06/15/2025
Even if you've already ruled out pregnancy, there are various reasons your periods could be irregular or temporarily cease. The most common reasons for irregular periods include the following:
Stress and anxiety: Too much stress or anxiety impacts the body in many ways, so it's no surprise it can also impact your cycle. This is because stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, can interact with the s*x hormones that regulate menstruation, causing your periods to be longer, heavier, shorter, or even stop altogether temporarily. Hormonal changes or imbalances: When your hormones get out of whack, your period may be affected. This could be for a wide range of reasons, including reasons listed here, such as underlying conditions, stress, or breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding: Prolactin is a hormone that plays a role in breastmilk production. Too high prolactin can suppress ovulation and menstruation in some people, especially those who are breastfeeding exclusively. This is not harmful, and menstruation usually resumes once breastfeeding becomes less frequent.
Underlying Conditions: A missed or irregular period may be a sign of an underlying condition such as PCOS, thyroid issues, fibroids, or endometriosis. To rule this out, it's recommended you talk with your doctor, especially if you exhibit any other signs of such a condition.
Medications: Certain medications such as aspirin, NSAIDs, birth control, thyroid medications, antidepressants, epilepsy medications, or chemotherapy drugs can alter your menstrual cycles for the worse and require medication adjustments.
Lifestyle changes: Excessive exercise, such as seen by those who compete in various sports, or rapid weight loss can disrupt hormones and cause periods to become less frequent or stop. If you're concerned about the regularity of your Menstrual cycle, it's best to talk to your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Acupuncture can also help regulate your cycle and combat painful period symptoms!
