It might take a few years for the hormones to attain balance and result in monthly menstruation. As a woman reaches menopause, irregular periods are likely. A woman can be considered as having attained menopause when it has been twelve months since she had her last period.

A sexually active woman should consider a missed period as a warning bell of pregnancy. You should consider yourself to be pregnant and should take the necessary precaution until the possibility is ruled out for sure. Home pregnancy test will, more or less, provide a reliable picture.

If you are not pregnant, the most common cause of a sudden disruption of menstrual cycle is weight. However, low weight generally does not make alterations in the menstrual rhythm. On the other hand, obesity is found to make adverse interferences in the period pattern.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia also are found to be a common cause of missed periods. Athletes often get disrupted menstrual cycle due to the strenuous exercise to which their body is exposed. Missed periods are also common in those women who suffer from severe emotional stress and other mental irregularities such as depression. Continuous travel might also break the menstrual cycle abruptly.

You do not have to wonder why you are getting irregular periods if you are taking contraceptive pills or some other hormonal birth control techniques. Hormonal irregularities result in skipped periods. In some women, menstrual cycle does not get initiated at all for a prolonged period as an after effect of hormonal changes. Breast-feeding mothers also experience delay in getting their menstrual cycle resumed.

How to tackle periods after delivery

One of the privileges associated with pregnancy, apart from the anticipation of a lovely baby, is that you do not get periods for months on end. However, after the delivery, they will return though the occurrence will be affected by how you are feeding your child.

Although it is not a strict rule, women who breastfeed their babies find that their periods do not return as soon as those who are not breastfeeding their babies.

It is generally estimated that anytime after about thirteen weeks, the return of periods is likely. In a woman who is exclusively feeding, at least three months delay is more likely.

Even if you continue to breastfeed, it is likely that the periods return after six to eight months.

Certain other factors also play a decisive role in determining the recommencement of periods after delivery. If the mother happens to be obese, her estrogen levels will prompt a more rapid return of menstrual periods. Tiredness, stress and other factors also affect the arrival of periods. If you had irregular periods before you got pregnant, by all probable means you will return to this rhythm after delivery as well.

However, it is generally found that after the sixth month of delivery, periods will become regularized both in their frequency and flow. First period is likely to be irregular. It can either be too short or too long. There is absolutely no need to panic unless you experience severe pain.

Immediately after the delivery, you can expect bleeding for the first few weeks. It might last to a maximum of twelve weeks. If you had a caesarian section, it is likely that the bleeding lasts for a longer period. Raised temperature, fatigue and odorous clots are quite normal during this period. This bleeding is likely to become a bit too heavy, but there is absolutely no need to panic. It is advisable to keep away from doing any strenuous activity during this period.