Missed or Irregular Periods

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Topic Overview

Most women have between 11 and 13 menstrual periods each year. You may be different: You may have more or fewer. Missed or irregular periods must be looked at in terms of what is normal for you.

Menstrual periods are often irregular during the first few years after menstruation starts. It may take several years for the hormones that control menstruation to reach a balance.

Menstrual periods also may be very irregular at the other end of the menstrual years. Many women realize that they are approaching perimenopause and menopause when their otherwise regular periods become irregular. Menopause occurs when it has been 12 months since you had a menstrual period.

Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period. If you might be pregnant, treat yourself as if you are pregnant until you know for sure. Use a home pregnancy test as the first step to finding out whether you are pregnant.

If you are not pregnant, other causes of missed or irregular periods include:

  • Excessive weight loss or gain. Although low body weight is a common cause of missed or irregular periods, obesity also can cause menstrual problems.
  • Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. For more information, see the topic Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.
  • Increased exercise. Missed periods are common in endurance athletes.
  • Emotional stress.
  • Illness.
  • Travel.
  • Medicines such as birth control methods, which may cause lighter, less frequent, more frequent, or skipped periods or no periods at all.
  • Hormone problems. This may cause a change in the levels of the hormones that the body needs to support menstruation.
  • Illegal drug use.
  • Problems with the pelvic organs, such as imperforate hymen, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Asherman's syndrome.
  • Breastfeeding. Many women do not resume regular periods until they have completed breastfeeding.

Remember, you can still become pregnant even though you are not menstruating. Practice birth control if you do not wish to become pregnant.

Premature ovarian failure is when you stop menstruating before age 40. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis may cause premature ovarian failure.

Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, tuberculosis, liver disease, and diabetes can cause missed or irregular periods, although this is rare. But if any of these diseases are present, you will usually have other symptoms besides menstrual irregularities.

If you've skipped a period, try to relax. Restoring your life to emotional and physical balance can help. Many women miss periods now and then. Unless you are pregnant, chances are your cycle will return to normal next month.

Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.

Check Your Symptoms

Have you missed any periods, or have your periods been irregular?
Irregular means different than what is normal for you (more or less often, longer or shorter, heavier or lighter).
Yes
Missed or irregular periods
No
Missed or irregular periods
How old are you?
Less than 15 years
Less than 15 years
15 to 25 years
15 to 25 years
26 to 55 years
26 to 55 years
56 years or older
56 years or older
Are you male or female?
Male
Male
Female
Female
Are you pregnant?
Yes, you know that you're pregnant.
Pregnancy
No, you're not pregnant, or you're not sure if you're pregnant.
Pregnancy
Do you have symptoms of shock?
Yes
Symptoms of shock
No
Symptoms of shock
Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy, like you are going to faint?
It's normal for some people to feel a little lightheaded when they first stand up. But anything more than that may be serious.
Yes
Feels faint
No
Feels faint
Do you have new pain in your lower belly, pelvis, or genital area that is different than your usual menstrual cramps?
Yes
Lower abdominal, pelvic, or genital pain
No
Lower abdominal, pelvic, or genital pain
How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?
8 to 10: Severe pain
Severe pain
5 to 7: Moderate pain
Moderate pain
1 to 4: Mild pain
Mild pain
Have you started having periods?
Yes
Has started menstrual periods
No
Has started menstrual periods
Do you think that a medicine could be affecting your periods?
Think about whether the problems started when you began taking a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Yes
Medicine may be causing symptoms
No
Medicine may be causing symptoms
Is there any chance that you could be pregnant?
Yes
Possibility of pregnancy
No
Possibility of pregnancy
Has a home pregnancy test shown that you are pregnant?
This means the result is positive.
Yes
Positive home pregnancy test
No
Positive home pregnancy test
Have you been planning to get pregnant?
Yes
Preparing for pregnancy
No
Preparing for pregnancy
Do you use a form of birth control that contains hormones?
This could be birth control pills, implants, vaginal rings, skin patches, injections, or an IUD that contains hormones.
Yes
Hormonal birth control method
No
Hormonal birth control method
Have your periods been different than what your doctor told you to expect with your birth control?
This could mean that they are lighter or heavier or that you have missed periods when you weren't expecting to.
Yes
Periods are different than expected with birth control
No
Periods are different than expected with birth control
Have you missed two periods for no clear reason, such as pregnancy?
If a recent home pregnancy test has said that you are not pregnant, then there is no clear reason for your missed periods.
Yes
Two missed periods without obvious cause
No
Two missed periods without obvious cause
Have your problems lasted more than 2 cycles?
Yes
Problems have lasted more than 2 cycles
No
Problems have lasted more than 2 cycles

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

  • Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
  • Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
  • Medicines you take. Certain medicines, herbal remedies, and supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
  • Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
  • Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

  • Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
  • Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
HomeTreatment
RelatedInformation

Pain in adults and older children

  • Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
  • Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
  • Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.

Symptoms of shock (most of which will be present) include:

  • Passing out (losing consciousness).
  • Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
  • Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
  • Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can affect the menstrual cycle. A few examples are:

  • Aspirin and other medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (for example, Aleve).
  • Hormonal forms of birth control, such as birth control pills, Depo-Provera injections, Implanon or Nexplanon implants, and the levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena).
  • Hormone therapy.
  • Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).
  • Thyroid medicines.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

  • Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
  • If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
  • If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
HomeTreatment
RelatedInformation

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

  • Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
  • You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
    • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
    • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

  • Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
  • If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
  • If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.
HomeTreatment
RelatedInformation

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call911or other emergency services now.

Pregnancy-Related Problems

Home Treatment

There is no home treatment for missed or irregular periods. But the following information may help you find the cause of your missed or irregular periods:

  • Eat a balanced diet. Being underweight or overweight can cause missed and irregular periods. For more information, see the topics Healthy Eating and Weight Management.
  • If you are an endurance athlete, you may have to cut back on your training. Be sure to talk with your doctor about hormone and calcium supplements to protect against bone loss if you are missing periods. For more information, see the topic Fitness.

If you think you might be pregnant

Do a home pregnancy test if you have had sex since your last period. If the result is positive, practice the following good health habits until you see your doctor:

  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
  • Do not use alcohol or drugs.
  • Avoid caffeine, or limit your intake to about 1 cup of coffee or tea each day.
  • Do not clean a cat litter box, to avoid the risk of toxoplasmosis.
  • Avoid people who are ill.
  • Take a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid or a prenatal vitamin.

If the home pregnancy test is negative but you continue to have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results. Practice good health habits until you see your doctor.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:

  • You have early symptoms of pregnancy, such as:
    • Missed periods.
    • Increased urination.
    • Fatigue.
    • Breast tenderness or enlargement.
    • Nausea and vomiting.
  • You have missed more than two menstrual periods in a row.

Prevention

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent missed or irregular periods.

  • Avoid fad diets that greatly restrict calories and food variety, and avoid rapid weight loss. To maintain a healthy weight, focus on eating a variety of low-fat foods. For more information, see the topics Healthy Eating and Weight Management.
  • Use contraception consistently, as directed by your doctor. For more information, see the topic Birth Control.
  • Increase exercise gradually. For more information, see the topic Fitness.
  • Learn and practice relaxation exercises to reduce and cope with stress. For more information, see the topic Stress Management.

If you participate in endurance sports, you may miss periods or stop menstruating. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and keep track of your periods. Tell your doctor about any changes in your menstrual periods.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

  • What was the date of your last menstrual period?
    • When was your previous period? Was it normal?
    • If you are a teen, do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 21 to 45 days?
    • If you are an adult, do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 21 to 35 days?
  • How old were you when your periods began?
  • Are you sexually active?
  • What type of birth control are you using? How long have you been using it?
  • Have you missed any birth control pills or failed to have your hormonal injection according to schedule?
  • Have you done a home pregnancy test? When did you do the test? What was the result?
  • Have you been under increased physical or emotional stress?
  • Have you recently changed your diet or exercise habits?
  • Have you recently gained or lost weight?
  • What prescription and nonprescription medicines are you taking? Are you using illegal drugs?
  • Do you have any health risks?

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofMarch 20, 2017

Current as of: March 20, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine