What does it mean when my period skips?

My period didn’t come! Cue that feeling of overwhelming panic. 

Take a deep breath. Not only do our monthly friends decide to show up unannounced , but sometimes they also decide to take last-minute vacations and ghost us for a month. Truth be told, there is really no such thing as ‘normal’ when it comes to your period.

Though the possibility always exists, a skipped/missed period doesn’t necessarily signal pregnancy. If you’re sexually active it’s best to take a home pregnancy test at least two weeks after a missed period. However, a number of reasons exist that can help explain why your period skipped and put your mind at ease. 

Stress Life throws jabs at you from time to time, and some months hit especially harder than others. Maybe you’re dealing with drama from work or family, your kids have been behaving especially badly, or you have a huge exam coming up. No matter the issue, a higher stress level over a length of time can prevent menstruation. Though not a cause for concern, prolonged stress that continues to inhibit menstruation warrants a visit to your doctor. 

Exercise Training for a marathon or starting out an intense workout regimen? Exercise is undoubtedly healthy for your body but increasing your activity at a much higher rate than you’re accustomed to can delay your period a bit. Our bodies undergo an extreme physical adjustment while adapting to an especially strenuous workout schedule so it’s not uncommon to skip one or two periods in the process. 

Rapid Weight Gain/Loss Hormones play a big role in regulating your menstrual cycle and these same hormones (estrogen and progesterone in case you’re curious) are affected as a result of weight change. Gaining a substantial amount of weight directly affect both hormones as your body’s increasing fat stores produce more estrogen, which can topple the levels within your body.

Similarly, losing a substantial amount of weight in a short time period as a result of restricted caloric intake and increased exercise send stress signals in your system that can cause a skipped period. As always, before planning to undertake a drastic lifestyle change, talk with your doctor. 

Medications If you’re exploring hormonal birth control options, it’s best to prepare for irregular menstruation which includes a skipped period. The length of time it takes your body to adjust to a new contraceptive varies, sometimes taking as long as six months.

 In fact, certain types of birth control like the IUD and NuvaRing stop periods completely. Other types of medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics also possess side effects like a missed period. Consult with your physician to discuss these possibilities. 

A missed period can mean a multitude of things but it’s important to note that the vast majority of women report some type of irregularity. So a missed period or two can be completely normal. However if your period skips over a span of several months, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.