Missing your Period
What could be making you miss your period? Read on to find out

A regular menstrual cycle is usually a good sign of health, which means, conversely, that a late or missed period might be a sign that something is wrong. There are several reasons for late or missed periods, but if the problem continues for several menstrual cycles, ask your doctor about your menstrual cycle and possible causes for its irregularities.
Pregnancy and missed periods
Although one of the first signs of pregnancy is a late period, missed periods do not necessarily mean that you are pregnant. If you are sexually active and you missed your period, it is always a good idea to take a pregnancy test, even if you’ve been using contraception. Birth control is not 100% foolproof, although it comes pretty close, so taking a pregnancy test will allow you to rule out one possible cause.
If your pregnancy test comes out negative, then consider whether or not gained or lost a significant amount of weight, you’ve recently been sick, have been under excessive stress or have taken any new medications. These factors can all affect your menstrual cycle and cause you to have irregular periods. Certain types of birth control, including the birth control pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant, can cause you to have menstrual cycles disturbances.
Light periods
Sometimes, your period might be shorter and lighter than your usual menstrual flow. This could be a sign that you didn’t ovulate during your monthly cycle, and if the problem continues, contact your health care provider. If you’re taking birth control pills, a lighter, shorter period is a common side effect of taking pills.
If you are sexually active, take a pregnancy test if the lighter period is pink or brown in color. This could be implantation bleeding and this could be an early sign of pregnancy. If this bleeding is accompanied by a sharp pain in your lower abdomen, you should contact your health care provider to see if you are having an ectopic pregnancy.
Ongoing periods
A longer period is also another common problem with various causes. Uterine fibroids might be causing a longer period. These should be investigated by a doctor. These can grow to be large and impair your fertility. If you’re experience bad cramps and notice clots in your blood, you might be having a miscarriage. This also requires an immediate visit to the doctor.
New IUD users may have longer periods due to the IUD irritating the uterine wall.
Early periods
You might notice blood before your usual menstrual cycle. This is known as spotting and can be a sign of an infection, a cyst or a polyp in your vagina, cervix or uterus and should be investigated by a doctor. Spotting is also caused by stress. Spotting is also a side effect of using the birth control pill.