When most women are late or missing a period, the immediate thought is pregnancy. But that’s not always the case. Many women experience missing a period and have negative pregnancy test results. There are a multitude of reasons and factors that affect the menstrual cycle, from changes in weight and stress to medical conditions. Here are some common causes and contributions to women missing their period.
What Is Considered A ‘Normal’ Cycle?
A normal menstrual cycle is supposed to occur every 21 to 35 days and last between two to seven days. However, each woman’s experience with the length of the cycle and the time in between differ. The term ‘normal’ refers to the individual woman’s cycle. Hormonal contraceptives can interfere with and disrupt the menstrual cycle.
If the cycle occurs more frequently than every 21 days or less than every 35 days, it’s considered irregular. Other factors fall under an irregular cycle, like very light bleeding, heavy bleeding, mid-cycle spotting, and severe cramps. Tracking the length of the cycle can help determine irregularities. See a gynecologist or GP if any of these occur:
- Spotting between periods
- Period is more than 35 days apart
- Missing 3 periods in a row
- Experiencing excessive pain during periods
Causes Of Abnormal Or Missing Periods
While pregnancy is the most common reason for missing a period, other medical and lifestyle factors can affect the menstrual cycle. Another common reason for abnormal or missing periods is hormonal birth control. Many women choose birth control to help regulate their period, but it can take the body and hormones a few months to adjust, and in some cases, requires intervention to restore natural cycling. Here are some of the other causes that impact the regularity of the menstrual cycle:
- Hormone imbalance
- Stress
- Trauma
- Change in sleep habits
- Traveling
- Breastfeeding
- Excessive exercise
- Rapid weight loss or gain
- Eating disorders
In addition to lifestyle and physical factors that may cause irregular or missing periods, health conditions play a big role in impacting the regularity of menstruation as well. The health conditions that affect cycles include:
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – PCOS
- Diabetes
- Thyroid Issues
- Uterine polyps or fibroids
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency – POI
- Perimenopause
- Endometriosis
Furthermore, certain medicines can impact the frequency or presence of irregular/missed periods among individuals. Depending on the medication being taken, it may cause side effects that can impact menstruation cycles. The medications that affect cycles (other than hormonal contraceptives) are:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Chemotherapy medications
- Epilepsy drugs
- Thyroid medications
- Blood thinners
- Anticonvulsants
Treatment Options and Solutions
While it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of irregular or missing periods, there are some steps to prevent that and promote regular cycles. Talking to a medical professional can help achieve a regular cycle and weed out any medical issues or conditions causing the irregularities.
Here are some ways to aid in achieving a regular cycle:
- Eating a balanced diet. What you eat can affect every area of your life, and the menstrual cycle is no different. Eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables, fiber, and folate can help keep cycles on track.
- Supplements. If you don’t incorporate certain foods and nutrients into your regular diet, taking supplements can fill in the gaps. Biocure offers micronutrient testing to determine any nutrients missing in your bloodstream and a nutritional IV to help treat any deficiencies.
- Regular exercise. Getting moderate amounts of regular exercise is vital to a healthy lifestyle. It’s recommended to get at least 30 minutes a day, and overdoing it can do more harm than good.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Having irregular sleep patterns can lead to hormonal disruption causing an interruption in the menstrual cycle.
Manage stress. Living a stressful life can wreak havoc on menstrual cycles. Stress is directly linked to cortisol and estrogen, and any disruption in their release cycle can affect ovulation resulting in irregular periods. Stress management tools like yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce stress and help regulate periods.
Live Healthy With Biocure
Missing a period is usually a cause for concern, but with Biocure, we can help get you on the right path to a regular menstrual cycle. Diagnosing any medical conditions that might affect periods can help determine any reasons for an irregular cycle and create a treatment plan.
Determining the exact cause of a missed or irregular cycle on your own can be extremely challenging. Biocure can support you on your journey to a healthy lifestyle, ensuring a regular period. Contact us today to get started, and mention this blog for a complimentary consultation with one of our specialists. To schedule an appointment Click Here!
