Not getting your period (or it being late) is very common, and it can happen for many different reasons, some simple and some more serious. I’ll walk you through the main possibilities, what to watch for, and when you should see a doctor.

First thing to consider

The very first question doctors usually ask is:

  • Could you be pregnant? Even if you used contraception, there is always a small chance.
  • If there’s any chance you could be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test (use first‑morning urine and follow the instructions carefully) and repeat in a few days if your period still hasn’t come.

If you get a positive test or are unsure how to read it, contact a healthcare professional as soon as you can.

Common non‑pregnancy reasons your period is missing

Here are some of the most frequent causes doctors see when someone asks “why am I not getting my period?”

  1. Stress (mental or physical)
    • Big life changes, ongoing anxiety, exams, work pressure, family problems, or trauma can all delay or stop ovulation for a while.
 * Your body makes more cortisol when you’re stressed, and this can interfere with the brain signals that control your menstrual cycle (hypothalamic amenorrhea).
  1. Weight changes and eating patterns
    • Rapid weight loss , very low body fat, strict dieting, or eating disorders can all switch off periods.
 * **Weight gain** and higher body weight can also cause hormonal imbalance and irregular or missing periods.

 * Not eating enough for how much you move (undereating + heavy exercise) is a big trigger.
  1. Exercise and overtraining
    • Intense or high‑volume exercise (distance running, intense workouts, dance, elite sports) can stop periods for months if your body is under too much physical stress or low on energy.
  1. Hormonal conditions (like PCOS)
    • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of irregular or missing periods.
 * You might notice:
   * Acne
   * Extra hair on the face/body
   * Thinning hair on the scalp
   * Weight gain or trouble losing weight
 * If this sounds familiar, it’s important to get checked, because PCOS is treatable.
  1. Thyroid or other hormone problems
    • An overactive or underactive thyroid can make your periods lighter, heavier, irregular, or stop altogether.
 * Problems with the **pituitary gland** (the hormone “control center” in the brain) can also cause missed periods.
  1. Birth control and medications
    • Hormonal contraception (pill, patch, ring, implant, hormone IUD, shot) can make periods:
      • Lighter
      • Irregular
      • Or stop completely, especially with some pills, injections, or hormonal IUDs.
 * Some other medications (certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, epilepsy medicines, chemotherapy, thyroid drugs) can affect your cycle.
  1. Breastfeeding
    • If you recently had a baby and are breastfeeding, it is very common not to get periods for months because the hormone prolactin suppresses ovulation.
  1. Perimenopause or early ovarian problems
    • If you’re in your mid‑40s to mid‑50s, irregular or missed periods can be a sign of perimenopause.
 * If you’re under 40 and your periods are stopping, doctors might check for **primary ovarian insufficiency** (early loss of ovarian function).
  1. Chronic illnesses
    • Conditions like diabetes, celiac disease, or other long‑term illnesses can affect hormones and nutrition, which may lead to missed periods.
 * Severe acute illnesses with big weight or stress changes can also temporarily stop your period.
  1. Structural or rare causes
  • Scarring inside the uterus (Asherman’s syndrome), congenital differences in reproductive organs, or certain tumors (often benign) can cause absent periods.

How long is “too long” to miss a period?

Health sites and guidelines often use the word amenorrhea for long gaps without periods.

  • If you used to have regular periods and:
    • You miss your period for 3 months in a row , that’s considered secondary amenorrhea and should be checked.
  • If your periods were always irregular and:
    • You have no period for 6 months , you should be evaluated as well.

You do not need to wait that long if you feel something is wrong, have pain, positive pregnancy tests, or other worrying symptoms.

Red‑flag symptoms: get medical help urgently if…

Contact a doctor or urgent/emergency care right away if you have any of these along with a missed period:

  • Severe lower belly or pelvic pain , especially on one side.
  • Dizziness, fainting, or shoulder pain with a missed period (could be ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency).
  • Very heavy bleeding “out of nowhere” (soaking pads/tampons every hour, large clots).
  • Fever, bad pelvic pain, or foul‑smelling discharge (could suggest infection).
  • Vision changes, severe headaches, or milky nipple discharge when you’re not breastfeeding (could be a hormone‑secreting pituitary issue).

What you can do right now

You can start by checking a few things yourself and then planning next steps:

  1. Do a pregnancy test (if there is any chance of pregnancy).
  1. Look at the last 3–6 months
    • Have you had big stress changes (school, work, family, relationships)?
 * Did your **weight** change quickly (up or down)?

 * Have you been **restricting food** , changing diets, or skipping meals?

 * Have you started or intensified **exercise** recently (running, gym, sports)?

 * Did you recently **start, stop, or change** birth control?

 * Any new **medications** or diagnosis of a long‑term illness?
  1. Support your body
    • Try to:
      • Eat regularly with enough calories and a balance of carbs, protein, and fats.
   * Aim for consistent sleep and basic stress‑management (walks, breathing exercises, talking to someone you trust).

   * Avoid over‑training; add rest days if you exercise heavily.
  1. Track your cycle
    • Use a simple calendar or app to note:
      • Bleeding days
      • Cramps, mood, discharge, or other symptoms
    • This record is very helpful for a doctor to see patterns.

When to book a doctor’s appointment (even if you feel okay)

You should arrange to see a GP, gynecologist, or other reproductive‑health professional if:

  • You are not pregnant and:
    • You’ve had no period for 3 months (if previously regular), or
    • No period for 6 months (if always irregular).
  • Your periods were always irregular and now have basically stopped.
  • You have strong symptoms suggestive of PCOS (acne, extra body/facial hair, weight gain, irregular cycles).
  • You suspect an eating disorder, over‑exercise, or severe stress is involved.
  • You are under 16 and have never had a period at all (this is called primary amenorrhea).

At the appointment they might:

  • Ask detailed questions about your cycle, weight changes, food intake, exercise routine, stress, and family history.
  • Do a physical exam, sometimes including a pelvic exam.
  • Order blood tests (pregnancy, thyroid, prolactin, hormones) and possibly an ultrasound of your ovaries and uterus.

Quick reality check

Missing or late periods are common , and often the cause is something fixable like stress, lifestyle changes, or a hormonal imbalance that can be treated. But a stopped period is your body’s way of saying “pay attention,” especially if it goes on for a few months.

If you’d like, you can tell me:

  • How late your period is
  • Your age
  • Whether there’s any chance of pregnancy
  • Any big life/health changes recently

and I can help you think through which causes are more likely and what to bring up with a doctor. This is general information only and does not replace medical advice from a professional who can examine you in person.