You may even want to carry an extra pair of underwear. Most of the time, irregular periods are part of the normal changes that can happen when you're a teen. As you get older, your cycle will probably settle into a recognizable pattern.
Sometimes, irregular periods can be caused by some medicines, exercising too much , having a very low or high body weight, or not eating enough calories. Hormone imbalances can also cause irregular periods.
For example, thyroid hormone levels that are too low or too high can cause problems with periods. Some girls have extra androgen, a hormone that can cause hair growth on the face, chin, chest, and abdomen. Extra androgen can also makes girls gain weight and have irregular periods. Talk to your doctor if you have had sex and have missed a period because you could be pregnant. Also let the doctor know if:. The doctor may prescribe hormone pills or other medicines, or recommend lifestyle changes that can help you to have regular periods.
Reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Irregular Periods? Irregular periods are very common, especially in a girl's first few years of getting her period. What Are Regular Periods? These may include: back cramps or stiffness heavier breasts or breast soreness headaches acne breakouts disturbed sleep patterns mood swings bloating loose stools How Can I Be Prepared?
Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. For more information, see the topic Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa. Increased exercise. Missed periods are common in endurance athletes. Emotional stress. Medicines such as birth control methods, which may cause lighter, less frequent, more frequent, or skipped periods or no periods at all. Hormone problems. This may cause a change in the levels of the hormones that the body needs to support menstruation.
Illegal drug use. Problems with the pelvic organs , such as imperforate hymen , polycystic ovary syndrome , or Asherman's syndrome. Many women do not resume regular periods until they have completed breastfeeding. Check Your Symptoms Have you missed any periods, or have your periods been irregular? Irregular means different than what is normal for you more or less often, longer or shorter, heavier or lighter.
How old are you? Less than 15 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.
If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Are you pregnant? Yes, you know that you're pregnant. No, you're not pregnant, or you're not sure if you're pregnant.
Do you have symptoms of shock? Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy, like you are going to faint? It's normal for some people to feel a little lightheaded when they first stand up. But anything more than that may be serious. Do you have new pain in your lower belly, pelvis, or genital area that is different than your usual menstrual cramps?
How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Have you started having periods? Do you think that a medicine could be affecting your periods? Think about whether the problems started when you began taking a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine. Is there any chance that you could be pregnant? Has a home pregnancy test shown that you are pregnant?
Have you been planning to get pregnant? Do you use a form of birth control that contains hormones? This could be birth control pills, implants, vaginal rings, skin patches, injections, or an IUD that contains hormones. Have your periods been different than what your doctor told you to expect with your birth control?
This could mean that they are lighter or heavier or that you have missed periods when you weren't expecting to. Have you missed two periods for no clear reason, such as pregnancy? If a recent home pregnancy test has said that you are not pregnant, then there is no clear reason for your missed periods. Have your problems lasted more than 2 cycles?
These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect. You may need care sooner. Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury. Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include: Passing out losing consciousness. Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out. Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions. Women who suspect that they have PCOS should visit their doctor for an evaluation.
If not properly treated, an absence of periods during childbearing years may cause endometrial cancer. Women should not rule out pregnancy as a possible reason that their period is late, even if they are using contraception. Women can still get pregnant even if they use birth control correctly. A sexually active woman with a late period should use a home pregnancy test. It is important to note that there are no forms of birth control that are percent effective.
Anyone who is pregnant should seek prenatal healthcare right away. A woman who has a negative result on the home pregnancy test but whose period still does not start should see a doctor.
If a woman is concerned about missed periods, it can be helpful to keep a written record of her periods, including the start and end dates, and a list of any other associated symptoms. If a doctor has a written record to refer to, they can make a diagnosis more quickly. Using a simple calendar can work, but there are also apps available for smartphones. Sometimes, a late period is an isolated occurrence and is not a cause for concern. A person can miss a period while taking birth control pills for many reasons.
The pills contain several hormones that affect the menstrual cycle, and…. Most women have a regular menstrual cycle, but periods can become irregular under some conditions. Find out what causes menstruation to become…. Eight possible causes of a late period. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.
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