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. 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. 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. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. 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. But anything more than that may be serious.
Do you have new pain in your lower belly, pelvis, or genital area that is different than your usual menstrual cramps? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Have you started having periods? Do you think that a medicine could be affecting your periods? Think about whether the problems started when you began taking a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Is there any chance that you could be pregnant? Has a home pregnancy test shown that you are pregnant? Have you been planning to get pregnant? Do you use a form of birth control that contains hormones? This could be birth control pills, implants, vaginal rings, skin patches, injections, or an IUD that contains hormones. Have your periods been different than what your doctor told you to expect with your birth control?
This could mean that they are lighter or heavier or that you have missed periods when you weren't expecting to. Have you missed two periods for no clear reason, such as pregnancy? If a recent home pregnancy test has said that you are not pregnant, then there is no clear reason for your missed periods. Have your problems lasted more than 2 cycles?
These include: Your age. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus, and they can cause heavy periods and super long periods, according to Mayo Clinic. This irregularity could make it seem like you've missed a period, too.
If you have any other symptoms, like pelvic pain, frequent urination or even constipation, definitely bring those up with your doctor. When women under 40 have hormones misfiring in a significant way, they can go through premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian failure. Along with a missed period, signs of this condition include hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
But this shouldn't be at the top of your list. If your ob-gyn rules out the many other potential causes for missed or late periods and thinks this may be the culprit, they'll clue you in.
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