Topic Overview
Most women have between 11 and 13
menstrual periods each year. You may be different: You
may have more or fewer. Missed or irregular periods must be looked at in terms
of what is normal for you.
Menstrual periods are often irregular during the
first few years after menstruation starts. It may take several years for the
hormones that control menstruation to reach a
balance.
Menstrual periods also may be very irregular at the other
end of the menstrual years. Many women realize that they are approaching
perimenopause and
menopause when their otherwise regular periods become
irregular. Menopause occurs when it has been 12 months since you have had a
menstrual period.
Pregnancy is the
most common cause of a missed period. If you might be pregnant, treat yourself
as if you are pregnant until you know for sure. Use a
home pregnancy test as the first step to finding out
whether you are pregnant.
If you are not pregnant, other causes of
missed or irregular periods include:
- Excessive weight loss or gain. Although low body
weight is a common cause of missed or irregular periods, obesity also can cause
menstrual problems.
- Eating disorders, such as
anorexia or
bulimia. For more information, see the topic
Anorexia Nervosa or
Bulimia Nervosa.
- Increased exercise.
Missed periods are common in endurance athletes.
- Emotional stress.
- Illness.
- Travel.
- Medicines such as
birth control methods, which may cause
lighter, less frequent, more frequent, or skipped periods or no periods at all.
- Hormone problems. This may cause a change in the levels of the
hormones that the body needs to support menstruation.
- Illegal drug use.
- Problems with the
pelvic organs, such as
imperforate hymen,
polycystic ovary syndrome, or
Asherman's syndrome.
- Breast-feeding. Many
women do not resume regular periods until they have completed breast-feeding.
Remember, you can still become pregnant even though you are
not menstruating. Practice birth control if you do not wish to become
pregnant.
Premature ovarian failure is when you stop menstruating
before age 40. Surgery,
chemotherapy, and
radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis may cause
premature ovarian failure.
Other diseases such as
irritable bowel syndrome,
tuberculosis,
liver disease, and
diabetes can cause missed or irregular periods,
although this is rare. But if any of these diseases are present, you will
usually have other symptoms besides menstrual irregularities.
If
you've skipped a period, try to relax. Restoring your life to emotional and
physical balance can help. Many women miss periods now and then. Unless you are
pregnant, chances are your cycle will return to normal next month.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see
a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
There is no home treatment for
missed or irregular periods. But the following information may help you
find the cause of your missed or irregular periods:
- Eat a balanced diet. Being underweight or
overweight can cause missed and irregular periods. For more information, see
the topics
Healthy Eating and
Weight Management.
- If you are an
endurance athlete, you may have to cut back on your
training. Be sure to talk with your doctor about hormone and calcium
supplements to protect against bone loss if you are missing periods. For more
information, see the topic
Fitness.
If you think you might be pregnant
Do a
home pregnancy test if you had sex since your last period. If the result is positive, practice the following good health habits
until you see your doctor:
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Do not smoke
or use other tobacco products.
- Do not use alcohol or
drugs.
- Avoid caffeine, or limit your intake to about 1 cup of
coffee or tea each day.
- Do not clean a cat litter box, to avoid the
risk of toxoplasmosis.
- Avoid people who are ill.
- Take a
vitamin supplement that contains folic acid or a prenatal vitamin.
If the home pregnancy test is negative but you continue to
have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the
results. Practice good health habits until you see your doctor.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- You have early symptoms of pregnancy, such as:
- Missed periods.
- Increased
urination.
- Fatigue.
- Breast tenderness or
enlargement.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- You have missed more than two menstrual periods
in a row.
Prevention
Here are some steps you can take to help
prevent missed or irregular periods.
- Avoid fad diets that greatly restrict calories
and food variety, and avoid rapid weight loss. To maintain a healthy weight,
focus on eating a variety of low-fat foods. For more information, see the
topics
Healthy Eating and
Weight Management.
- Use contraception
consistently, as directed by your doctor. For more information, see the topic
Birth Control.
- Increase exercise
gradually. For more information, see the topic
Fitness.
- Learn and practice relaxation
exercises to reduce and cope with stress. For more information, see the topic
Stress Management.
If you participate in
endurance sports, you may miss periods or stop
menstruating. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and keep track of your periods. Tell
your doctor about any changes in your menstrual periods.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the
following questions:
- What was the date of your last menstrual period?
- When was your previous period? Was it
normal?
- If you are a teen, do you have regular cycles, such as a
period every 21 to 45 days?
- If you are an adult, do you have
regular cycles, such as a period every 21 to 35 days?
- How old were you when your periods
began?
- Are you sexually active?
- What type of
birth control are you using? How long have you been
using it?
- Have you missed any birth control pills or failed to have
your hormonal injection according to schedule?
- Have you done a
home pregnancy test? When did you do the test? What
was the result?
- Have you been under increased physical or emotional
stress?
- Have you recently changed your diet or exercise
habits?
- Have you recently gained or lost weight?
- What
prescription and nonprescription medicines are you taking? Are you using
illegal drugs?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
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| Last Revised | June 20, 2011 |
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