Reason for Missed Menstrual Cycle
It is not unlikely for a woman to have a missed menstrual cycle in her child-bearing years. Even though pregnancy is the leading cause, there are many other factors that can cause an irregularity in your monthly cycle. If you have not had a menstrual cycle for more than six weeks, review the following conditions and contact your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy is the leading cause of a missed menstrual cycle, especially in teenagers. If you have had unprotected sexual intercourse in the last month, it is important that you purchase a home pregnancy test or visit your health care provider to rule out the possibility of pregnancy.
Stress
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Stress can cause an abnormality in your menstrual cycle and is a common cause. Stress can involve both emotional and physical strains on your body, both internal and external. Simple changes in your usual routine, schoolwork and tests, a break up or divorce, a death in the family, an important presentation or meeting can all cause your menstrual cycle change its pattern. Your body's menstrual cycle may return to normal once your stressful bout ends and your routines are changed or returned to normal. If you have an on-going problem regulating your stress, visiting a counselor may be a viable option.
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Excess Exercise, Dieting and/or Weight Loss
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Excessive exercise, dieting and weight loss can cause a missed menstrual cycle. According to Jane E. Brody's New York Times article "Personal Health; Effects of Exercise and Menstruation," the side effects of exercise on menstrual cycles can be caused by the loss of body fat, weight loss, diet, emotional stress, and possibly even the release of endorphins, which is known to disrupt the regulation of hormone release. While dieting, you may not only be losing too much body fat, but also not receiving enough vitamins and nutrients into your system. To regulate your menstrual cycle, you may want to change your exercise regime and ensure that you are getting enough vitamins and nutrients.
Menopause
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The early stages of menopause can cause your menstrual cycle to become irregular and, eventually, stop all together. Menopause usually occurs for women 45 or older. If you have other menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, hair loss and excessive hair growth on your face, you may want to visit your health care provider to both ease your mind and discuss options for alleviating your symptoms.
Contraceptives
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Even though contraceptives are sometimes used to regulate the menstrual cycle, they can also cause irregularities. Taking birth control pills can make your menstrual cycle lighter, but sometimes the low dose hormones and other factors can cause you to miss a menstrual cycle. It's important to take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy and possibly talk to your health care provider about switching pills. Depo-Provera, an injected contraceptive, is a common cause of irregularities or cessation in your menstrual cycle.
Hormonal Diseases and Disorders
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The following diseases are not common, but can cause a change in your menstrual cycle:
Thyroid Disease
The thyroid disease hypothyroidism can cause abnormalities in your menstrual cycle due to the gland excreting excess amounts of the hormones. If you believe you may have a problem with your thyroid gland, it is important that you see your health care provider as there are many other symptoms and factors related to this disease that can affect your health.Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome occurs for women who have high levels of androgens (male hormones) and many small fluid-filled cysts in their ovaries. This disorder can not only cause missed or irregular menstrual cycles, but also infertility. If someone in your family has this disorder and you have irregular menstrual cycles, it is important that you see your health care provider to evaluate your symptoms to determine whether this is the cause of your missed menstrual cycles.
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