Missed periods always bring the stress of being pregnant. Which can be daunting at times when you are not planning to have a baby. But there are other reasons as well which can indicate missing your period. The normal cycle of your period should range between 21-35 days. It is always recommended to keep track of your period for better prediction and underlying conditions in your body.
When a girl starts bleeding, it is normal to have irregular periods, and when a woman hits menopause, irregular periods are the signs of it. In this blog, we are going to explore the causes of missing periods and when is the right time to consult your doctor for a missed period.
Possible Reasons For Late Or Missing Your Periods
Periods are the most unpredictable when there are hormonal changes present in your body. Let us understand clearly the “why” for missing a period.
In 2017, The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012, released a link between body weight changes and irregular periods. It means that women who are obese and who have experienced extreme weight loss are prone to have irregular menstrual cycles. To avoid this, you can manage your weight with a balanced diet, a sufficient sleep cycle, and regular exercise.
When it comes to your mental health, there is a high probability that it will take a toll on your physical health too. Studies have shown that intense stress disrupts the production of Gonadotropin, a hormone that regulates the period. Missing one period to stress can be slides but not more than three.
Commonly known as PCOS, is a major cause of missing or late periods. This is a hormonal imbalance in your body which can also result in changes in body weight, hair thinning, acne, hirsutism, or infertility. You should consult this with your doctor as medication can help manage this condition.
It has been noticed that when you are including birth control in your lifestyle or you are eliminating it, you are going to experience delayed periods. Birth control can make your uterine line thin which can result in “no show of period”, and when you stop taking them, you are at risk of ovulating. Which again leads to delayed periods.
If you have started working out for more than two hours, then there are chances that you will be having late periods. Excessive exercise brings changes in your thyroid and pituitary glands and therefore leads to ovulation and menstruation. To avoid this, you can consult with your dietician, health care provider, or trainer to either go easy on the workout or add nutritious food to your diet.
If you are suffering from disrupted thyroid hormones then you are likely to have irregular periods. The thyroid gland regulates the hormones in your body which help you to function properly. But failing to do that gives way to an imbalance in the body. There are chances that with thyroid you could miss your period for 90 days, enter an early menopause, or have two periods in one month.
Apart from thyroid disease, there are pituitary tumors, ovarian cysts, diabetes, liver dysfunction, and issues in the adrenal gland which can be a major cause of irregular periods. These conditions also affect the fertility of women and can be managed with proper medication and precautions.
Often women opt for IUDs instead of birth control pills, but this is not a proof plan to protect against STIs or pregnancy for that matter. Instead of the sperm entering the womb, it implants itself on the outer lining of the womb which can lead to pregnancy and thus delay your periods. Many women also experience vaginal bleeding and spotting during ectopic pregnancy. So, consult with your doctor for this complication, as it can be life-threatening.
Conclusion
With delayed periods, if you have been experiencing severe pain, excessive bleeding, bleeding for more than 7 days, or nausea, then you must seek professional help. There are times when you are facing changes in your life, and just like you need to adjust to the surroundings, so do your periods.
