Most girls' periods become more regular as they get older.
Tuesday came along, and you had a big red X on your calendar marking the expected arrival of your monthly visitor. That morning, you stuffed your bag full of tampons and pads, but by the end of the day, there was still no sign of it. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday pass, and you're still period-less. What gives?
Am I Pregnant?
If you're sexually active and miss a period, you might panic about being pregnant. Women don't get their periods while they're pregnant — they need the lining of the uterus to provide nourishment for the egg that's been fertilized and implanted. When a woman isn't pregnant, the lining of the uterus is shed as menstrual flow.
If you've had unprotected sex or been in a position where ejaculate (cum) or pre-ejaculate (pre-cum) may have come into contact with the vulva or vagina, then pregnancy is possible. The only way to determine pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test — either by purchasing a home pregnancy test at a pharmacy or being tested by a clinician. Pregnancy can be detected as soon as seven to 15 days after unprotected sex.
However, a missed period doesn't necessarily mean pregnancy. If the test came out negative, or you haven't had unprotected sex, what else could account for your missing period?
Being a newbie. It can take a while for a girl's body to adjust to hormone changes and begin to "run" smoothly and regularly. So if you haven't had your period for a very long, it may not arrive on the same day each month. You may even skip months! No worries — most girls' periods become more regular as they get older.
Cutting fat. A woman's body needs a certain amount of fat to function and to have regular periods. Eating right and exercising is important for having a healthy body, but some people take it too far. Too much exercising or very strict dieting can use up a girl's body fat and delay her period, or cause it to stop until she gains some weight back. The absence of menstrual periods is known as amenorrhea — a sign that hormone patterns have been disrupted. Women who suffer from anorexia and women athletes who train seriously for competition often have amenorrhea.
Birth control issues. Some women who are on the shot have fewer, lighter periods, or stop getting their periods completely while they're on it. Sometimes when women stop taking hormonal birth control — like the pill, patch, or ring — their periods can take a few months to get back to normal. And taking emergency contraception may also throw off a woman's cycle. Click here for an important update about the shot.
Getting stressed. Being really stressed out can delay ovulation, which can throw off your cycle and cause your period to be late.
Taking vacation. Traveling — especially crossing back and forth over time zones — may also mess with your cycle.
Missing a period once in a while for these reasons is perfectly normal. However, if you haven't had your period in a long time and you don't know what's up, it would be a good idea to make an appointment with a clinician. Call 1-800-230-PLAN or use the clinic connections button below to schedule a confidential appointment at the nearest Planned Parenthood health center.
Sexuality and relationship info you can trust from Planned Parenthood® Federation of America
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