A missed period doesn't always mean that you are pregnant.
Missing your menstrual period can be an emotional and stressful time. If you are sexually active, pregnancy may be the the first thing on your mind when your period fails to arrive on its due date. Before panicking, it is important to remember that there are multiple reasons why your period could be late or missing.
Pregnancy
Although pregnancy is not the only cause of a missed period, it is one of the most common. If you have reason to believe you are pregnant, go to the drug store and purchase an over-the-counter pregnancy test. If the test comes back positive, it is important to make a doctor's appointment for firm confirmation. Even if the test comes back negative, it is still possible you are pregnant. Sometimes if you take the test too soon, the hormone that sets off the pregnancy test is not potent enough in your urine yet to produce a positive result. If your period is still missing by your next cycle, make a gynecologist appointment. Your gynecologist can determine if you are pregnant, and if you aren't, she can look into other reasons for your missed period.
Eating Disorders
If you have been engaging in extreme dieting or are suffering from an illness such as anorexia or bulimia, it is possible to miss a period. Losing your period due to lack of nutrition does not happen overnight. Ovulation stops as a result of long-term malnutrition over several months. Your body needs nutritious food to operate the right way. If your period has stopped and you believe it is due to excessive weight loss, it is time to get help. You need to get your ovulation cycle back on track. You may also be damaging several other parts of the body by not eating the correct amount of calories per day.
Travel and Stress
Anytime your routine or hormones are thrown out of whack, you stand the chance of throwing off your menstrual cycle. These causes are usually not responsible for a huge change, however. If you are under a lot of stress at work, you may skip your period once and have it return the next month. When going on a long vacation, you may notice that your period can arrive a week early or a week late. As long as you have no other strange symptoms and you are practicing safe sex, there is typically nothing to worry about in either of these scenarios.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone-based condition and a common cause of infertility in women. PCOS sufferers usually do not have typical periods every 28 days due to their extreme hormonal imbalances. Some patients may get their period every other month while others may only get a light period once or twice a year. If you are unsure if you have this condition, there are other signs to look out for. Many women with this disease also experience excessive weight gain and a lot of body hair growth before diagnosis. If you are experiencing either of these symptoms in addition to a missed period, make an appointment to see your doctor.
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