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?
How to know if you have a period?
What to do if you have a change in your period?
What age do you start menopause?
How long does it take for a period to be delayed?
How long does a woman's period last?
Can a hormonal pill cause a missed period?
Does obesity cause menstrual cycle?
See 4 more
About this website
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 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.
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:
What to do if your period suddenly becomes irregular?
If your periods suddenly become irregular, talk to your healthcare provider. Further diagnostic testing and/or medical interventions could be necessary .
Why does the endometrium grow?
During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium is exposed to hormones, like estrogen, which cause the lining to proliferate and thicken. When ovulation does not occur, the lining is not shed and is exposed to much higher concentrations of estrogen. This causes the endometrium to grow much thicker than normal.
What are the symptoms of PCOs?
PCOS is typically diagnosed when a woman has at least two of three characteristic symptoms: 1 High androgen levels 2 Irregular menstrual cycles 3 Ovarian cysts
What is the most common cause of ovulatory infertility?
Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS) affects 3% to 10% percent of women of childbearing ages. 1 PCOS is characterized by high levels of testosterone (all women have testosterone just like all men have estrogen) creating an imbalance of female sex hormones. PCOS is the most common cause of ovulatory infertility due to the hormone imbalance seen ...
Can you have periods if you have PCOs?
Generally, it's not good if you're not shedding your uterine lining each month. This can cause a build-up in the endometrial lining, increasing the risk of uterine cancer.
Can you take birth control every few months?
Keep in mind that this does not apply if you are taking a birth control pill, especially one designed to prevent you from getting your period more than once every few months. The pill keeps your hormone levels low and endometrial lining thin, dramatically reducing your risk of endometrial cancer.
Is irregular periods a symptom of PCOs?
Having irregular periods and no periods (amenorrhea) is a definite symptom of PCOS. 2 However, there are many things that can cause irregular periods, and PCOS is not the only one. Tetra Image / Getty Images.
Why don't girls get their periods?
Some girls, though, might not be getting their first periods for other reasons. Some don't get their periods because of hormone imbalances. Girls who are underweight or who have eating disorders may notice a delay in the start of their periods.
When do girls start their period?
Breast development is usually the first sign of puberty, but sometimes pubic hair comes first. Girls usually get their first periods between the ages of 8 and 15.
Can a girl get her period if she is athletic?
Girls who are very athletic might not get their periods until they stop exercising or competing so vigorously. Severe stress or some illnesses also can delay menstruation. It's also possible for a girl who has had sex to become pregnant before she gets her first period.
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.
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.
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.
When is a period normal?
Takeaway. A period (menstruation) is normal vaginal bleeding that is a natural part of a healthy monthly cycle for a person with a uterus and ovaries. Every month, in the years between puberty (typically age 11 to 14) and menopause (typically about age 51), your body readies itself for pregnancy.
How long does it take to bleed during your period?
Trusted Source. during their period. The time between periods (last day to first day) typically averages 28 days, with bleeding typically lasting around 4 to 5 days. However, people can experience longer time between periods, and fewer or more days of bleeding, and still have totally “regular” periods.
Why does the lining of the uterus get thicker?
The lining of your uterus gets thicker as preparation for nurturing a fertilized egg. An egg is released and is ready to be fertilized and settle in the lining of your uterus.
How much blood does a woman lose during her period?
The average person who menstruates loses about 2 to 3 tablespoons of blood. Trusted Source. during their period.
What happens if you don't have estrogen during pregnancy?
If pregnancy doesn’t occur, estrogen and progesterone levels fall, eventually hitting a level that tells your body to begin menstruation.
What happens if you don't get pregnant?
Every month that you don’t become pregnant, your body expels tissue that it no longer needs to nourish a fertilized egg. If you experience inconsistencies such as a change in your menstrual regularity, frequency, duration, or volume, talk with your doctor or gynecologist. Last medically reviewed on February 4, 2021.
How long does it take for birth control to stop your cycle?
Birth control pills. If you take daily birth control pills, after a year you’ll have about a 70 percent chance of suppressing your cycle.
Why is my period not painful?
One of the reasons your periods aren’t painful is lifestyle. You drink enough water, get enough sleep, eat enough of the right foods, and stay active enough that your body is less likely to fuss at you come that time of month
How long does a woman's menstrual cycle last?
This cycle lasts for 28 days (only 10% of women have a 28 day cycle in reality and 20% of women have irregular cycles). Menarche is when menstruation starts (majority 13 years old) and menopause is when it ends (majority in UK 51 years old). This bleeding lasts for 3 to 7 days, averaging to 5 days. The bleeding can range from 2 and a half teaspoo.
How long does a swollen uterus last?
This bleeding lasts for 3 to 7 days, averaging to 5 days. The bleeding can range from 2 and a half teaspoo. Continue Reading. Menstruation. According to textbooks: Menstruation is the shedding of the endometrial lining of the uterus, this blood leaves through the cervix and then the vagina.
Is PMS a part of menstruation?
PMS itself is also not a necessary part of menstruating. We talk about them together like they’re bonded and you can’t have one without the other, but that’s not true. While most people who menstruate will experience PMS, there is a portion who won’t.
Does period pain go away as you age?
In some cases, I’ve also heard that as you age, it’s possible that the pain would ease and disappear with time. Some girls who have just started ovulation might also not experience period pain.
Can PCOs cause menstrual cramps?
The most common I’ve seen is people thinking that their PCOS is just normal period pains, that everyone cramps like they can’ t tell if a bodily organ has ruptured. After that is PMDD, which is likely the cause of the “raging hormonal woman on
Is it bad to have periods without ovulation?
There is nothing unhealthy about it. Periods that happen in a cycle without ovulation are often painless.
How to know if you have a period?
Visit your doctor if you notice the following symptoms: 1 You’ve missed your period three or more times in a year. 2 You get a period more frequently than every 21 days. 3 You get a period less frequently than every 35 days. 4 Bleeding lasts for more than seven days. 5 Bleeding is heavier than normal. 6 You have severe pain during your period. 7 You have a fever. 8 You have postmenopausal bleeding (bleeding after you have entered menopause and not had a period for one year).
What to do if you have a change in your period?
If you’re experiencing a change in the pattern of your regular periods, make sure to contact your health care provider.
What age do you start menopause?
If symptoms of menopause start before the age of 40, it’s considered early perimenopause. Early perimenopause means that the supply of your eggs is declining. This can result in a missed period and eventually the end of menstruation.
How long does it take for a period to be delayed?
How much of a delay in periods is normal? You can calculate the length of your menstrual cycle by counting from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Typically, menstrual cycles range from 21 to 35 days. If your periods are within this range, then there’s probably no cause for concern.
How long does a woman's period last?
On average, most people get their periods every 28 days . But a healthy person’s menstrual cycle can last from 21 to 35 days. Apart from puberty, menopause, and pregnancy, a missed period may indicate a health issue.
Can a hormonal pill cause a missed period?
Other kinds of hormonal contraceptives that are injected or implanted can also cause missed periods. Chronic diseases: Certain chronic illnesses such as celiac disease and diabetes can also affect your period. Blood sugar changes can affect hormones, and poorly controlled diabetes can lead to irregular periods.
Does obesity cause menstrual cycle?
Obesity: Similarly to low body weight, obesity can also result in hormonal changes, leading to an absence of menstruation.
Possible Causes
Absence of or missed menstruation after normal menstrual cycle.
Risks and Complications
Treatment
Summary
- Most women experience irregular periods at some point in their life. You can consider your period irregular if it: 1. Comes more often, or more than once every 21 days 2. Comes less often, with 35 days or more between cycles 3. Varies greatly in length An absent period is easier to define: It just doesn't show up. Pregnancy is the most common cause of not having a period. Periods should r…
A Word from Verywell
- An occasional missed period is normal. However, not having a regular period can increase your risk of endometrial cancer.5 All females have some levels of androgens (male hormones like testosterone). During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium is exposed to hormones, like estrogen, which cause the lining to proliferate and thicken. When ovulation does not occur, the li…