While a missed or irregular period is not usually cause for alarm, it can sometimes indicate a bigger issue is going on.
Women often miss or have a late period when they are under high stress, whether emotional or physical. If you find yourself in this situation, but your period is back on track the next month, you don’t have cause to worry.
But what if it continues to be irregular? Is it time to schedule a health checkup with your gynecologist?
“There are only three times in a woman’s life when her periods can be irregular but completely normal,” explains Jonathan Scher, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “Those times are after the first period (or “menarche”); the first few periods after a miscarriage, abortion, or childbirth; and before menopause. During these times, ovulation is not taking place.”
If you find yourself struggling with any of these symptoms for more than a month or two, it may be time to find an OB/GYN:
- Large clots or unusually heavy periods
- Extreme or sharp pain during your period
- Spotting in between periods
- Missing multiple months in a row