Some people’s periods come every month on the dot while periods are unpredictable for others, and they may come as a shock. Sometimes, they don’t always happen at all and this does not necessarily imply that you are expecting a child.
Irregular periods are expected when a person first starts having periods, during nursing, and at the commencement of perimenopause. Most people have their periods every 28 days on average and a healthy person’s menstrual cycle lasts from 21 to 35 days.
A missed period aside from puberty, menopause, and pregnancy, could signal a health problem.
Here are some Causes of a missed periods aside from pregnancy
- Stress
One of the most common causes of missing periods is stress. Stress can cause hormonal imbalances and sometimes, alter the hypothalamus which is the portion of the brain that controls your menstrual cycle.
- Low body weight
A missed period can also be caused by low body weight. Menstruation may be absent in people with eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa because you may cease ovulating if your body weight is too low. Getting help for your eating disorder and healthily gaining weight can help you get back on track.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
PCOS is a condition in which your body creates too much androgen, a male hormone. Ovulation ceases or becomes irregular as a result of this hormonal imbalance which causes cysts to grow in the ovaries causing missed periods.
- Birth control
The hormones, progesterone and estrogen, found in birth control can hinder the ovaries from producing eggs and without ovulation, the period cannot occur. After discontinuing the pill, it might take up to six months for your cycle to return to normal. Missed periods can also be caused by other types of contraception that are implanted or injected.
- Thyroid issues Irregular periods can be caused by an underactive or hyperactive thyroid gland and because the thyroid gland regulates your body’s metabolism, thyroid problems can also impact hormone levels causing you to miss a period.
Nwachineke Onyeke Chekwube reporting, Obinwannem news writer/ October 29, 2021
