I’m not having a period every month.  Is that harmful?  What if I want to get pregnant?

There are many possible reasons for irregular periods.  If your periods are typically very regular (every 26-32 days or so) and it is unusual for you to not get your period on time, then a pregnancy test is the first thing to check.  If you are not pregnant, another cause might be increased stress.  Yes, stress can affect your menstrual cycle.  Are you experiencing a major life change, recent financial problems, even illness or death of a close friend or family member?

Other medical conditions can affect your cycle as well, such as hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia.  Your weight also plays a role.  Women who are either extremely overweight or underweight can have cycle irregularities.  So, changes in your medical, emotional status and changes in your weight can bring about changes in your cycle.

What about someone who has never had regular cycles?  One of the most common causes of long-term period irregularities is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  These women may not have periods for years at a time.  Others may have periods a couple of times a year.  Patients with PCOS often present with other symptoms such as unusual hair growth, obesity and/or insulin resistance.  But, sometimes, the only symptom is lack of menstruation.  Your health care provider can run some labs and in some cases order a pelvic ultrasound to help confirm the diagnosis.  Unless there is some underlying condition that needs to be addressed (such as obesity or diabetes), the syndrome is more a nuisance than a health risk.  The exception is when trying to become pregnant.  In this case, most patients will need some professional assistance to induce ovulation.

There are, of course, other possible reasons or causes for not having regular periods, and only after reviewing the particular details of your situation can a provider make a diagnosis.  If you are trying to get pregnant, it would be beneficial to make an appointment and talk about this with your provider.  If you are not having regular periods, it stands to reason that you are not ovulating regularly.  This will make pregnancy a little more challenging, but with the right help, definitely possible!

In answer to the question regarding lack of periods being harmful, it is difficult to answer with one broad statement.  It depends on the reason.  Any underlying medical conditions should of course be addressed, and issues that increase stress should be dealt with to help alleviate symptoms as well.   It is best that you discuss your case in detail with your health care professional in order to decide what is best for you.