As a woman, missing your menstrual cycle can be a significant cause for concern and may require the proper diagnosis of a doctor. This absence of menstruation can be categorized into primary and secondary amenorrhoea.
While primary amenorrhoea applies to girls who have not started menstruating at 16, the latter, that is, secondary amenorrhoea occurs in people who have missed three or more months of menstruation without conceiving. It has been noted that secondary amenorrhoea affects about 3-5 percent of adult women.
Therefore, this article will examine why a woman may miss her menstrual cycle.
Causes of Amenorrhoea
First, it should be noted that there are several natural causes of amenorrhoea, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and even menopause. In these cases, there is no need to consult your doctor.
Therefore, in the absence of the above factor, where a woman has not seen her period, it may imply a specific abnormality in her body. These abnormalities may be caused by the following:
- Birth Control
A well-known side effect of birth control tablets is that they can prevent your periods from coming when they should or stop them altogether. This situation may occur during the first few months of starting a new pill, particularly in circumstances where you do not take any placebo pills and don’t even observe a pill-free week once every month.
Injections, implants, and intrauterine hormonal devices (IUDs) are some other forms of birth control that have the potential to influence a woman’s menstrual cycle.
- Low body weight
Low body weight can obstruct the hypothalamus and pituitary gland from working correctly. This can result in functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea, a type of amenorrhoea.
- Stress
Another type of functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea can be caused by stress. It has been reported that people who suffer from this type of amenorrhoea are also at a high risk of developing depression and anxiety.
- Excessive Exercise
Furthermore, research has shown that half of the women who engage in vigorous exercises experience minor menstrual problems.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome:
Finally, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that is known to affect about 6-8 percent of women globally. This hormonal disorder can be diagnosed through various signs, including:
- Excessive hair growth;
- Irregular periods;
- Difficulty with getting pregnant;
- Weight gain etc.
Conclusion
It is important to consult your doctor, who will diagnose the specific condition and prescribe the proper treatment for such a condition.
