Why Is My Period Late?

One of the questions I'm asked most often is "Why is my period late?". Although, pregnancy is the most common cause of absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), many times, the women will also assure me that they are definitely not pregnant. So, what else can cause an absence of menstruation?

If you have missed 3 or more menstrual cycles, and you haven't already sought professional medical advice, it's time to seek medical care to determine the underlying cause. Only a qualified health care provider can determine the cause of amenorrhea. You should also be alert to other signs that signal a need for medical attention. These signs include:

Your doctor has several choices for diagnosing the cause of amenorrhea. He can do a progestin challenge with 7 to 10 days of medication to see if it triggers bleeding. This will tell him if menstruation stopped because of a lack of estrogen. Thyroid disease and pituitary disorders can be determined by blood testing. Pituitary tumors can be detected with diagnostic imaging equipment.

How absence of menstruation is treated depends on the cause. The treatment can be as simple as lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, stress reduction, or can include hormone replacement therapy, as well as other medications when appropriate.

Source:

Menstrual Disorders. Healthywomen.org. http://www.healthywomen.org/healthtopics/menstrualdisorders. Accessed 08/21/2009.

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