If you don't get your period every month, joy may be the first emotion you feel when trying to conceive. Pregnancy is a common but not the only cause of missed periods. Irregular or missed periods affect up to a quarter of women of reproductive age. There are several reasons why your period may not come on time. The cause of missed periods is often as simple as a schedule change or illness. However, irregular or missed periods can indicate a more serious medical condition, such as thyroid disease or another hormonal imbalance, so don't dwell on it, and if it persists, it's a good idea to get checked.

 Is it normal to miss the period?

When it was not rare, it is not permanent or permanent, including the first years after menstruation during pregnancy and lactation. As menopause approaches, you may skip your period at the end of your period. It's not unusual for periods to come and go during this time, sometimes stopping completely and then disappearing for a few months (more than 12 months without a period is technically menopause).

Causes of delayed or absent menstruation

Pregnant

Sometimes late periods mean exactly what you think. You are pregnant! Many of the symptoms of early pregnancy, including cramps, bloating, nausea, rashes, fatigue, breast tenderness, and even food aversions, can resemble those before your period. Take a few days off or cycle if you're pregnant.

Stress

Knowing that stress can cause several negative side effects such as headaches, weight gain, and acne, it's no surprise that it can also affect your menstrual cycle. When you are physically or emotionally stressed, your body releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. High levels of these stress hormones force the brain to decide which bodily functions are important and which are not until the anxiety-provoking event is over.

Illness

Some illnesses, such as colds and flu, can take a toll on your body and affect your ovulation and consequently your menstrual cycle. If a period is missed during ovulation due to illness, it may return to normal in the next cycle.

Weight

Weight can affect the hypothalamus, the brain gland that controls various processes in the body, including the menstrual cycle.

Excessive weight loss, low-calorie intake, or being underweight can stress the hypothalamus. This can interfere with the estrogen production needed to make the lining of the uterus.

Excessive exercise

Of course, physical exercises are good for you. However, if you overeat (and limit what you eat to lose weight), you may not be able to produce enough estrogen to complete your menstrual cycle.

Some women, such as ballet dancers, gymnasts, and professional athletes, are at increased risk of amenorrhea (not having a period for more than 3 months in a row). But you do not have to exercise to interact with your system can lead to disability if it works in excessive calories.

Program changes

Believe it or not, changing circumstances—like working a night shift instead of a day shift or traveling across the country—can throw off your internal biological clock, which helps regulate your hormones. Sometimes this results in a missed or delayed period, but it should return as your body adjusts to the change or your schedule returns to normal.

Breast-feeding

If you are breastfeeding, you may not have your period for a while because prolactin, the hormone responsible for producing breast milk, also suppresses ovulation.

Drug

Perhaps the most common medication that causes menstrual changes is birth control. Hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill or plaster, prevent the body from ovulating. No ovulation means no period.

Hormonal imbalance

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition characterized by an imbalance of female sex hormones. PCOS can cause cysts in the ovaries and prevent ovulation from occurring regularly. In addition to missed or irregular periods, PCOS can contribute to excessive hair growth, acne, weight gain, and possible infertility.

Thyroid disorders

If the thyroid gland, which is responsible for the body's metabolism, does not function properly, menstruation can become irregular. An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can make menstrual periods lighter and more frequent. Additional symptoms include weight loss, increased heart rate, increased sweating, and difficulty sleeping.

How long can menstruation last?

A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days, but for some women, a healthy cycle can be 21 or 35 days. Track your period over several months to look for patterns and changes in your cycle (there are smartphone apps that make it easier to track). This usually helps determine a 'normal' menstrual cycle.

If your expected period doesn't start within 7 days, your period is usually considered late (most pregnancy tests can give you accurate results by this point).