Late periods

On this page:

1.When is it not normal?

2. When is it normal?

3. Causes

Is it normal or not?

For most women, getting their period is like a monthly thumbs-up that says, "Hey, everything's working fine in the fertility department!" But when the period decides to go absent (known as amenorrhoea), it can either be totally normal or it might be a little red flag that something's up and needs attention. 

 Learn about the missing period. Know Your Flow, Stay in the Know!

You are absolutely right to be concerned because persistent missing periods can have long-term effects on your bones, heart, and fertility. But the key word here is PERSISTENT absence. So there is a time when you should watch and wait and there is a time when you need to seek medical attention. 

Here's when it's worth investigating with your healthcare provider :

• No period by age 15 (time to investigate!) or aged 13y in the absence of secondary sexual characteristics*
• Six months without a period if you used to have regular cycles (time to investigate!)

Based on the above - don't ignore the signs—your body's trying to tell you something, and checking in with your doctor can help you stay in tip-top shape!

*Puberty: Most girls develop signs of puberty (called secondary sexual characteristics) like breast development and body hair before they start their periods. This usually happens by the age of 13. 

Here is when it is totally normal to have absent periods:

• before puberty 
•  up until the age of 15 for girls who have developed signs of puberty
• up to 3-6 months of a last period
• during breastfeeding
• at pregnancy
• at menopause

Click below to find out the CAUSES for why periods go missing!