A girl's period might be delayed or absent for various reasons, ranging from natural causes and lifestyle factors to underlying medical conditions. In many cases, it is a normal part of development, but a medical consultation may be necessary.
Lifestyle changes like stress, significant changes in diet, and extreme exercise can be reasons for a late period. Certain medications and health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also cause irregular cycles and a late or missed period. Pregnancy can also cause a missed period.
If your daughter hasn't had her first menstrual cycle by 15, or if more than three years have passed since she started developing breasts, she should see a physician.
Hormonal Imbalances
Because hormones play a crucial role in regulating your menstrual cycle, changes in hormone levels can disrupt the cycle. Imbalances in thyroid hormones, insulin, or reproductive hormones may cause late or irregular periods.
Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has not had a period by age 15. The most common causes of primary amenorrhea relate to hormone levels, although anatomical problems also can cause amenorrhea.
Causes of missed or late periods
Common causes of a missed or late period include: being pregnant. stress. the start of menopause (perimenopause), usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
A phantom period is a phenomenon where you experience menstrual symptoms but never actually bleed. It happens when your body goes through hormonal shifts without shedding the uterine lining.
5 Ways To Jumpstart Your Menstrual Cycle
The most common reasons are:
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Genetics and environment both play a role in triggering menarche: Heredity: Your genes influence when you get your first period. People commonly get their periods when their mother did. Hormones: Hormones in your brain and your sex organs regulate your menstrual cycle and play a role in menarche, too.
Periods stop due to natural events like pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause, but also from lifestyle factors such as extreme weight changes, excessive exercise, and high stress, hormonal imbalances from conditions like PCOS or thyroid issues, certain medications (birth control, antidepressants), and underlying medical issues, all causing a condition called amenorrhea.
Signs of pregnancy
A delay in the menstrual period can be concerning. For most women with regular cycles, periods typically occur every 21 to 35 days. A short delay—up to seven days beyond your expected period—can be normal and may be due to factors like stress, changes in routine, significant weight changes, illness, or travel.
Many reasons might delay your period, such as stress, hormonal imbalance, or lifestyle changes like a new schedule. Hormones regulate the menstrual cycle, and many things can affect your hormone function and balance. For most people t is also completely normal to fluctuate in weight, for example to gain weight.
Medications and drugs
Some medications that can cause a missed period include antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, chemotherapy drugs, and steroids. Cannabis and opioids can also make your periods irregular, less frequent, or may cause them to stop completely.
Some recommended natural remedies to induce periods are:
A stress period looks like menstrual changes due to hormonal disruption, featuring spotting, early/late/missed periods, heavier/lighter flow, longer duration, bigger clots, more cramping, worse PMS, and potential loss of libido, alongside physical signs like headaches, fatigue, muscle tension (neck/back pain), jaw clenching, and digestive issues, all stemming from elevated cortisol and disrupted reproductive hormones.
Normal Menstruation
The abrupt decline in progesterone and estradiol levels at the end of the luteal phase triggers the shedding of the endometrium, which can no longer be sustained without these hormones. This shedding is referred to as menses.
While dehydration alone may not directly cause a late period, poor hydration and excessive caffeine consumption can contribute to hormonal imbalances and increased stress on the body, which may delay ovulation. Staying hydrated and moderating caffeine intake can help maintain overall menstrual health.
The first sleeping position in this category is the fetal position. In this position, you lie on your side with your knees tucked towards your chest. It helps reduce stress and relax the abdominal muscles. The fetal position helps females with menstrual cramps and prepares the body for menstruation.
For longer-term or chronic stress, the menstrual period can be delayed by much longer or even just missed entirely for a month or for several months. It is common for those suffering from significant levels of stress that endure long-term to experience very erratic and inconsistent menstrual cycles.
Why do I have cramps but no period? Your period may be late or, depending on your other symptoms, you could be pregnant or have one of several other conditions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, uterine fibroid or polyps, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Here are 9 signs your hormones may be out of whack: