Birth control often regulates your period, but women who take extended-cycle birth control pills like Seasonique, Seasonale, or Quartette won't experience menstruation on a typical day cycle. That's because these contraceptives work on a day cycle—meaning your period will come every three months. It's not a period the way you would think of in a woman who's not taking birth control because it's induced by medication and not by normal processes. Other types of hormonal birth control—like intrauterine devices IUDs and the Depo-Provera shot—can also cause irregular or late periods.
However, Dr. Patounakis cautions that no contraceptive is percent effective at preventing pregnancy, so if you don't get your period when expected, you might want to take a pregnancy test.
During a typical menstrual cycle, each ovary develops roughly five follicles, and those follicles compete to become the dominant one that releases a mature egg at ovulation. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS often have additional follicles, which makes this process take longer than usual.
No released egg means no period. Other PCOS symptoms include weight gain and increased levels of the testosterone-like hormone androgen, which can cause thick hair growth on the face and breasts. But even without these symptoms, someone can't rule out PCOS.
But it's important to note that each woman experiences stress differently, so its effect on the menstrual cycle is highly subjective, says Dr.
Moving across the country or dealing with a challenging work project could throw off one woman's period, but the same situation might have no effect on another woman.
Excessive weight loss is another reason for late periods. Vyas: "Severe weight loss and anorexia can shut down the hypothalamus's production of follicle stimulating hormone FSH and luteinizing hormone LH that regulate the ovaries. Gaining body weight can have a similar effect, especially when related to conditions like PCOS.
Women with PCOS may be extra sensitive to the numbers on the scale. The average American woman experiences menopause at 51, but before that, they go through a transitional period known as perimenopause. Luckily, there are effective treatments for thyroid disorders, so see an endocrinologist for a blood test if you think this might be an issue for you. 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. The decrease in periods is caused by a decrease in the estrogen hormone. About nine to 14 percent of women in the United States are affected by menstrual irregularities. 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.
Visit your physician if your missed periods persist. Media contact: Dee Dee Grays , Facebook 0 Tweet 0. You may also like. New kind of health care center opens in Bryan. Menopause is when you have reached the point in your life where you will no longer ovulate or menstruate. The average age of menopause is 51 years old. You may have light periods, infrequent periods, or amenorrhea when breastfeeding, particularly if breastfeeding provides your baby with all or almost all of their calories.
Many women believe that breastfeeding is a form of birth control, but it's not. Even if you don't have periods when you are breastfeeding, you can get pregnant. If you are not ready for another child, you should still use a contraceptive. If you think that you can't be pregnant because you have an IUD, there is a small chance that your missed period could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy can sometimes happen due to the shape of the IUD, and you may not test positive on a pregnancy test, either. Your healthcare provider can check for it with a pelvic examination or an ultrasound.
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include cramping in your lower abdomen, shoulder pain, weakness or dizziness, nausea, and breast tenderness.
Some women have missed periods, while others have vaginal bleeding or spotting. In addition to the use of an IUD, other factors that are associated with ectopic pregnancy include:. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition. Seek medical attention right away if you miss your period and think you might be at risk. Missing a period every once in a while is usually not cause for concern. That said, you should see a healthcare provider if you miss more than one period, or your missed period is accompanied by new or unusual symptoms.
Seek medical attention right away if you also experience any of the following:. There are many reasons for late periods, and while most are not cause for alarm, you do need an evaluation and treatment if you have completely missed more than one period. How your missed periods are treated depends on why you aren't having your period. The treatment can include lifestyle changes, such as diet or stress reduction, or may involve hormone replacement therapy.
Healthcare providers usually ask women when they had their last period. However, many women simply don't keep track of their period, and in some cases, they may be too busy to notice they missed a period at all. If this sounds like you, consider placing a red dot on period days in your calendar.
You can also download a "period tracker" app for your smartphone to make tracking your menstrual cycle much easier.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularity and menopause. BMC Womens Health. Berz K, Mccambridge T. Amenorrhea in the female athlete: What to do and when to worry. Pediatr Ann. Blood biomarker profiling and monitoring for high-performance physiology and nutrition: Current perspectives, limitations, and recommendations. Sports Medicine.
Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea—an update. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Evaluation and management of amenorrhea related to congenital sex hormonal disorders. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. Night shift among women: Is it associated with difficulty conceiving a first birth? Front Public Health. Medical complications of anorexia nervosa. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. Rosenfield RL. Clinical review: Adolescent anovulation: maturational mechanisms and implications.
Santoro N. Perimenopause: From research to practice. J Womens Health Larchmt. Mount Sinai. Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea--an update.
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