10 Reasons for a Missed Period

Did you miss your period? Don't worry; that's completely normal and is just your body telling you that something is amiss. There could be many reasons such as stress, unhealthy food habits, etc. to have a missed or delayed period. Consulting your doctor will give you a thorough analysis and help you regulate your menses.

Let's explore the reasons for a missed period and see how you can control or avoid them through a healthy lifestyle.

1. Stress
2. Excessive Physical Workout
3. Illness
4. Fluctuation in Body Weight
5. Lactation
6. Changes in Sleep Cycle or Daily Schedule
7. Medication and/or Birth Control
8. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
9. Perimenopause and Menopause
10. Pregnancy

Amped up your workout routine recently? Started some physically challenging exercises? Chances are this type of excessive workout is the reason why you missed your period.

If you're working out for less than an hour a day, then there's no need to fret as that is within the limit. But if you are planning to work out for longer daily, then we recommend consulting with a doctor who can recommend the best way for you to continue your exercise. Such a routine prescribed by your doctor will ensure that your body can cope with the added physical demands.

Chronic and acute illnesses such as pneumonia, heart attack, and kidney failure may lead to drastic weight loss or nutritional deficiencies which can indirectly cause a delayed period.

Any acute changes in your weight - be it being overweight or underweight - can affect your monthly cycles. Conditions such as obesity, anorexia, and bulimia are some of the most common body weight-related problems that can lead to a missed or late period.

If you are breastfeeding your infant, you won't get your periods. And in the rare case that you do get them, they will be highly irregular. This is a completely normal phenomenon, and you can expect to go back to your usual menstrual cycle when you stop nursing your baby.

Once you completely stop breastfeeding, your monthly cycle will get its rhythm back and go back to normalcy.

Any significant change in your daily schedule or sleep cycle is bound to cause a fluctuation in your menstrual cycle. So, if you've started sleeping and waking up at odd hours (that you're not used to) or have a shift change at work, or any other reason that changes your daily schedule (and particularly your sleep cycle), that will definitely affect your period cycle.

So, keep a tab on your schedule and try to stick to one to avoid period irregularities.

Pro Tip - Did you know that you can use ALWAYS Night Dreamzzz Pads to help with sleep during your periods? It has a dry top sheet and a flexi pillow that gives you ultimate comfort and 100% protection even when you are sleeping.

PCOS or thyroid dysfunction causes an imbalance in your hormone levels, which is another reason why you may miss your period. Such conditions need to be diagnosed early on and treated to avoid them from turning into major problems. Check out the ALWAYS blog for helpful information on PCOS and PCOD.

Perimenopause is the first stage of menopause (decline in reproductive hormones, typically after the age of 40) and if you are going through it, you may notice that you get your period less frequently and irregularly. This is due to a decrease in your estrogen levels.

Naturally, menopause signals the cessation of your menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy is one of the most common reasons for a missed period. This can be both unexpected or planned, so keep a tab on your choice of birth control and ovulation window. Pregnancy can occur even if you are on contraceptives, which is why it is important to use a period calendar to keep your menses in check.

Understanding your cycle is essential for managing your health. Learn how do you calculate next period date with ease in our helpful guide

FAQs

Here are some of the reasons for a missed period besides pregnancy:

• Stress
  
• Excessive physical workout
  
• Fluctuation in body weight
  
• Changes in the sleep cycle
  
• Birth control medicines
  
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
  
• Menopause or perimenopause
  Consulting a doctor and finding out the cause behind your missed period is a must.
  
  

Yes, it is quite possible to miss a period for a month. Throughout your menstrual cycle, your hormones keep fluctuating in a given order. Sometimes, certain medical or lifestyle factors tend to create an imbalance in your hormones which results in a missed period. At times like these, speaking to your doctor and understanding the reason for missed period is quite important.

Yes, you can miss your period and not be pregnant. Other factors like PCOS, menopause, weight gain or loss, stress, and heavy workout can also cause you to miss a period. To be extra sure, taking a pregnancy test or a check-up by the doctor is a great option.

A period calculator can easily help you know how late your period is. As it tracks your cycle and predicts your upcoming menstrual date, you can count how late your periods have arrived from the actual estimated date. Try the ALWAYS Period Calculator for yourself! It helps map out your cycle for months and keeps you well-prepared.