The average length of a normal menstrual cycle is 21 to 35 days. It means most women usually have 11-13 menstrual cycles in a year. However, you may always experience changes to your menstrual cycle due to many factors. Some women become seriously worried when they have no period for 3 months or longer. It is not always a cause of concern, but you may want to see your doctor if you do not have a period for at least 40 days. The condition is called amenorrhea. There are definitely many reasons of amenorrhea. Keep reading to find out more.

Causes for 3 Months without Periods

As mentioned, one of the most common reasons of not having a period on the expected date is pregnancy. However, here are some other reasons why you have had no period for 3 months.

1. Pregnancy

If you have missed a period and are also experiencing other issues such as bloating, abdominal cramping and breast tenderness, you may be pregnant. Your hormone levels rise during pregnancy and this helps maintain the thickened endometrial lining, which otherwise sheds when you are not pregnant. Shedding of the uterine lining is what you see as menstrual blood. So be sure to take a pregnancy test to confirm it.

2. Menopause

When you do not have a menstrual period for 12 months, this usually indicates the end of your fertile years. You may also experience irregular periods with other symptoms in the months leading to menopause. It means that having no period for 3 months may indicate that you are approaching your menopausal stage.

3. Secondary Amenorrhea

You can have primary amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea. It is considered primary amenorrhea when you do not have your first period by the age of 16. It is secondary amenorrhea if after having normal menstrual cycles for years you suddenly stop getting your period for at least three months. You may develop secondary amenorrhea due to many different reasons. For instance:

• Hormonal imbalances: You may have no period for three months or longer due to a hormonal imbalance, which may be a result of an overactive thyroid gland, high testosterone levels, low estrogen levels or tumors on the pituitary gland.
• Birth control: You may experience secondary amenorrhea because of hormonal birth control. Hormonal birth control pills such as Depo-Provera can make you experience no period for 3 months. You may experience the same when you take antipsychotic and chemotherapy drugs.
• Structural issues: You may develop a structural issue such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which may affect hormonal balance and cause amenorrhea. Multiple dilation and curettage procedures and pelvic infections may lead to the development of scar tissue and prevent menstruation as well.
• Abnormal body weight: Your body weight can have an impact on your menstrual cycle. You may stop getting menstrual periods if you have less than 15% fat in your body or are very overweight. Athletes who train excessively usually experience secondary amenorrhea.
• Stress: Emotional stress can always disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. You need to try exercises and meditation to help keep stress under control to resolve the issue.

4. Other Causes

In addition to the factors mentioned already, there can be some other reasons of having no period for 3 months. For instance:

• Too much exercise can lead to a missed period. Sporting activities are good for your health, but too much of it can affect your hormonal balance, which in turn will disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycles usually become normal once you stop exercising too much.
• Contraceptive pills play a role in changing the length of your menstrual cycle. This is especially true when you take pills that contain progesterone.
• Some eating disorders can also lead to hormonal imbalance. You usually notice irregular menstrual cycles or your periods may stop completely when you are dieting to lose weight or you are suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Sudden changes in body weight always affect your reproductive health and change your menstrual cycles as well.
• You may experience amenorrhea if you take medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and chemotherapy drugs. Some drugs used to treat hypertension may also make your periods irregular.

How to Deal With No Period for 3 Months

It can be quite frightening to miss your period for 3 months, and you would really want to do something for it.

1. Leave It Along

• While there are steps to take, you should do nothing if you have missed your period due to pregnancy, unless it is an unwanted pregnancy.
• Similarly, there is no need to do anything when you miss your period due to menopause, which is a natural process.

2. Maintain Proper Body Weight

You may consider making lifestyle changes if you are overweight or underweight. Maintaining a healthy body weight is vital to having regular menstrual cycles.

3. Take Certain Supplements

You may also take certain supplements after having no period for 3 months. For instance:

• Take B-vitamins to make it possible for your body to generate new cells. This helps your ovaries to produce ovules, which in turn prevent amenorrhea.
• Take zinc to help regulate a balance in your hormones.
• Take magnesium to help lower the levels of stress hormones in your body.
• Take omega3 fatty acids to trigger the production of reproductive hormones and have regular periods.

4. Seek Medical Help

In order to treat amenorrhea, it is important to consider the underlying cause of your condition first.

• Hormonal imbalances can be treated with synthetic or supplemental hormones.
• Scar tissue, ovarian cysts or uterine adhesions can be fixed with surgical procedures.