Missed period but not pregnant

Missed Period

Most women suffer from irregular menstrual bleeding and missed period may be normal to them. However, unless it is connected to pregnancy missed period may point to some underlying medical conditions which need to be taken seriously, be diagnosed on time and treated properly.

If a woman is missing her period she instantly thinks she is pregnant. But pregnancy test does not have to be positive. This can be rather confusing and if the following cycle comes on time the woman simply forgets what happened until it occurs again. Even then, many women tend not to go to their gynecologists like they are supposed to.

Causes of Missed Period apart from Pregnancy

Missed period is medically known as amenorrhea. Amenorrhea can be primary or secondary. Primary amenorrhea is a state when a girl has not yet experienced her first period. It is not so common and is usually connected to abnormalities in reproductive organs. In secondary amenorrhea there is no menstrual bleeding for at least three months in women who have already had menstrual bleeding.

Certain drugs and medications that are taken to cure other illnesses may be a cause of missed periods. So, missed period in this case is a side effect of these medications. Even contraceptives can cause missed periods.

Changes in weight can be another cause of missed periods. Obese women are prone to problems with menstrual cycle and fertility. Obesity leads to hormonal imbalance which consequently interferes in normal menstrual cycle. But, even skinny women may experience problems with menstrual bleeding. Extremely thin women have not enough fat tissue and they also suffer from hormonal imbalance. This imbalance eventually causes amenorrhea. This particularly refers to women suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.

Nowadays missed periods are connected to stressful and hectic lifestyles. Problems at home, heavy overload and death of relatives and friends can cause missed period. Too much stress leads to increased production of GnRH, a hormone which can stop the ovulation and may consequently lead to missed period.

One more cause of secondary amenorrhea is peri-menopause. Peri-menopause is a transition from reproductive period to menopause. It features with occasional absence of menstrual bleeding.

And finally, there are certain chronic illnesses that can interfere in normal menstrual cycle. Chronic diseases require permanent therapy with certain medications. So, either the very chronic disease is responsible for missed period or amenorrhea is caused by prolonged usage of certain medications. Medical conditions that may interfere in menstrual cycle include thyroid gland diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome etc.