What it means when you miss your regular monthly period and you are not pregnant
The missed period
It is 7.59pm as I write this post. It has been such an educating day. I have just finished my cup of hot brewed tea with a muffin. Tea is sexy. I have said this very many times and I will not get worn out repeating. It is magical. Today, I made ginger milk tea. I must say it was delicious. In fact, it was extra delicious. Mostly because it is quite cold and raining heavily outside. If you are like me, this is such perfect weather right? A netflix and chill typa vibe. I will get to it shortly.
I had a doctor's appointment today at noon. I usually get anxious when I have to make a visit to the doctor's office. I suppose its because I lost a father figure sometime last year and we were close. Truth is, I am still recovering from the loss. I'm not quite there yet but I believe time works wonders. He had been diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2017. Never in my life had I thought that this will ever happen especially to him. He was good and genuine, loving, welcoming and would go out of his way to help whenever he could. My true hero. The news and reality of it caught me off-guard. If there was ever a time I fervently prayed to God to take the sickness away, it was that year. I don't know how to place it but it definitely had an effect on me. It is now June 2020 and I still squirm in my seat every time I hear of a doctor's appointment. I actually calm myself down and tell myself at heart that doctors are important and they help. They helped us at that time to preserve a life for over two years. To be exact two years three months. God was infact listening to my prayers and what unfolded I believe was in accordance to His will.
So I left the house at around 11.30am to make it to the gynaecologist's on time. What prompted this visit was something that happened last month regarding my menstrual cycle that I have actually never experienced before. I missed my period that month. They were over 14 days late.
I have never missed my period. It is usually regular and I get my period around the same date every month but last month, I did not. The first thing that came to mind was that I was probably pregnant. I really thought this was most likely the reason because instead of getting the usual aunty flow, it was spots and not consistently but at certain times of the day, mostly in the morning when I woke up.
Seven days into the late cycle, I purchased a home pregnancy kit and the result was negative. I waited three more days and tried a blood pregnancy test instead and it was also negative. Immediately, I knew something was definitely going on. So, I waited a few more days in hope that it would appear and when it did not happen, I booked an appointment.
After a scan and a couple of hormonal tests, it turns out that it was hormonal imbalance affecting the menstrual cycle. A hormonal imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the blood stream. Hormones have an essential role in the body and their imbalance would cause side effects throughout the body. Thankfully, due to developments in technology and medicinal drugs hormones can be regulated and the imbalances brought at the required balance. It is treatable.
There are various causes of hormonal imbalances that can affect the menstrual cycle. The most common ones are:
1. Thyroid problems
2. Stress
3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
4. Eating disorders
5. Diabetes
6. Weight gain
7. Medications, among others.
You must be keen to identify how you and your body feel. Some of the symptoms exhibited before the realization of what was happening was:
1. Nausea
2. Bloating
3. Slight headache.
4. Anxiety and irritability
5. Missed periods.
The symptoms vary among different people. Others may experience weight loss, thinning of hair or an overgrowth of hair. They vary.
Having been educated on this, some of the practices that could prevent these imbalances are such as:
1. Maintaining a healthy body weight.
2. Consistent Exercise.
3. Manage stress.
4. Avoid sugars.
5. Eat healthy, and
6. Drink green tea, among others.
Therefore, if you have a regular or irregular menstrual cycle and out of the blue (for the regulars), it fails to appear as it usually does, I would recommend taking out a hormonal test preferably prescribed by a professional. It is the most common cause as to missed menstrual cycles. Secondly, watch out for what you put into your body and how you treat your body because these actions affect hormones. Lastly, I reiterate, it is treatable. It is common among women so there is nothing to be afraid of and keep track of how you and your body feel.
It is now 9.00pm. I hope by sharing my experience it helps one, two or a couple of you who have or are experiencing this and have no point to start from in addressing the problem or for future reference. Consult a professional, it will make you more at ease. After today's visit, I am confident I have one of the best doctor's in my view. It was a great and insightful conversation. I wouldn't have wished for it to go any other way.
It is time for me to catch that movie. Have a delightful weekend!
Progress and prosper,
Jane.
