Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:. You have answered all the questions.
Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home. Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can affect the menstrual cycle. A few examples are:. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital. There is no home treatment for missed or irregular periods.
But the following information may help you find the cause of your missed or irregular periods:. Do a home pregnancy test if you have had sex since your last period. If the result is positive, practice the following good health habits until you see your doctor:. If the home pregnancy test is negative but you continue to have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results. Practice good health habits until you see your doctor.
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. If you participate in endurance sports , you may miss periods or stop menstruating. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and keep track of your periods. Tell your doctor about any changes in your menstrual periods.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:.
Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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You are here Home » Missed or Irregular Periods. Topic Overview Most women have between 11 and 13 menstrual periods each year. If you are not pregnant, other causes of missed or irregular periods include: Excessive weight loss or gain. Although low body weight is a common cause of missed or irregular periods, obesity also can cause menstrual problems.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. For more information, see the topic Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa. Increased exercise. Missed periods are common in endurance athletes. Emotional stress. Medicines such as birth control methods, which may cause lighter, less frequent, more frequent, or skipped periods or no periods at all. Hormone problems. This may cause a change in the levels of the hormones that the body needs to support menstruation.
Illegal drug use. Problems with the pelvic organs , such as imperforate hymen , polycystic ovary syndrome , or Asherman's syndrome.
Many women do not resume regular periods until they have completed breastfeeding. Check Your Symptoms Have you missed any periods, or have your periods been irregular? Irregular means different than what is normal for you more or less often, longer or shorter, heavier or lighter.
How old are you? Less than 15 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Are you pregnant? Yes, you know that you're pregnant. No, you're not pregnant, or you're not sure if you're pregnant. Do you have symptoms of shock? Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy, like you are going to faint?
It's normal for some people to feel a little lightheaded when they first stand up. Both physical and psychological stress can cause a delayed period. But the level of stress capable of causing this effect is usually more severe than having a bad hair day. Missing one period while going through a very stressful situation is not uncommon. However, if you're under prolonged stress and miss more than one period, consider scheduling a visit with your healthcare provider.
If there is no other medical reason for your missed period, your healthcare provider may suggest counseling to help you cope with your situation. Once your stress is back to a manageable level, it may take a few months or more for your cycles to become regular again.
Extreme exercise can cause changes in pituitary hormones and thyroid hormones, which can impact ovulation and menstruation. Working out for one or two hours per day shouldn't affect your menstrual cycle. It takes hours upon hours of demanding exercise every day for these hormonal changes to occur. If you are planning on exercising that much, you may want to consult with a sports medicine healthcare provider.
Their job is to help your body support all of the physical demands that you are putting on it. This may include:. Chronic conditions that can affect your menstrual cycle include:. Certain conditions that are present at birth, such as Turner syndrome and androgen insensitivity , typically cause menstrual and fertility problems. These congenital conditions are often associated with amenorrhea. Acute illness, such as pneumonia , a heart attack, kidney failure, or meningitis, can result in rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or hormone dysfunction.
These conditions can also result in a missed period. Many illnesses and disorders can interfere with your cycle until they are treated. Once the underlying condition is resolved, it might take a few months before your period returns again. Changing schedules can throw off your body clock. If you frequently change work shifts from days to nights, or if your schedule is generally all over the place, your period can be fairly unpredictable.
A change in your schedule shouldn't cause you to completely miss your period, but it can cause your period to start earlier or later than expected. Your cycle can also change by a few days if you experience jet lag. Some medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, and some chemotherapy medications, may cause your period to be absent or delayed. Different types of contraceptives can affect your menstrual cycle in different ways. Some contraceptives are associated with heavy periods, some with light periods, and some with amenorrhea.
Being overweight, underweight, or experiencing drastic changes in weight all impact your cycle. Obesity influences estrogen and progesterone regulation and may even lead to issues with fertility. Very high body mass index BMI is associated with missed periods, and weight loss can help regulate the menstrual cycle for women who are obese. Being severely underweight interferes with regular menstrual cycles as well.
When the body lacks fat and other nutrients, it cannot produce hormones the way it should. Women who have anorexia very low caloric intake or who burn far more calories with exercise than what they consume may experience amenorrhea. Typically, weight gain will help your periods to return. Rapid weight changes due to illness, medication, or dietary changes may interfere with hormone production or release. In turn, this may cause you to miss one period or more.
A normal menstrual cycle lasts from 21 to 35 days in healthy women, but it can vary. This is especially true for young women who are just starting to get their periods, or for women who have not had periods for several years and are starting again. A young woman who has only had a few cycles may go months without another one until a regular pattern begins.
And women who have not had a period due to contraceptive use, hormonal therapy, or illness may not resume regular, monthly periods right away.
Perimenopause is the period of transition between reproductive age to non-reproductive age. Your periods may be lighter, heavier, more frequent, or less frequent during this time. In most cases, they'll just be different than what you're used to. 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. This means your egg supply is winding down, and the result will be missed periods and eventually the end of menstruation. An overactive or underactive thyroid gland could also be the cause of late or missed periods. Thyroid issues can usually be treated with medication.
After treatment, your period will likely return to normal. Your doctor can properly diagnose the reason for your late or missed period and discuss your treatment options. Keep a record of changes in your cycle as well as other health changes to show your doctor. This will help them make a diagnosis. Read this article in Spanish.
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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Low body weight. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS.
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