Why did I miss my period?

Question

I am in my mid-twenties and I am nearly two weeks late for my period. I am physically unable to get pregnant so I know pregnancy is not the reason for my delayed period. What other reasons are there for having a late period (especially this late)? Are there any? Is this a reason to see my doctor?

Answer 1

Yes, there are other causes that can make your period late, other than pregnancy. And yes, some of them you should see a doctor, but definitely not all are a cause for too much concern. Listed below are other causes/reasons you may be late, missed a period altogether, or are experiencing periods that are irregular.

1. Have you had an extreme fluctuation of weight? Women who lose weight or even gain weight very quickly can sometimes experience irregular periods and even miss a period or more. Low body weights, in general, can cause odd period cycles. Obesity can cause this issue and other issues with your menstrual cycle.
2. Anorexia and/or bulimia can cause your periods to be off-cycle. This too can be because of the extreme loss of fat. Very thin women are very likely to have problems with their monthly cycles. With eating disorders, your hormones change in a very abnormal way. Your body needs fuel “food” to live normally. If this is your cause, be ready for even more hormonal issues and cycle issues.
3. When a female athlete trains at a more difficult rate than usual, the body may feel the need to conserve energy. This conservation of energy can cause fluctuation in your cycle. While training hard, female athletes may not only have fluctuation, their cycle may be much shorter, be less frequent (not every 28 days), or even stop completely (sometimes lasting for months even after activity has ceased).
4. Your body works on your body clock. Your body clock regulates hormones. If you have changed your schedule (for example: going from early to bed/early to rise to up all night/sleep all day), the hormones than regulate your period could also have changed.
5. Stress can cause many changes in our bodies, especially our period cycles. If you have been either physically or emotionally stressed more than usual, your period can reflect that stress by irregular, or even ceased, periods.
6. Prescription medications, especially birth control, can cause fluctuation in a woman’s monthly cycle.
7. As you cannot physically get pregnant, this probably doesn’t relate to you, but breast-feeding can cause period fluctuation. Just FYI.

Certain illnesses and diseases can cause problems with your periods. These are situations in which you should see your doctor:

• Asherman’s Syndrome
• Endometriosis
• PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
• PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
• Uterine Fibroids

Reference: http://www.md-health-com/Not-Pregnant-But-No-Period.html

Comments

Surely an informative answer to the question why did I miss my period, I didn't know that birth control may delay period before…