Self Care Articles

Is this your symptom?

• Late or missed menstrual period
• Late period: 5 or more days late compared to normal cycle
• Missed period: no period for more than 6 weeks
• Not using any birth control that stops periods. These products include birth control shots, implants, and IUDs with hormones.
• Not currently bleeding

Normal Cycle. Periods can be regular, infrequent, or irregular. They can stop for all sorts of reasons. Most of the time there is no cause for worry. It is usual for periods to stop:

• During Pregnancy. Periods stop until after the baby is born. They may take a few weeks to restart.
• During Breastfeeding. You will not normally have a period until you have stopped breastfeeding. If you miss some feedings or breastfeed less, you may bleed.
• Menopause. This is when your ovaries stop producing eggs and you stop having periods. It happens around age 50, but can be sooner for some women.
• Birth Control. Some types of birth control can cause very light, occasional or no periods. These include:
  • Progesterone only pill (mini pill)
  • An intra-uterine device (IUD)
  • A progestogen contraceptive injection or implant
  • After stopping a hormonal birth control, it may take your body a few months to start its normal cycle again.

Other Causes

• Stress can affect hormones that manage your periods. Stress, or sudden strong emotions can stop periods. The periods often return once the stressful period is over.
• Dieting, Exercise and Weight Loss. Losing weight may result in periods stopping. If your body mass index (BMI) goes below 19 or if you have an eating disorder, your periods may stop. Women who exercise a lot can also miss periods.
• Polycystic Ovarian Disease. A condition of small cysts in the ovaries and hormone imbalance. You may not ovulate every month, miss periods and find it hard to get pregnant.
• Endocrine Problems. Several affect hormone levels:
  • Prolactinoma is a non-cancerous growth in a small gland which releases too much prolactin. Prolactin is normally released so you start making breast milk after giving birth. Symptoms of a prolactinoma include breast milk production, irregular or no periods, infertility and excessive hair growth.
  • Thyroid Gland Problems. An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can cause your periods to be irregular or to stop.
  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. A rare genetic problem in which the adrenal gland does not produce hormones properly. Can lead to missed periods or no periods.
  • Cushing's Syndrome is caused by too high a level of steroid hormones (cortisol). The body might be making too much cortisol, or it could be from taking steroids to treat another problem or to enhance sports performance or body building.
  • Medicines. Some (non birth control) meds can stop your periods. Examples are meds for schizophrenia, anti-nausea and strong opiate painkillers, such as morphine.

Home Urine Pregnancy Tests  

• Home urine pregnancy tests do not cost very much and are easy to use. Most drugstores sell these tests. No prescription is needed.
• Urine pregnancy tests are very accurate. They can turn positive as early as the first week after a missed period.
• It is best to do the pregnancy test first thing in the morning. Reason: hormone levels are higher in the morning urine.
• Sometimes, a home test is negative even if you think you might be pregnant. In this case, repeat the test. Do the repeat test in 3-5 days. You can also go to a doctor's office for testing.