Hormonal birth control is used to prevent pregnancy andregulate menstrual cycles.
However, it is still possible to miss periods even on birth control.
This article discusses the causes of late or missed periods on birth control.
Illustration by Julie Bang
Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s advice on when and how to switch.
Your doctor can advise you on when to expect your period to return.
In some cases, people stop getting a period over time.
But don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions if you notice changes that you weren’t anticipating.
The part of the brain that controls the menstrual cycle is called the hypothalamus.
One body part the pituitary gland regulates is the ovaries, which release hormones called estrogen and progesterone.
These hormones induce a period.
When the body is under stress, it makes a hormone called cortisol.
This hormone can interfere with the interaction among the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries.
This can cause your period to be late.
Missing a period due to exercise may be an indication you are not eating enough for your activity level.
Dietary Changes
An inadequate diet can cause you to miss a period.
This is due to the body realizing it wouldn’t be able to support a pregnancy.
The reproductive system then shuts itself down in an act of self-preservation.
Sudden or extreme weight loss may cause periods to stop.
People with eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia may find their periods stop.
Eating too much can also cause problems with periods.
Gaining weight can cause the body to produce too much estrogen, which helps regulate the menstrual cycle.
Too much estrogen in the body can cause irregular periods, or cause them to stop entirely.
Abnormal Hormonal Balance
Hormonal imbalances in the body may cause periods to stop.
During the menstrual cycle, hormones cause the lining of the uterus to thicken.
A period happens when the uterus sheds this lining, because a fertilized egg did not implant here.
If you suspect you may be pregnant, take an at-home pregnancy test.
If you are concerned about a possible pregnancy, take an at-home pregnancy test.
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NHS.Missed or late periods.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What causes amenorrhea?
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Penn Medicine.Irregular periods: Why is my period late?
