There are a lot of reasons why your period may have decided to bludge and not come see you this month. This is totally normal! If you have been sexually active and didn’t use contraception (c’mon, you should know better!), and your period is MIA then head to the local pharmacy and get a home pregnancy test. But just before you go shopping for maternity clothing, did you know that there are other reasons you're late? Stress and other lifestyle factors could also put your period on the missing items list.

 

Some reasons you could be late

• There are some illnesses that can make your period skip a month here or there.
• If you get a bad case of the flu or a really icky stomach bug you might skip your period for the month.
• It can be associated with Turner’s Syndrome, which can affect your body in a heap of ways; it can stunt your growth and other parts of puberty in general. If your ovaries don’t develop correctly lots of problems with your reproductive system can pop up. That includes having skipped periods.
• Asherman’s syndrome normally only affects older women and is caused by scar tissue forming in the womb (it’s normally because of some kind of op you have had ‘down there’) and can cause a woman to miss her period or the period to stop completely.
• Thyroid problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Tuberculosis and Diabetes can also cause you to skip a period here and there.
• It's quite a mouthful but Polycistic Ovary Syndrome (or PCOS) is a condition that basically wrecks your hormones. It causes your eggs to develop cysts that delay your period and also makes you break out in pimples and facial hair. While it's not completely curable, there are ways to treat it if you see a doctor early on.
• Eating disorders can also be blamed. With all the pressure from the media to be stick thin, some have taken to starving themselves to look 'good'. They might just not eat enough (Anorexia) or be sick after they've eaten (Bulemia). Your body actually needs a certain amount of body fat, around 22%, to function. If it doesn't get that precious fat, it can mess with your hormones and normal processes like periods. If you think you have an eating disorder or think a friend might, let an adult you trust know.
• But at the end of the day, it's important to know that skipped periods are more common than you think. So, unless you have had unprotected sex or have any of the symptoms mentioned above you shouldn’t be that worried. If you are still stressing, make an appointment with the doc so you don't have to stress.

The advice provided in this material is general in nature and is not intended as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please consult your health care professional.