While it may cause your heart to race, missing yourperioddoesnt always mean youre pregnant.
Lifestyle, age, and health factors can cause your body to skip a menstrual cycle.
If pregnancy is ruled out,other symptomswill help give you and your healthcare provider an accurate diagnosis.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
But there are a few common signs of early pregnancy you could look out for before taking a test.
Missed Period
The average menstrual cycle is about 25 to 30 days long.
Amissed periodmeans youve gone a full cycle without bleeding.
A late period means your period occurred but is off from its usual cycle and does not indicatepregnancy.
Consider taking a pregnancy test if youve passed the longest menstrual cycle you usually have.
Bloating can also point to early pregnancy.
An uncomfortable or extended belly during early pregnancy is different than showing.
Pregnancy hormones can cause changes in your gastrointestinal tract, leading to belching, burping, gas, andconstipation.
When you’re pregnant, a rise in progesterone causes your intestines to slow down.
This can create a backup leading to trouble passing bowel movements too.
In fact, between 11% and 38% of pregnant people experience constipation.
Exercise, drinking plenty of water, and eating high-fiber foods can be helpful during this time.
If none of those provide relief, talk to your healthcare provider for additional measures such as medication.
Amenorrheais a medical term for absent periods when there is no pregnancy.
When the egg implants elsewhere, it is called anectopic pregnancy.
During anectopic pregnancy, you are considered pregnant and will cease menstruation.
(A pregnancy test taken at this time will show a positive result.)
Perimenopause
Perimenopauseis the time of hormonal transition before menopause.
Most women begin noticing perimenopausal symptoms in their 40s, with the average age being 47 years old.
Natural symptoms of perimenopause include lighter, heavier, more frequent, or less frequent periods.
Menopause
Menopauseis when your ovaries have naturally stopped producing the hormones that drive ovulation and menstruation.
Intestinal Gas
Gas in theintestinal tractis perfectly normal.
Most people will pass gas throughout the day in the form offlatulenceor belching.
Excessive gas that leads to bloating, abdominal pain, or feeling full may need further medical attention.
Some causes of excessive intestinal gas are diet, food allergies or intolerances, or swallowing excess air.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorderand depression can also cause menstruation to temporarily cease.
Amenorrhea sparked by chronic stress and depression is called hypothalamic amenorrhea.
Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cystsare common fluid-filled sacs, similar to blisters, that form on the ovaries.
Most types of ovarian cysts are harmless and go away without any treatment.
Signs of early-stage ovarian cancer are often subtle and vague, so its worth keeping an eye out for.
Cycle tracking is especially useful if youre trying to get pregnant.
It can indicate when you are most fertile (ovulating) and if youre late.
Its also an attractive habit for those looking for an extra layer of security against pregnancy.
Managing stress and eating a balanced diet can help regulate your cycle and other important functions like digestion.
Consider getting a food allergy test to reduce the occurrence of stomach gas.
Summary
Missing a period every once in a while is not cause for concern.
A pregnancy test can put your mind at ease and help diagnose the cause of your irregular cycle.
In this case, there may be underlying conditions, like ovarian cysts or perimenopause.
A missed period can be the first sign that something is out of the ordinary.
Seeing your healthcare provider is always a good idea if you notice other unusual symptoms.
Menstruation is one of the most powerful ways your body communicates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dont start worrying until youve passed the longest menstrual cycle you usually have.
Bloating is a commonpremenstrualsymptom, and usually occurs before mensuration.
It’s believed to be resulting from falling hormone levels leading up to your period.
It’s unlikely that a missed period would cause bloating.
Planned Parenthood.Is my mensural cycle normal?
Trottier M, Erebara A, Bozzo P.Treating constipation during pregnancy.Can Fam Physician.
2012;58(8):836-838.
PMID:22893333
National Institutes of Health.Amenorrhea.
2016;25(4):332-339. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556
Mount Sinai.Menopause.
Cost J, Krantz M, Mehler P.Medical complications of anorexia nervosa.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
2015;100(3):812-24. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-3344
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Office on Womens Health.Ovarian cysts.
