Sex may be pervasive in our popular culture, but conversations about it are still associated with stigma and shame in Indian households. As a result, most individuals dealing with sexual health issues or trying to find information about sex often resort to unverified online sources or follow the unscientific advice of their friends.
To address the widespread misinformation about sex, News18.com is running a weekly sex column titled ‘Let’s Talk Sex’. Through this column, we hope to start a conversation about sex and address sexual health issues with scientific insight and nuance.
In this article, we will discuss some of the possible reasons for missed period which do not involve unprotected sex.
The menstrual cycle is a regular part of a woman’s life that is usually predictable and reliable. When a period is missed it can be a cause for concern, but it does not always mean that something is wrong. There are many possible reasons for missing a period, many of which have nothing to do with unprotected sex.
Reasons for missing periods other than having unprotected sex
It can be easy to assume that missing your period is a sign of pregnancy, but there are other possible reasons you should consider. Fluctuating hormonal levels, stress, changes in diet, and even intense exercise can be potential culprits for a missed period. If you’re a woman who’s before or near puberty, it’s not unusual to have a missed period here and there. Some women skip periods even while on birth control pills. So, if you are missing your period and you have not had unprotected sex, consider the reasons given below:
1. Identifying Stress as a Trigger for Missed Periods
Stress is a well-known trigger for missed periods and other abnormalities in menstruation. When you are stressed, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. This can interfere with your reproductive hormones, thereby preventing the body from releasing an egg from the ovary and thus causing a missed period.
2. Birth Control
If you’re on birth control pills, it’s common for cycles to be unpredictable at first. This is because your body is still adjusting to the hormones, and it may take a few months for your cycle to find its rhythm. However, if your periods are still irregular after 6 months of taking birth control, it may be best to talk to your doctor.
3. Hormonal imbalance
The hormones responsible for triggering ovulation are for our body to produce enough progesterone to form the lining of the uterus and menstruation occurs when this lining breaks down because no egg is fertilized. If there are defects in this process, such as not enough estrogen being produced or not enough progesterone being made by the ovaries, menstrual cycles may not occur or you may experience breakthrough bleeding (spotting between periods). Similarly, if there is a disturbance in the way your thyroid gland works, it can also lead to missed periods.
4. Intense Exercise
Intense exercise or over-exercise can also affect hormone levels, which can affect the menstrual cycle and cause missed periods due to low estrogen levels. To protect against such difficulty, it is important to regularly monitor the intensity and duration of physical activity when engaging in aerobic exercise such as long-distance running and biking.
5. Medicines
Some drugs, such as Depo-Provera, can stop your periods for up to 10 months. Other medicines, such as birth control pills, can make your periods lighter or stop them altogether. There are many other drugs that can affect your menstrual cycle, including those used to treat depression, diabetes, epilepsy, and heart disease. Thyroid medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and even some over-the-counter medications can also cause missed periods. Additionally, some recreational drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines, can disrupt hormones and cause missed periods.
If you’re taking any of these medicines and you’ve noticed a change in your menstrual cycle it’s worth talking to your doctor.
6. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause a number of different symptoms. Many people with uterine fibroids do not experience any problems, but for those who do, some of the symptoms may include:
• Irregular menstruation
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• pelvic pressure or pain
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• painful sex
7. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
If your period is missing and you haven’t had unprotected sex, it could be a sign of PCOS. PCOS is an endocrine disorder caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, and it affects approximately 10% of women of childbearing age.
It is important to note that not all women with PCOS experience irregular or missed periods. But if you have symptoms like missed periods or anovulation (absence of ovulation), PCOS could be the cause.
When to See a Doctor for Missing Periods
If you’ve missed your period for a few months, it’s time to call your doctor and see what’s up. Your doctor may request a pelvic exam, or certain blood tests to check your hormone levels. Your doctor will also ask about other symptoms, such as tender breasts, swelling, fatigue, and unexpected weight changes. He may order other tests based on your symptoms and medical history — after all, our bodies don’t always understand. It is important to identify the reason behind a missed period as it could be a sign of something more serious going on inside our body. So don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
conclusion
Although pregnancy is the most common reason for a missed period, it is also important to remember that just because your period is late or missing, does not mean that you are pregnant. There are many other factors to consider and understanding your menstrual cycle and what is normal for you is important. Taking care of your health and talking to your doctor can provide you with the answers and support you need.
Professor (Dr) Saransh Jain is a winner of the Swasth Bharat Ratna Award and is a certified and licensed sexologist by the American Board of Sexology. He is currently Senior Consultant at Dr SK Jain’s Burlington Clinic in Lucknow. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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