There are several causes, other than pregnancy, for missed or delayed periods. Hormonal disorders and significant medical issues are a few common causes. Your cycle may also be inconsistent during two other times - the beginning of your period and the beginning of the menopausal transition. Your cycle may become irregular as your body adjusts to the change.

 

Women who haven't gone through menopause often get a period every 28 days. A healthy menstrual cycle, however, might last between 21 and 37 days. If your period is outside of these limits, there are several potential causes.

 

Reasons for a missed period:

 

1. Extreme diets and exercise: Your health may be greatly improved by eating well and exercising frequently. But if you overdo it, your periods might stop, at least for some time. Athletes who exercise excessively or who consume insufficient calories may experience stopped menstruation. This is the body's method of informing you of the insufficient resources. Your periods may stop due to weight reduction, dietary changes, or physical activity. This indicates that although you formerly had periods, they have now stopped.
2. Excess weight loss or gain: The time of your menstruation might be thrown off by significant weight changes. For instance, drastic changes in body fat might trigger a hormonal imbalance and make your period arrive later or cease altogether. Extreme calorie restriction also impacts the area of your brain that directs endocrine system and provides instructions for producing reproductive hormones. Hormones might go out of balance when this communication pathway is blocked.
3. PCOS: A hormonal imbalance known as PCOS prevents an egg from normally releasing (ovulation). You typically don't get your period if you don't ovulate. Periods are frequently irregular, tardy, or absent in PCOS patients.
4. Stress: High stress levels have negative effects that extend beyond your mental health. They may also result in bodily symptoms. Generally speaking, minor, ordinary stress won't disrupt your menstruation. However, major stresses might disrupt your body's delicate hormonal balance, which can delay your period in the long run.
5. Hormonal medications: Progestin, or progestin and estrogen together, are components of hormonal birth control. These hormones hinder ovulation and conception. Withdrawal bleeding is fake menstruation brought on by certain hormonal medicines. When you undergo your hormone-free week using the pill, ring, or patch, you'll have this "period." You can see some mild spotting or no period if you continue taking the contraception without the hormone-free week.
6. Thyroid: The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck creates hormones that assist in controlling a variety of bodily functions, particularly your menstrual cycle. There are several common thyroid disorders, such as hypo and hyperthyroidism. Both of them have the potential to interfere with your menstrual cycle and result in irregularity, although hyperthyroidism is more likely to result in missing or delayed periods. Your menstruation may occasionally stop for several months. Because the thyroid controls how your body uses energy, hormone levels may also be impacted. Medication is typically effective in treating thyroid problems. Your menstruation will probably resume its regular cycle after therapy.

 

When to visit your Doctor: 

 

It's critical to remember that missed or irregular periods might be signs of a deeper issue. You should consult a doctor if - if you miss have irregular or missed periods, if your periods cease before the age of 45, if they continue beyond the age of 55, or if you suffer bleeding during or after intercourse. You should check for a prehnancy if the periods are missed and you are sexually active.