A late, irregular, or missed period can indicate anything from simple stress to a serious medical condition. Most women usually get their periods every 28 days. However, any menstruation cycle ranging from 21 to 35 days is also considered normal. Sometimes, a slight change in the cycle can occur due to change in workout regime, illness, stress, or minor hormonal imbalance. Moreover, if one is experiencing either onset of the menstrual cycle or menopause, irregular periods become almost inevitable given the changes that the body goes through during these times.
Some of the reasons for late and irregular periods are listed below.
1. Obesity or low body weight
Women who are underweight usually suffer from disordered functioning of the body. For an underwent weight body, it is difficult to keep up with overall process ovulation. Late or missed periods can also be associated with health disorders like anorexia in skinny girls. Therefore, in such conditions, health experts advise women to gain appropriate kilos to regulate the overall functioning of the body. On the flip side imbalance in hormones can also lead to irregular periods in overweight women. More often, obesity in women can point towards other health complications like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that directly affects period cycles. Therefore, in every case maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is suggested.
2. Stress
While uninstalling social media apps like WhatsApp and Instagram may help one to be at peace for some time, stress may lead to a more serious mental health issue by directly affecting hypothalamus- a part of the brain that is responsible for regulating the periods. Moreover, stress can impact both weight loss and weight gain that leads to an imbalance in the menstruation cycle. If you haven’t been taking care of yourself lately add up some meditation and exercise in your schedule.
3. PCOS
During PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) your body starts producing more male hormones or testosterone. As a result of hormonal imbalance, ovaries develop a layer of a cyst and make ovulation irregular.
4. If you are on birth control pills
If you keep going on and off on birth control pills, you may experience a change in your menstruation cycle. Birth control pills are rich in hormones like progestin and estrogen that helps in preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg. Moreover, other kinds of birth control that are either injected or implanted can also cause missed periods.
5. Early menopause
Unlike other women who experience menopause at the age between 45-55, some experience it around their early 40s’. If the periods are being irregular or missed altogether and you are around 40s’ you might be just experiencing early menopause. However, getting a period after a year of menopause calls for an immediate medical checkup.
6. Thyroid issues and chronic diseases
Long-lasting diseases like celiac disease and diabetes can also impact your menstrual cycle and can easily be cured with medical assistance. Moreover, an underactive or overactive thyroid gland could also be responsible for missed or late periods. These issues can be treated with proper medication and periods are likely to return back to normal.
7. When to schedule a doctor’s visit?
In most of the cases, irregular or missed periods are normal and are not to be worried much about but one must seek a doctor’s visit in all cases of unusually heavy bleeding, nausea, bleeding that lasts longer than seven days, high fever, or extreme pain.
