Health Guide©

MISSED or IRREGULAR PERIODS (Unexpected periods)

If you've reached the age when the menopause is possible or likely, then this inevitable event must move to the top of your list of possible causes for the missed period. You may have already experienced some of the other symptoms of menopause. Your periods may also be irregular for considerable period of time before they cease altogether.

Symptoms:

• Frequent bleeding.
• Irregular bleeding, sometimes heavy, sometimes light.
• Bleeding in between periods.
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse.
• Bleeding after menopause.

Common causes:

• Hormonal disorders (e.g., thyroid problems).
• Stress.
• Disorders of the reproductive organs (e.g., cancer, tumors).
• Pelvic infection.
• Disease (e.g., liver disease).
• Polyps or growths or infection on the lining of the cervix (neck of the uterus), which may bleed, particularly when instructions are missed (e.g., skipped pills, starting on the wrong date) or those with low hormones.
• Certain medicines.
• Miscarriage or threatened miscarriage.
• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian.

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