Most women are troubled with their menstrual cycle. Frequently, females are irked by these monthly visits, but whenever they miss a period, they would be anxious about the possible reasons and worst-case scenarios of amenorrhea. Whether women like it or not, menstrual cycles are a constant occurrence in their lives, and it is best handled with a wide range of knowledge to avoid unnecessary anxiety. At some point in a woman’s life, she must have experienced a missed period, the cause of such can be due to various reasons with the exclusion of pregnancy.
You Are Breastfeeding
It is natural for nursing mothers to have delayed menstruation. Don’t be alarmed if you will miss your monthly visits.
You Are Taking Pills Or Just Got Off It
Many contraceptives can stop the flow of the periods. Thus, experts recommend stopping the oral contraceptive and switching to long-acting hormones.
You Are Stressed, Depressed Or Anxious
Yes, mental well-being affects physical manifestations. Continuous and high levels of stress can mess up the hormonal regulation of the body. Keep in mind that a menstrual cycle is not only composed of the reproductive organs. First, it starts in the brain specifically in the hypothalamus. It will release a hormone, which then acts on the pituitary gland resulting in the release of different hormones. These hormones then work on the ovaries and produce the egg.
As explained by Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD, “regulation of menstrual periods is controlled by a complex hormonal balance. Likewise, the body’s reaction to stress involves changes in the levels of many hormones. Because it affects hormone balance and many other processes in the body, psychological stress can also interfere with the menstrual cycle. In fact, stress is considered to be a common cause of missed or late menstrual periods.”
You Have Underlying Medical Conditions
There are some conditions, which lead to the irregularity of a menstrual cycle. An example of this is a problematic underactive or overactive thyroid.
You Are Spending Too Much Time Exercising
Intense exercise can be another cause of amenorrhea. This is mostly seen in female athletes who train or exercise intensely for five days a week and run 20 kilometers a week. “The ‘female athlete triad’ occurs when a female athlete has low energy intake or disordered eating, menstrual delays or absence and low bone mass,” says Hector O. Chapa, M.D. Experts believe that heavy workouts can stress the body and disrupt the cycle. Also, due to the intensity of the exercise, their daily intake of calories may fall short from the daily recommended dose.
You Are Going Through Early menopause
Aging is a natural phenomenon, and one of the goals of individuals is to age gracefully. When a woman realizes that the halting of her periods or irregular occurrence of ovulation might be the first sign of menopause, it might stir up a lot of emotions and affect hormones in the body. There is such a thing as premature menopause. It can occur in women below the age of 45. While it is not very common, it can still be the cause of skipped periods.
You Might Have A Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome or better known as PCOS is now more common as the obesity rate is going up. The exact cause of PCOS is not known, but genes and obesity play a vital role in its development. PCOS tends to increase the male hormones in a woman which then might lead to a periodic halt or lesser periods. “If you have consistently irregular periods, you should be evaluated for PCOS,” says Amy Autry, M.D, a clinical professor of obstetrics-gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.
Final Words
For more inquiries, please consult your primary physician so she can look into your history. You will undergo several laboratory and diagnostic tests to evaluate your overall physical status as to why you have missed periods. Reading information on the Internet is a good way to raise your awareness and be informed. However, don’t use this information to diagnose and treat yourself.