Sudden loss of period, why?

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Missing periods can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common causes include lifestyle factors and hormonal imbalances. It is important for patients to see a doctor, amenorrhea will go away on its own if the cause is treated.

1. What is a missed period?

Amenorrhea or amenorrhea is the absence of a period. It can happen to a girl who hasn't had her first period by age 16 or a woman who hasn't had her period for 3 to 6 months.
Amenorrhea can be due to many reasons but the most common cause is pregnancy. However, amenorrhea can also be caused by many different lifestyle factors, including weight and exercise level. In some cases, a hormonal imbalance or problems with the reproductive organs can be the cause.
There are two types of amenorrhea: primary amenorrhea (meaning the patient has never had a period) or secondary amenorrhea (meaning that menstruation has appeared and then stopped).
In most cases of amenorrhea, both of these causes can be effectively treated.

2. Causes of missed period

Some causes are natural, while others are medical conditions that need to be treated. Natural causes that are more likely to cause amenorrhea include pregnancy, lactation, and menopause.
Besides pregnancy, there are many other causes of amenorrhea. Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period, but there are a number of other medical reasons and lifestyle factors that affect your menstrual cycle. Excessive weight loss, hormonal abnormalities, and menopause are the most common causes of amenorrhea if you're not pregnant.
You may miss your period by a month or two, or you may have amenorrhea altogether, which means you have missed your period for three or more consecutive months. Here are 10 common reasons why your period might be late:
2.1. Stress Severe stress alters the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), interfering with ovulation and regular menstruation.
The kind of stress that's severe enough to affect your period is often more than just a problem at work or school.
If you are dealing with an overwhelming or anxious situation that persists, with many missed periods, talk to your doctor and get a referral for advice to help you decide what to do about your period. problems that are causing you stress. Once your stress returns to a manageable level, it can sometimes take months or more for your periods to return to regularity.
2.2. Exercising Too Much Exercising can cause changes in pituitary and thyroid hormones, leading to changes in ovulation and menstruation. It takes hours of strenuous exercise each day to induce these hormonal changes.

If you're planning on exercising for hours a day, be sure to see a sports medicine doctor who can work with you to maintain optimal nutrition, recommended stretching, and testing. blood if needed, so your body can support all the physical demands you're putting it on.
2.3. Having certain medical conditions Certain chronic conditions can affect your menstrual cycle, such as thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pituitary gland tumors (which may or may not be cancerous). , adrenal gland disease, ovarian cysts, liver dysfunction and diabetes.
When any of these conditions interfere with your cycle, it may not return to normal until the condition is treated. Congenital chromosomal disorders such as Turner syndrome and androgen insensitivity syndrome often cause dysmenorrhea and are often associated with amenorrhea.
Acute illnesses such as pneumonia, myocardial infarction, kidney failure or meningitis, can lead to rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies or hormone dysfunction. This can cause you to miss your period during your illness. After the illness is over, it may take several months before your period returns.
2.4. Changes in your schedule If you frequently change shifts, from day to night, and especially if your schedule is erratic, your period can be quite unpredictable.
In general, changes to the schedule shouldn't cause you to miss your period completely but can cause it to start earlier or later than expected. Your cycle may also change by a few days if you experience jet lag.
2.5. Medications Certain medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, and some chemotherapy drugs, can make your periods absent or delayed.
Hormonal birth control pills like Depo-Provera, Progesterone-Only MiniPill, Mirena IUD and Nexplanon can also affect your cycle.
Each type of contraceptive has its own list of predicted effects on your menstrual cycle, some are associated with heavy periods, some are light, and some may be amenorrhea.

2.6. Weight changes Being overweight, underweight, or having major changes in weight all affect your menstrual cycle. Obesity affects estrogen and progesterone and can even cause decreased fertility. Very high body mass index (BMI) has been linked to missed periods, and weight loss may help regulate menstrual cycles in obese women.
Severe underweight also interferes with regular menstrual cycles. When the body lacks fat and other nutrients, it cannot produce hormones the way it should.
Women who have anorexia (eat very little) or burn more calories while exercising than they consume while eating may experience amenorrhea. Usually, gaining weight will help get your period back.
Rapid weight change, such as weight gain or weight loss due to a medical condition, medication, or dietary change, can interfere with hormone production or release, causing you to miss your period one or more times.
2.7. Newly Menstruated A normal menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days in healthy women, but it can vary. This is especially true for young women who have just started menstruating or women who have not had their period for several years and are starting again.
A young woman who has just had a few cycles may take several months without another until regular periods begin. And women who haven't had a period due to birth control use, hormone therapy, or illness may not get their period again every month.
2.8. Perimenopause and menopause Perimenopause is the period of transition from reproductive age to non-reproductive age. Your period may be less or more frequent, more or less frequent. In most cases, they'll be different from what you're used to. Menopause is when you have reached the point where you will no longer ovulate or menstruate. The mean age of menopause is 51 years.
2.9. Breastfeeding You may not have periods at all, or you may have infrequent or very light periods while breastfeeding, especially if breastfeeding provides all or most of your baby. calorie intake.
Many women believe that breastfeeding is a form of birth control, but it is not. Even if you don't get your period while breastfeeding, you could still get pregnant, so use another form of birth control if you're not ready for another baby.
2.10. Ectopic pregnancy If you think you can't get pregnant because you've had an IUD inserted, it's likely that your missed period is a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can sometimes occur due to the shape of the device and may not cause you to give a positive result on a pregnancy test. Your doctor can confirm or rule out this possibility with a pelvic exam or ultrasound.

3. When to Call Your Doctor

A missed period, even if you suspect you already know the reason, is something that should be investigated by your doctor.
You should see a doctor urgently if you experience any of the following:
New or worsening headache Changes in vision Nausea or vomiting Hair loss Lactation or milk production Heavy hair growth

4. What will your doctor do to examine you?

When you see your doctor about amenorrhea, he or she will do a physical exam and ask you about your medical history related to amenorrhea. You should include your normal menstrual cycle characteristics, your lifestyle, and any other symptoms you're experiencing.
Your doctor will also order a pregnancy test if you have not had a period in the last three months. If pregnancy is ruled out, you may need further testing to determine the cause of your amenorrhea. Tests that help make a diagnosis may include tests such as:
Blood tests help your doctor assess the levels of hormones in your body. Prolactin, the hormone LH, and the hormone FSH are all involved in menstruation. Determining your levels of these hormones can help your doctor identify or rule out the cause of your missed periods. An ultrasound allows your doctor to look at the structures of your reproductive system, such as your ovaries and uterus, and check for abnormal growth. A CT scan is a more specialized type of imaging test that gives your doctor clearer pictures of the structures of your reproductive system. These images help your doctor look for masses and tumors in your body. The package of examination and screening for gynecological diseases at Vinmec applies to cases of women with irregular menstrual cycles, amenorrhea, etc. The doctor then gives a scientific treatment plan, avoiding the risk of long-term disease affecting reproductive health and psychophysiology in women.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: healthline.com, nhs.uk, verywellhealth.com