The first thought that comes into a woman's mind when she misses a period is am I pregnant. However, there are several other reasons for a missed period other than pregnancy. A missed period causes great tension at times, especially if the woman has taken a pregnancy test and found it negative. Read on to find out more about what can cause a missed period. Given below are some of the most common reasons for a missed period.
- Stress: Stress can affect several things in a woman's life and this includes her period. Stress can certainly cause health problems and could very well be the reason why her monthly period has skipped a month. If a woman is undergoing a great deal of trauma and emotional stress, there are chances that her menstrual cycle will become irregular. Keep in mind that excess stress may even cause amenorrhea or a complete stopping of the menstrual cycle. When a woman is under great stress, her body decreases the amount of GnRH (a hormone) being produced and this in turn stops her from ovulating or menstruating.
- Weight issues: Sudden weight gain or sudden weight loss are also two reasons for a missed period. Hormones stop functioning normally if there is too much body fat. Obesity is one of the major missed period causes. Obese woman do not ovulate regularly and therefore their cycles are irregular. However, women who are underweight may suffer from missed periods as well. This is because the body requires some amount of weight in order for the cycles to be regular.
- Underlying illnesses: Underlying illnesses are also included in the list of reasons for a missed period. Diseases that cause irregular periods are diabetes, thyroid problems, liver disease, tuberculosis, irritable bowel syndrome and so on. Once the root cause has been identified and treated, the woman can expect to have a regular menstrual cycle.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: This is a hormonal disorder which gives rise to small cysts being formed in the ovaries. This in turn leads to irregular menses. Some women suffer from prolonged periods while others miss their periods. Some even experience cramps at the time their period is due but do not actually have a period.
- Breastfeeding: This is another reason for a missed period. A woman's body takes time to get back to normal after childbirth and breastfeeding and this could lead to a missed period as well.
- Drugs and Medications: Certain drugs and medications could also be the reasons for a missed period. Studies have shown that anti depressants and chemotherapy (among other drugs) causes women to miss their periods. Contraceptives can also cause a woman to miss her periods.
- Peri Menopause and Menopause: Peri menopause is the period when a woman is moving from a reproductive age to a non reproductive age. The periods at this time could be lighter, heavier, and more frequent or not occur at all. Menopause is the stage when a woman has not had a period for 12 months.
- Miscalculation: This is often overlooked as one of the reasons for a missed period. At times, a woman has simply miscalculated the length of her menstrual cycle and believes her period is late or has been missed.
- Pregnancy: This is also one reason why the period has been missed. If a woman has a missed period and a negative test, but has pregnancy symptoms, she should contact her doctor immediately. Further tests may then be ordered to see if she is pregnant or not.
The above should answer your question of why missed periods occur.
answered by A S