The mot common cause of a missed menstrual cycle is pregnancy. However, in some cases wherein the pregnancy test turns out to be negative despite absence of menstruation, also referred to as amenorrhea; the concerned woman may be left bewildered with respect to the reason behind the same.

In absence of pregnancy, missed menstrual cycle could be an indication of many health conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prominent causes of irregular periods or missed periods. This medical condition is characterized by imbalance in hormonal levels and irregular ovulation. Some of the other symptoms of PCOS are facial hair, over weight and acne. There are several methods of contraception that could result in the stoppage of menstruation such as Depo-Provera and Plan B.

Women making use of birth control pills also may land up with amenorrhea, in case they miss the dosage for the last week of the month. The prevalence of Asherman’s syndrome could be another possible reason for irregularities in menstrual cycle. This syndrome highlights scarring in the uterus, which could be a consequence of treatment administered for uterine fibroids, caesarean sections for delivery of newborn, and dilation and curettage (D&C). The repercussion of this syndrome ranges from irregular periods to extremely faint bleeding.

Research highlights a close correlation between menstruation and stress. It has been observed that stressful circumstances in life such as marital discord or death cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle. However, the cause of amenorrhea amongst women undergoing treatment for cancer is not stress but the premature disruption of ovary functioning triggered by the malignancy and treatment. Some of the other common causes of missed periods include sudden alteration in one’s weight, excessive exercising and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

Some of the lesser common medical conditions associated with irregularity in periods include diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypothyroidism, liver disease and tuberculosis. However, more often than not the fundamental disease causing the irregularity is overlooked.

Finally, even intake of certain medicines could trigger irregularities in a woman’s monthly cycle. As per information furnished by Mayo Clinic, consumption of medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs and oral corticosteroids could be a possible cause of missed periods. Menstruation is a highly vital and essential natural process in a woman. Therefore, absence of periods should be taken seriously. Whatever the cause may be, it is important to diagnose it at the earliest with medical assistance as irregularities in menstruation can lead to several other health disorders.

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