Periods aren’t always predictable. Sometimes they’re longer, sometimes they’re shorter, sometimes they’re super heavy, and sometimes they’re light as can be. But what happens when you skip your period altogether?
Missed periods, also known as amenorrhea, can be surprising. Maybe you’ve been trying to conceive and celebrate a missed period. Maybe you’re most definitely not trying to conceive and scared out of your mind! Maybe you have no idea why you may have skipped your period at all. The truth is, there are many reasons why someone may skip their period. Here are some of the main ones.
Pregnancy
Of course, we have to get the most obvious one out of the way. A missed period is an early sign of pregnancy, but missing your period doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pregnant! However, if you suspect you may be pregnant, it’s always a good idea to take a test. If you are pregnant, implantation bleeding, or light spotting, can occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. Our recommendation? Period underwear! If you aren’t pregnant, be sure to have your menstrual cup ready, that late period can come at a moment’s notice! Either way, we hope you get the test result you’re looking for!
Birth control
These medications can affect your body’s hormone levels, which can cause abnormal periods or the absence of periods, especially if you just started or switched medications. Your hormones should level out after a few months, so your periods should be back to normal in no time. Using a menstrual cup with most forms of birth control should be perfectly fine, but if you have an IUD, you might want to try out a menstrual disc, as it doesn’t rely on suction to stay in place.
Stress
Chronic stress can affect your body in so many ways. It can throw off your hormones, cause weight fluctuations, disrupt your sleep, and even affect your hypothalamus, which is the part of your brain that helps regulate your menstrual cycle. Is your mind blown too? When we say self-care is vital, we mean it! Looking for something extra cozy when your period does come back? We love the Comfort Brief Leakproof Underwear!
PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which the body produces more androgen hormones, which leads to a hormone imbalance. This can cause cysts in the ovaries and can lead to abnormal or skipped periods. If PCOS makes your periods unpredictable but extra heavy when they do show up, consider giving a reusable menstrual disc a try. It can hold as much as 6 tampons so you can spend less time (and money!) fussing over tampons!
Perimenopause
When you reach perimenopause, or the early stages of menopause, periods start to become pretty unpredictable. You may go months without one, and then have a surprise period that doesn’t seem to want to go away. Perimenopause typically starts around the early to mid-40s and can last up to 10 years. This is your period’s final hurrah! Stay protected against the spotting, bladder leaks, and sweats that perimenopause throws your way with leakproof panties!
These are just a few of the reasons why your period may have decided not to stop by this month, but there are plenty of other reasons. As always, this does not serve as medical advice, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your period’s absence.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/why-is-my-period-late#reasons-for-late-period
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause
