What Are the Causes of Missed Menstrual Cycle?

A missed menstrual cycle can have a number of causes depending on a woman's age and lifestyle habits. Regular menstruation needs the vagina, ovaries, uterus and cervix to be working normally. Any interruption or impairment to regular functioning can result in a missed menstrual cycle. Amenorrhea is the medical term used by doctors for missed or late menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea is not diagnosed unless you have missed your menstrual cycle for three consecutive months.

Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is the most prevalent cause of amenorrhea in women. Normal menstrual functioning will typically not resume until the child has been born. New mothers who breastfeed their children may also miss their menstrual cycles for more prolonged periods.

Early Menstruation

• Young women who have recently started their menstrual cycles often don't have cycles every month and can even miss them for several months at a time. This is not unusual and may continue for about a year after your menstrual cycle begins.

Lifestyle

• Unexpected lifestyle changes that cause stress or trauma can also result in amenorrhea. Typical triggers include workplace problems, moving your home or the death of a close relative.

Body Weight

• The rapid loss or gain of weight may also be a contributing factor. Amenorrhea is often associated with malnutrition as a result of eating disorders. Intense exercise regimens can also interfere with your menstrual cycle, as they can exert too much pressure on your body and interrupt its normal, healthy functions.

Mental Illness

• Some psychological disorders, such as severe anxiety or depression, can interfere with menstrual cycles. Women may also suffer from pseudocyesis, a condition where a woman believes she has fallen pregnant when she hasn't. The effects of the mental disorder can be so strong that they override normal body functions and result in missed menstrual cycles.

Hormonal Problems

• Some hormonal problems, such as masculinization disorders, resulting in women acquiring physical characteristics of a male, can also prevent a normal menstrual cycle. Contraceptive pills can also affect the hormones and stop menstrual cycles for several months after the treatment has stopped. This is often due to the low levels of estrogen present in contraceptive pills.

  Anovulation occurs when an egg doesn't grow and get released from the womb. This is usually caused by the onset of a premature menopause and can stop menstrual cycles, as stated on The Site culture and education website.

Other Conditions

• Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia can also affect menstrual cycles and may result in infertility if not treated. Ectopic pregnancies occur when a pregnancy develops in the cervix or fallopian tube instead of within the womb. If the condition is untreated, invasive surgery may be necessary and infertility may result.

  Any serious illness, such as brain tumors or other cancers, may cause menstrual cycles to be missed. Some treatment regimens, including chemotherapy, certain medicines and radiation treatment, may also affect normal menstrual functioning.