A missed period can be related to your age and stage of life cycle.
If you’re notpregnant, then hormonal changes are common causes of a missed period.
These can include menopause as well as health conditions likepolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).
Illustration by Cindy Chung for Verywell Health
Illustration by Cindy Chung for Verywell Health
1.
Recently Started Periods
Not all age-related changes to your period will occur in older people.
It may take a little while for your period to happen every month.
Perimenopause
Perimenopauseis the period of transition between reproductive age and a non-reproductive age.
Menopause
Menopauseoccurs as you reach an age when you will no longer ovulate or menstruate.
The average age of menopause is 51 years old.
It is sometimes called premature ovarian failure.
This can cause irregular periods and fertility problems to begin before the typical age of perimenopause.
In people with POI, there may not be enough working follicles.
In addition to irregular periods, you may also experience abdominal pain, fever, and pain with sex.
Missing one period while going through a very stressful situation is not uncommon.
Disruptive Changes in Your Schedule
Changing schedules can throw off your body clock.
Your cycle can also change if you experience jet lag.
If you have PCOS, you will likely have other symptoms besides just an irregular menstrual cycle.
Some of these may include:
8.
In turn, this may cause you to miss periods.
Chronic issues, like malnutrition or an eating disorder likeanorexia nervosa, can also lead to missed periods.
When the body lacks fat and other nutrients, it cannot produce hormones the way it should.
Typically, weight gain will cause periods to return.
Obesity
Obesity influences estrogen and progesterone regulation and is associated with missed periods.
It may lead to issues with fertility.
Weight loss can help regulate the menstrual cycle for people diagnosed with obesity.
These congenital conditions are often associated with amenorrhea.
Sudden medical conditions such as a heart attack also can result in a missed period.
It usually takes hours upon hours of demanding exercise every day for these hormonal changes to occur.
Their job is to help your body support all of the physical demands that you are putting on it.
This may include:
13.
Different types of contraceptives can lead to heavy periods,light periods, or missed periods.
Even if you don’t have periods when you are breastfeeding, you could get pregnant.
If you are not ready for another child, you should use a backup contraceptive.
You may be having a late period, but how much of a delay is normal for your period?
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