring problem you should be evaluated. Infections ; hormonal changes can cause spotting. If there is a concern for pregnancy then do a home pregnancy test .
What does it mean when you spot a period but its not due for a while?
This could be: Breakthrough bleeding due to imbalance of Progesterone and estrogen.
Why do I miss my period?
Low body weight and body mass index (BMI) can also cause a missed period with some symptoms.
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.
Can medications cause periods?
There are certain medications that can also cause period symptoms, but no period. For instance, these medications affect hormone levels that can affect the menstrual cycle:
Does weight loss affect ovulation?
According to one study, a sharp decrease in weight, especially in combination with stress, can lead to impaired ovulation and menstrual dysfunctions.
Do long distance runners have periods?
This is especially true among long-distance runners. A 2010 study of 87 women found that frequent, intense workouts affect the menstrual cycle. Around 50 percent of the participants who did intense training had menstrual cycle issues: 30 percent of them had a period delay, and 11 out of 17 long-distance runners didn’t get periods at all , a condition called amenorrhea.
Can you miss your period if you are pregnant?
It’s important to remember that having period symptoms but no period doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pregnant. There are a variety of reasons you might miss a period or experience a delayed period. Taking a home pregnancy test about five days after you were expecting your period can help you figure out what’s going on, as can listening to your body and the clues it’s giving you. From there, you can do what’s best for you, your health, and your life.
Is family stress associated with menstrual disorders?
Zhou, Mei et al. “Work and family stress is associated with menstrual disorders but not with fibrocystic changes: cross-sectional findings in Chinese working women.” Journal of occupational health vol. 52,6 (2010): 361-6. doi:10.1539/joh.l10057
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.
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.
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:
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.
What to do if you miss your period for 2 months?
If you miss your period for 2 months in a row, you should connect with your doctor to see if everything is okay. You can also try a few things at home first: 1. Take a Pregnancy Test. After the first month passes, take a home pregnancy test when you are around two weeks late for your period.
How to tell if you are pregnant?
Signs of Early Pregnancy 1 Breast tenderness 2 Breast fullness (feeling like your bra is too tight) 3 Nausea 4 Lower abdominal bloating and fullness 5 Feeling short of breath with exercise 6 Sensitive to smells 7 Feeling tired all the time 8 Needing to urinate more often 9 Higher than normal body temperature 10 Dizziness 11 Food cravings 12 Constipation
