Is It Normal To Miss A Period?
You wake up one day and realise that your period is late. First thought? I must be pregnant! Well, not necessarily…
A period is considered late when it has been more than five days past due. Studies show that 14%-25% of women of childbearing age have at least once experienced missed or late periods. In most cases, it is nothing serious but does not stop us from thinking WHY is my period M-I-A?
Reasons For A Missing Period: Pregnancy
Even though pregnancy might be one of the last possible reasons why your period is late, it is important to make sure that you are not experiencing early signs of it.
Reminder! Women in their 20s and early 30s only have a 20-30% chance of getting pregnant. During the average cycle day, these chances are lower if you are in your 40s.
Early signs of pregnancy include:
- Sensitivity to smells and tastes
- Experiencing a strange metallic taste in your mouth
- Smell becomes much more sensitive than usual, and some of the smells become more
- intense and irritating
- Sore breasts
- Breasts may tingle, become larger and feel tender
- Feeling tired
- Hormonal changes during the first weeks of pregnancy can cause tiredness, exhaustion
- and emotional breakdowns
- Implantation bleeding
- Bleeding similar to a very light period
If you have experienced any of these symptoms it is important to take a pregnancy test. For the best reliable results, wait a week following your missing period to take it. You should wait for at least one to two weeks after having sex if you don’t want to wait till you’ve missed your period. Your body needs time to produce measurable quantities of HCG in order to accurately give you results.
Don’t Be Fooled, It Might Just Be PMS!
Premenstrual Syndrome known as PMS is a name for symptoms that women experience in the days or even weeks before their period. The symptoms may differ each month but are undeniably similar to the first signs of pregnancy.
Okay, but what if your period is more than a week late, you took a test, and know you are not pregnant or experiencing PMS? The answer might be more obvious than you think…
Can Stress Cause You To Miss A Period?
If your hormones are out of sync, so will your period. According to Teri Benn, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, one of the most important things to remember about the reasons for a missed period is that your hormones promote ovulation. You may have difficulty ovulating if your hormones are out of balance. If there is no ovulation, there will be no menstruation, eg. no periods!
It is scientifically proven that stress can significantly affect our physical health. When you are stressed, the crucial hormone that stimulates ovulation, oestrogen, may not be produced. As a result, it is possible you will not get your period at all that menstrual cycle. However, once a person knows how to cope and ease stressful situations or eliminates the cause of the stress altogether, the cycle may become regular again.
Amenorrhea is known as the lack of menstruation during the person’s reproductive years. If you skip your period for three months in a row or have not had your first period by the age of 15, you may have this disorder.
Amenorrhea typically occurs when the ovaries cease producing adequate oestrogen. A deficiency of oestrogen can be caused by a variety of circumstances. This condition affects 3–4% of women, especially athletes. A person’s menstruation might be missed due to a variety of health concerns and situations.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
People who have PCOS have a hormonal imbalance, which can damage their overall health and looks as well as cause ovarian cysts. This can cause a person's periods to become irregular or completely disappear.
PCOS affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age and is characterised by enlarged ovaries with clusters of tiny, benign cysts. Other symptoms, such as missed periods, may occur in people with PCOS.
Weight Changes Can Affect Your Menstrual Cycle
A considerable weight gain or decrease in a short period of time might cause hormonal abnormalities. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, can induce hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian, resulting in alterations in hormone levels and irregular or absent periods.
Other Reasons You Could Have missed Your Period
There are many other, sometimes more complex reasons why the period is late. Some of them need doctors' evaluation to be discovered and a specific treatment might be needed.
- Diabetes
- Excessive Exercises
- Menopause
- Thyroid or Pituitary Gland Problems
- Other medical conditions
Remember to always take care of your mental health, body and hygiene. FabLittleBag is on a mission to give you confidence, and reach your full potential.
