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Contents
  • Stress and Your Cycle
  • Energy Balance
  • Weight and Amenorrhea

The Surprising Causes of Missed Periods

The Surprising Causes of Missed Periods

Why It Matters

Understanding the hidden causes of missed periods can help you address underlying health issues and restore your menstrual cycle.
Contents
  • Stress and Your Cycle
  • Energy Balance
  • Weight and Amenorrhea

Stress and Your Cycle

Stress is a major factor that can disrupt your menstrual cycle. It affects the brain's ability to signal your ovaries, causing missed periods. This condition, known as FHA, often occurs when stress is combined with low energy from dieting or excessive exercise.

Energy Balance

Your body needs a balance of calories for healthy hormone production. When you eat too little or burn too many calories through exercise, your body may stop menstruating to conserve energy. This energy deficit is a common cause of FHA.
A condition where stress and energy imbalance disrupt the menstrual cycle, leading to missed periods.

Weight and Amenorrhea

Significant weight loss or being underweight can lead to FHA. Your body may interpret low body weight as a sign of starvation, halting menstruation to protect itself. Monitoring weight and maintaining a healthy BMI can prevent this from happening.

FAQs

What role does stress play in FHA?

Stress can disrupt hormonal signals, leading to missed periods.

How does energy balance affect menstruation?

Too little energy from food or too much exercise can stop periods.

Can weight loss cause amenorrhea?

Yes, especially if it results in low body weight.

Is FHA reversible?

Yes, by managing stress and ensuring proper nutrition.

The Bottom Line

Addressing stress and energy balance is key to preventing functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.
Get started by discussing your symptoms with Doctronic to uncover possible causes.
Additional References
  1. Gordon CM, Ackerman KE, Berga SL, et al. Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2017; 102:1413.
  2. Hagmar M, Berglund B, Brismar K, Hirschberg AL. Hyperandrogenism may explain reproductive dysfunction in olympic athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41:1241.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.