Contents
- Late period: you may be pregnant
- Lack of periods: what about breastfeeding?
- Missing periods: hormonal progestin contraception
- Missing periods: dysovulation, or polycystic ovaries
- No rule: being too skinny can play a role
- Lack of rules: a lot of sport involved
- Can Stress Delay Periods? And how many days?
- I don’t have my period anymore: what if it was the onset of menopause?
- Lack of periods: taking medication
- Lack of periods: an abnormality of the uterus
Late period: you may be pregnant
A late period is one, if not the first, symptom of pregnancy. Ovulation has taken place, the egg has been fertilized by a sperm, and the embryo born from this union has implanted in the uterine lining. The hormones it secretes will maintain the corpus luteum, the residue of ovulation, and thus prevent the elimination of the endometrium, the uterine lining.
Therefore, if you are pregnant, it is quite natural for your period to go away. Hormones secreted during the nine months of pregnancy prevent the lining of the uterus from degenerating, as is usually the case when there has been no fertilization. Pregnancy is characterized by the absence of periods and a menstrual cycle. The return of diapers, and with it the return of periods, occurs on average 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth if you are not breastfeeding.
Lack of periods: what about breastfeeding?
When breastfeeding, prolactin, a hormone secreted during feedings, blocks the normal functioning of the menstrual cycle and delays the onset of the return of childbirth. As a result, your period may take 4 or 5 months (or even longer for those who practice exclusive breastfeeding) before returning after childbirth. Breastfeeding is considered contraceptive if it is exclusive (single-breasted, no formula), a baby is breastfeeding less than six months old and no more than six hours pass between two feedings. However, be careful with the use of breastfeeding as a contraceptive alone: it is not uncommon to have a “surprise” baby shortly after giving birth, due to a return to diapers and unexpected ovulation.
Missing periods: hormonal progestin contraception
Do not be surprised if your periods are less frequent, or even disappear, if you use contraception only containing progesterone (progestin-only, macroprogestative pills, IUD or implant). Their contraceptive effect is partly due to the fact that they oppose the proliferation of the uterine lining. This becomes less and less thick, then atrophies. Therefore, periods are increasingly rare and can thus disappear. No worries, however! The effect of hormonal contraception is reversible. When you decide to stop it, the cycles start again more or less spontaneously, ovulation resumes its natural course and your period returns. For some, from the next cycle.
Missing periods: dysovulation, or polycystic ovaries
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal imbalance that affects between 5 and 10% of women, and is characterized by the presence of multiple immature follicles on the ovaries (called cysts through abuse of language) and an abnormally high level of male hormones (androgens). This leads to ovulation disturbances and irregular or even absent periods.
No rule: being too skinny can play a role
Stopping periods is common in women with anorexia or malnutrition. Conversely, excessive weight gain can also lead to spaced periods.
Lack of rules: a lot of sport involved
Too intensive sports training can disrupt the normal functioning of the cycle and temporarily stop periods. Some high-level athletes do not often have their period.
Can Stress Delay Periods? And how many days?
Stress can interfere with the hormonal secretion produced by our brain – the conductor of our menstrual cycle – and block your ovulation, delaying your periods and making them irregular. Likewise, an important change in your life, such as a move, bereavement, emotional shock, a trip, marital problems … can also play tricks on your cycle and disturb its regularity.
I don’t have my period anymore: what if it was the onset of menopause?
Natural cause of stopping menstruation, menopause appears around 50-55 years. Our stock of ovarian follicles (cavities of the ovary in which an egg develops) is depleted over the years, as menopause approaches, ovulations are increasingly rare. Periods become less regular, then go away. However, in 1% of women, menopause is unusually early, starting before the age of 40.
Lack of periods: taking medication
Certain neuroleptics or treatments used for vomiting (such as Primperan® or Vogalène®) can affect dopamine, a chemical in the body that regulates blood levels. Prolactin (hormone responsible for lactation). In the long term, these drugs are likely to cause menstruation to disappear.
Lack of periods: an abnormality of the uterus
An endo-uterine medical procedure (curettage, abortion, etc.) can sometimes damage the walls of the uterine cavity and cause the periods to suddenly disappear.