Women think of pregnancy when they missed a period and especially if a sexual activity has taken place but there are other reasons for a missed period. Pregnancy is not the only reason for people to have a missed period. Here are the 10 most common reasons for a missed period.
Top Reasons for a Missed Period
Stress
One of the top reasons for a missed period is stress. Stress is an underlying condition for many diseases and affects many functions of our bodies including the periods. Researchers say that stress boosts levels of stress hormones glucocorticoids such as cortisol.
Elevated cortisol might be the reason you are missing your period and it subsequently suppresses ovulation and sometimes it could get so stressed out that our body decreases the amount of gonadotropin-releasing hormone to the point where the periods stop altogether.
This hormone receives the instruction from the pituitary gland. And it is necessary to set in motion activity from other hormones to instruct the ovaries to produce and release an egg during ovulation.
Then subsequently about fourteen days later menstruation should occur. Working with your doctor can help you figure out what needs to be done. This can take a few months or more to work itself.
Illness
An illness may be the reason for your delayed periods to be delayed if you are affected by the flu or some other small reason you might skip your period for that month. Irritable bowel syndrome can also cause you to skip a period. This is usually temporary but talks to your doctor but when your cycle will regulate.
Shift Changing in Job
Changing schedules can throw off the natural rhythms of the body and this is particularly true if you work in night shifts. Women who travel find their usual menstrual cycles change or even stop while they are on the road.
Prescribed Drugs
Medications are not always conclusive. Many drugs can affect menstruation. The following are the medications that can affect your menstruation cycle. These medications include
The above drugs can affect your periods. Be sure to talk to your physician about any side effects. If you want to change medications and have a word with your doctor regarding what effect this may have on your period.
Sudden changes in weight
If you recently put on a lot of weight or lose extra pounds, it may affect your periods. Estrogen and progesterone are affected by obesity and its result in decreased fertility.
It has been observed that the body mass index also associated with missed periods. For the women who are suffering from obesity may get relief from the menstrual cycle if they committed to losing weight.
Your menstrual cycles also affected if you are severely underweight. Your body is unable to produce the hormones if it lacks the necessary fat and nutrients. Women who are suffering from anorexia may also experience late or missed periods.
People experience weight changes due to the following reasons. These reasons include
- Illness
- Prescribed drugs
- Lifestyle modifications
Intense workouts
Doing an intense workout might be the reason for people to have a missed period. Physical exercises may be good for you to burn some calories but sometimes it can cost you more calories than you are taking in.
It will be difficult for your body to distribute energy to all the systems if you burn too many calories. Your intense workout can bring significant changes in the following hormones. These hormones include
- Pituitary hormones
- Thyroid hormones
The changes in the above hormones can affect your menstruation cycle. It is advised to consult your talk with your physician about what’s going on and they can review with you about the reason for your missed period and help you to determine what options are best for you.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Women who are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome don’t ovulate regularly. This illness can also cause you to skip a period.
Infertility, excess or coarse facial and body hair, skin tags in the armpits or neck, acne on the face and body, dark patches on the neck, thinning hair, dark patches on the groin, excess weight or unable to lose weight, and dark patches on the underneath breasts are the most common symptoms associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Thyroid condition
A thyroid gland present in your neck can affect many functions on your body including the menstrual cycle. The following are several thyroid conditions. These conditions include
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
The above conditions can also cause you to skip a period. When compared to hypothyroidism, people who are suffering from hyperthyroidism are more likely to affected by the irregularity of the periods.
Heart palpitations, getting difficulty in sleeping or unable to sleep, loss of appetite or changes in appetite, changes to your hair, weight loss or weight gain, exhaustiveness, feeling nervous all the time or anxiety, and slight hand tremors are the most common symptoms associated with the issues related to thyroid.
Chronic conditions
Celiac disease and diabetes are considered as chronic health problems. These chronic conditions can affect your menstrual cycles.
Celiac disease can affect your digestive system negatively by disturbing the lining of the small intestine. Weight loss, pale stools, vomiting, fatty stools, abdominal bloating, foul-smelling stools, pain in the abdomen, persistent Diarrhea, iron-deficiency anemia, infertility, miscarriage, joint pain, stiffness, loss of bones, pale sores inside the mouth, exhaustiveness, tooth discoloration or loss of enamel, seizures, numbness in the hands, tingling in the feet, and skin disorders are the various symptoms of celiac disease.
People with the above symptoms are unable to absorb nutrients from food and it affects hormone production negatively and can cause you to have a missed period. Women who are suffering from type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes also experience a late or missed period. It is due to the following symptoms of this condition. These symptoms include
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Yeast infections
- Dry skin
- Patchy skin
It is really important for women who are suffering from certain chronic conditions to consult a health professional or physician.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the reasons for married women when they missed a period and especially if a sexual activity has taken place. It is better to confirm it through a pregnancy test rather than assuming it.
Exhaustiveness, tenderness in the breasts, swollen breasts, nausea or vomiting, and painful breasts are considered as the early signs of pregnancy.
When to see a doctor
Consult your doctor or your healthcare provider immediately if your period hasn’t arrived for more than forty days. Your doctor should evaluate you for other possible causes of your condition. Together, you and your doctor can determine the best way to manage your symptoms. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118848/
- https://e-dmj.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4093/dmj.2011.35.4.384
- https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-018-0528-x
- https://www.healio.com/pediatrics/journals/pedann/2016-3-45-3/%7B30719711-01dd-4cd0-b051-2a1f8ced66d6%7D/amenorrhea-in-the-female-athlete-what-to-do-and-when-to-worry
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/100/3/812/2838996
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945706006216
- https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-018-0528-x
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/98/9/3572/2833078
Sirisha B