Is this your symptom?
- Late or missed menstrual period
- Late period: 5 or more days late compared to normal cycle
- Missed period: no period for more than 6 weeks
- Not using any birth control that stops periods. These products include birth control shots, implants, and IUDs with hormones.
- Not currently bleeding
Normal Cycle. Periods can be regular, infrequent, or irregular. They can stop for all sorts of reasons. Most of the time there is no cause for worry. It is usual for periods to stop:
- During Pregnancy. Periods stop until after the baby is born. They may take a few weeks to restart.
- During Breastfeeding. You will not normally have a period until you have stopped breastfeeding. If you miss some feedings or breastfeed less, you may bleed.
- Menopause. This is when your ovaries stop producing eggs and you stop having periods. It happens around age 50, but can be sooner for some women.
- Birth Control.
Some types of birth control can cause very light, occasional or no periods. These include:
- Progesterone only pill (mini pill)
- An intra-uterine device (IUD)
- A progestogen contraceptive injection or implant
- After stopping a hormonal birth control, it may take your body a few months to start its normal cycle again.
Other Causes
- Stress can affect hormones that manage your periods. Stress, or sudden strong emotions can stop periods. The periods often return once the stressful period is over.
- Dieting, Exercise and Weight Loss. Losing weight may result in periods stopping. If your body mass index (BMI) goes below 19 or if you have an eating disorder, your periods may stop. Women who exercise a lot can also miss periods.
- Polycystic Ovarian Disease. A condition of small cysts in the ovaries and hormone imbalance. You may not ovulate every month, miss periods and find it hard to get pregnant.
- Endocrine Problems.
Several affect hormone levels:
- Prolactinoma is a non-cancerous growth in a small gland which releases too much prolactin. Prolactin is normally released so you start making breast milk after giving birth. Symptoms of a prolactinoma include breast milk production, irregular or no periods, infertility and excessive hair growth.
- Thyroid Gland Problems. An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can cause your periods to be irregular or to stop.
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. A rare genetic problem in which the adrenal gland does not produce hormones properly. Can lead to missed periods or no periods.
- Cushing's Syndrome is caused by too high a level of steroid hormones (cortisol). The body might be making too much cortisol, or it could be from taking steroids to treat another problem or to enhance sports performance or body building.
- Medicines. Some (non birth control) meds can stop your periods. Examples are meds for schizophrenia, anti-nausea and strong opiate painkillers, such as morphine.
Home Urine Pregnancy Tests
- Home urine pregnancy tests do not cost very much and are easy to use. Most drugstores sell these tests. No prescription is needed.
- Urine pregnancy tests are very accurate. They can turn positive as early as the first week after a missed period.
- It is best to do the pregnancy test first thing in the morning. Reason: hormone levels are higher in the morning urine.
- Sometimes, a home test is negative even if you think you might be pregnant. In this case, repeat the test. Do the repeat test in 3-5 days. You can also go to a doctor's office for testing.
When to Call for Menstrual Period - Missed or Late
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call 911 Now
- Passed out (fainted) or too weak to stand
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Severe stomach or shoulder tip pain
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Home pregnancy test is positive
- You want a pregnancy test done in the office
- You had sex within the last 3 months, even if a birth control method was used
- Recent breast swelling, weight gain or nausea
- Milk leaking from your breasts
- Have missed 2 or more periods and prior periods were regular
- You have hot flashes and are under age 45 years
- Recent weight loss
- Intense exercise may be the cause of no periods
- You have not had a period for a year since stopping hormone-based birth control
- Cause is not clear
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Pregnant or could be pregnant
- Recent stress (such as starting at a new job, relationship or marriage break-up) causing late period
- Recently stopped a hormonal contraceptive (within the past year)
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
