Missed Period

Missed Period

Typically a missed period is associated with pregnancy. However, there are many other causes of missed or irregular periods. An average woman has 11 or 13 regular periods each year. You may have less or more, depending on your hormonal levels. Menstrual periods are irregular in the initial years once a girl starts menstruating. The hormones may take years to reach a balance.

Causes of Missed Period

Ideally normal menstrual cycles occur between 21 and 35 days, and it’s not uncommon for a menstrual period to be delayed by a few days, since some menstrual cycles are constantly changing.
However, if you complete an entire cycle and still do not begin your next period, you have missed a period. You may want to see your doctor if this isn’t common for you.
Various factors can affect the body’s equilibrium. When your body is out of balance, you can expect a late or even missed period.

other causes of Missed Period:

• Stress, whether physical or emotional, can cause hormonal shifts, thus affecting ovulation, which occurs 14 -16 days before menstruation
• Eating too much or too less, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa, can affect hormonal production in the body
• Too much weight gain or loss can interfere with hormonal functions and be a cause of missed or irregular period
• Birth control pills can cause hormonal imbalance and adversely affect your menstrual cycle
• Breast-feeding may be a cause of missed period for most women, as there is a surplus production of prolactin hormone, which is responsible for milk production, and reduction of estrogen and luteinizing hormone
• Anovulation is a menstrual cycle in which the ovaries don’t ovulate or release an egg, such as failure of ovaries or ovarian cancer, tumors on ovaries, thyroid gland disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Poorly formed reproductive organs are a rare occurrence and primarily the cause of primary amenorrhea
• Illness or disease, including diabetes, liver disease, tuberculosis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes, may cause missed/irregular periods
• Problems with pelvic organs
• Illegal drug use
• Increased exercise can affect metabolism and other processes within the body and cause extreme physical and mental stress, contributing to no ovulation
• Travelling and dietary habits can contribute to hormonal imbalance

Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure is a term used to describe a condition when a woman stops menstruating before 40 years of age. It may result from radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery on the abdomen or pelvis.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is a medical term to describe missed periods. There are two types of amenorrhea – primary and secondary. While primary amenorrhea is rare, wherein a woman does not start menstruating, secondary amenorrhea is a common occurrence, which is the absence of menstruation in a previously menstruating woman.
Women start menstruating after puberty. They do not menstruate during pregnancy, before puberty, or after menopause.  If you are experiencing missed periods, it is best to consult a medical practitioner to diagnose the cause and find a cure for your condition.
Restoring your life’s physical and emotional balance can help. Unless you are pregnant or have any of the aforementioned conditions, your menstrual cycle will return to normalcy.