There are many reasons why you may miss your period or it may stop. Most of the time it is temporary and nothing to worry about.
Most women have a period about every 28 days. But it's common to have a shorter or longer gap between your periods (between 21 to 40 days). Sometimes the gap between your periods may be different each time. This means your periods might come early or late.
Read more about irregular periods.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- your periods have not started by the time you're 16
- you've missed more than 3 periods in a row but you're not pregnant
- you've missed your period and have other symptoms such as weight gain, tiredness, hair growth on your face or acne
- your periods stop before you're 45
- you're still bleeding when you're over 55
Why your periods might stop
There are some common reasons why you may miss your period or it stops.
Pregnancy
If you're sexually active and your period is late, you may be pregnant.
Pregnancy is a common reason why periods unexpectedly stop.
Your period may also simply be late. You can wait a few days to see if it arrives. If it does not arrive, you can do a pregnancy test.
You can get pregnant in the days after your period is normally due. This can happen if the release of an egg (ovulation) is delayed.
Stress
If you're stressed, your menstrual cycle can:
- become longer or shorter
- stop altogether
- become more painful
Try to avoid becoming stressed by making sure you have time to relax. Physical activity and breathing exercises can help you relax.
If you're finding it hard to cope with stress, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may help. CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and act.
Your weight and your period
Losing a lot of weight suddenly can cause your periods to stop. Severely restricting the amount of calories you eat stops your body from producing the hormones it needs for ovulation.
Having extra weight can affect your menstrual cycle. Your body may produce too much oestrogen (a female hormone).
Too much oestrogen can:
- affect how often you have your period
- cause your periods to stop
Your GP may refer you to:
- a dietitian
- an eating disorder specialist if your weight loss is caused by an eating disorder
Doing too much exercise
Intense exercise can put stress on your body. This can affect the hormones responsible for your periods. Losing too much body fat through intense exercise can stop you ovulating.
You'll be advised to reduce your level of activity if too much exercise has caused your periods to stop.
Contact your GP if you are an athlete and your periods stop.
Contraception
You might miss a period every so often if you're taking the contraceptive pill. Some types of contraception can cause your period to stop altogether. This is not usually a cause for concern.
These include:
Your periods should return when you stop using these types of contraception.
Menopause
You may start missing periods as you get closer to the menopause. This is because your oestrogen levels start to decrease and you stop ovulating regularly. After the menopause, your periods stop completely.
The menopause is a natural part of ageing in women. It usually happens between ages 45 and 55.
But around 1 in 100 women go through the menopause before age 40. This is known as premature ovarian failure or early menopause.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovaries contain many harmless follicles. Follicles are underdeveloped sacs that release an egg when you ovulate. If you have PCOS, these sacs may not release an egg. This means you do not ovulate.
PCOS is very common. It is responsible for up to 1 in 3 cases of stopped periods.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Other health conditions
Periods can also stop as a result of a medical condition.
These include:
- heart disease
- poorly managed diabetes
- an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Diagnosing stopped or missed periods
If you're sexually active and you have not taken a pregnancy test, your GP may get you to take one.
They may also ask you about:
- your medical history
- your family's medical history
- your sexual history
- any emotional issues you're having
- any recent changes in your weight
- the amount of exercise you do
Your GP may recommend waiting to see if your periods return on their own. In some cases you may need treatment.
Referral to a specialist
If your GP thinks a medical condition might have caused your periods to stop, they may refer you to a specialist.
You may be referred to:
- a gynaecologist (a women's health specialist)
- an endocrinologist (a hormone specialist)
You may have scans and tests, such as:
- blood tests - to see if you have abnormal levels of certain hormones
- an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan - to identify any problems with your reproductive system or the pituitary gland in your brain
Treating existing conditions
If a medical condition has caused your periods to stop, you may need treatment for the condition.
If PCOS is the cause, you may need the contraceptive pill or progesterone (a hormone) tablets.
If early menopause (premature ovarian failure) is the cause, you may need hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Your GP will refer you to a specialist.
If you have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), you may be given medicine to stop your thyroid producing too many hormones.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
