How long can illness delay your period

Secondary amenorrhea might happen to you if you:. PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that interferes with the release of an egg ovulation. Many people with PCOS have irregular, late or missing periods. Other symptoms of PCOS include:. Doctors diagnose PCOS by checking your symptoms and performing medical tests when needed.

Medication and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms. They can cause physical symptoms, too — and your periods could be in the line of fire. Hormonal birth control contains progestin or a combination of progestin and estrogen. These hormones stop ovulation and prevent pregnancy.

Hormonal contraceptives include:. Some hormonal birth control causes a false period known as withdrawal bleeding. Your GP may recommend waiting to see whether your periods return on their own. In some cases you may need treatment for your periods to return. You should also see your GP if your periods stop before you're 45 or if you're still bleeding when you're over If your GP thinks a medical condition might have caused your periods to stop, they may refer you to a consultant who specialises in the condition.

If test results show a medical condition has caused your periods to stop, you may be offered treatment for your condition. For example, if the cause is PCOS, you may be advised to take the contraceptive pill or tablets containing a hormone called progesterone.

Read more about the treatment of PCOS. If the cause is early menopause premature ovarian failure , this means the ovaries no longer function normally.

Hormone medicine is usually recommended. Treatments may include the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy HRT. If you have an overactive thyroid gland, you may be given medication to stop your thyroid producing too many hormones. Read more about treating an overactive thyroid gland. Page last reviewed: 02 August Next review due: 02 August Stopped or missed periods.

Why your periods might stop There are a number of reasons why your periods can stop. The most common reasons are: pregnancy stress sudden weight loss being overweight doing too much exercise taking the contraceptive pill the menopause polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS Periods can also sometimes stop as a result of a medical condition, such as heart disease , uncontrolled diabetes , an overactive thyroid , or premature menopause. Pregnancy You might be pregnant if you're sexually active and your period is late.

Stress If you're stressed, your menstrual cycle can become longer or shorter, your periods may stop altogether, or they might become more painful. Sudden weight loss Excessive or sudden weight loss can cause your periods to stop. Being overweight Being overweight can also affect your menstrual cycle.

You may be different: You may have more or fewer. Missed or irregular periods must be looked at in terms of what is normal for you. Menstrual periods are often irregular during the first few years after menstruation starts.

It may take several years for the hormones that control menstruation to reach a balance. Menstrual periods also may be very irregular at the other end of the menstrual years. Many women realize that they are approaching perimenopause and menopause when their otherwise regular periods become irregular. Menopause occurs when it has been 12 months since you had a menstrual period. Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period.

If you might be pregnant, treat yourself as if you are pregnant until you know for sure. Use a home pregnancy test as the first step to finding out whether you are pregnant.

Remember, you can still become pregnant even though you are not menstruating. Practice birth control if you do not wish to become pregnant. Premature ovarian failure is when you stop menstruating before age Surgery, chemotherapy , and radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis may cause premature ovarian failure. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome , tuberculosis , liver disease , and diabetes can cause missed or irregular periods, although this is rare.

But if any of these diseases are present, you will usually have other symptoms besides menstrual irregularities. If you've skipped a period, try to relax. Restoring your life to emotional and physical balance can help. Many women miss periods now and then. Unless you are pregnant, chances are your cycle will return to normal next month. Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor. Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need.

These include:. You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home. Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can affect the menstrual cycle. A few examples are:. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care. Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them.

Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital.

There is no home treatment for missed or irregular periods. But the following information may help you find the cause of your missed or irregular periods:.

Do a home pregnancy test if you have had sex since your last period. If the result is positive, practice the following good health habits until you see your doctor:. If the home pregnancy test is negative but you continue to have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results.

Practice good health habits until you see your doctor. Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. If you participate in endurance sports , you may miss periods or stop menstruating. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and keep track of your periods. Tell your doctor about any changes in your menstrual periods. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:.

Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. Bleeding Disorders. December 27, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Pregnancy Pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriages can also affect when your period comes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!

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