One of the scariest sentences if you aren't trying to start a family is, "My period is late." Missing or having a late period may be more common than you think. "There are many reasons for irregular cycles," says Dr. Melinda Miller-Thrasher, OB GYN of Innovative Women's HealthCare Solutions. Here, Dr. Miller-Thrasher shares her expert advice about five of the most common reasons.
1. Hormone imbalance
Did your period start or stop sooner than normal the previous month? Did it not come at all? Having a hormone imbalance could be behind your irregular cycles. "PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a classic example of this and can be diagnosed with history and lab work by your provider," says Dr. Miller-Thrasher. Learning if you have PCOS is critical, as the condition is associated with diabetes and infertility.
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2. Stress
Have you been going through some trying times at work, or are you dealing with a devastating situation? A lot of what happens in our bodies is affected by our emotions. When your period is about to start your body releases an egg from your ovary. When the mind and body is going through a stressful phase, this could cause the egg's release to be stalled, therefore prolonging the start of your period, and in some cases, completely skipping it. "Learning how to cope with stress, which is an inevitable part of life, may prevent it from affecting your menstrual cycles."
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3. Illness
Your body has a strange way of looking out for you, but it naturally has your best interest in mind. When you are ill your body knows that you aren't equipped to handle a pregnancy. According to Dr. Miller-Thrasher, "The stress associated with illness alerts the body, which increases cortisol but shuts off your reproductive hormones responsible for normal ovulation and fertility."
4. Poor diet
"There is a clear association between diet, weight and menstrual cycle regularity. A poor diet, associated with malnourishment is associated with late onset of menses, irregular cycles and cessation of the cycle. It is the body's way of preventing pregnancy when there is insufficient nutrition to sustain a pregnancy." On the flip side, overeating can lead to obesity, which is also linked with irregular cycles.
5. Medication
Sometimes your medications can throw off your cycle. These include:
- Anticoagulants to prevent the formation of blood clots
- Antipsychotic meds
- Thyroid medication
- Antibiotics
"Be sure to disclose all of the medications you take to your provider. The good news is that the effect of these medications will wear off once you stop taking them." If there is a medication you must take long term, talk with your doctor about possible alternatives.
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