Why Is My Period MIA?
Twice a month, Yahoo Health’s Hormone Whisperer Alisa Vitti, HHC, is answering the most common questions about hormones and how they relate to weight, sex, acne, bad moods, low energy, and everything in between. Read her introductory column to learn more about Alisa’s approach to stopping hormonal chaos and getting into hormonal flow.
THE QUESTION: My period suddenly went MIA and I’m not pregnant. What is going on?
ALISA’S ANSWER: Ahh, our period… She’s like that totally unpredictable friend, the one you want to have around but not be the center of attention — but then all of a sudden she’s acting out and totally sucks up all the energy in the room.
You want (and deserve) to have a period be there for you on the regular, and be easygoing — like you! (Except, of course, when you lose your cool because she’s MIA.)
I’ve been there — I used to have a condition called PCOS (also known as polycystic ovary syndrome) and I wouldn’t get my period for months at a time. Sometimes I would have all the symptoms that made me feel hopeful that I’d be getting it, but then, alas, it wouldn’t show up. I know how frustrating this can be, and I know not everyone reading has PCOS. In fact, there are several conditions where women miss their periods sporadically like this when there is no pregnancy, such as PCOS, amenorrhea, perimenopause, premature ovarian failure, and thyroid irregularity.
Related: 3 Reasons Why You May Be Missing Your Period
However, many women who don’t have PCOS, who aren’t dealing with amenorrhea from extreme workouts or dieting, and who aren’t yet dealing with the big perimenopausal transition, will occasionally miss a period. How can this be if you’re otherwise regular?
I’m going to share two not-so-obvious hormones that could be to blame, and my two favorite micronutrients (and the foods that contain them) to get your period back on track!
The FLO Science: 2 Surprising Hormones That Can Interrupt Ovulation And Cause A Skipped Period
We’re always “on” digitally and IRL. We’re textually active — busy, busy, busy. While it’s great in some ways, all this hustling leaves us vulnerable to not eating properly and having schedules way off of our natural circadian rhythms. This is bad because we end up riding the blood sugar rollercoaster all day and our adrenal glands slow their production of cortisol at proper intervals. So while you’re chasing your fatigue with a latte and skipping lunch because you’re just too busy, you’re making this situation worse. And over time, it can trigger a chemical conversation (via your hormones) that tells your ovary not to ovulate due to chronically high levels of insulin and low levels of cortisol. When this happens, you may end up skipping a cycle.
Related: A Guide To Interpreting Your Period
Cortisol — a hormone secreted by the adrenals, also known as the “stress hormone” — is produced in excess during times of stress. Once in a while, this is no problem for your body to handle. However, on the regular, it will disrupt a major governing system of your cycle regularity, something called the Hypothalamic, Pituitary, Adrenal, Ovarian Axis (HPA/HPO). And like its formidable name, it runs the show in Periodville.
During spring finals when I was in school, I could guarantee my period would go missing that month due to the stress of studying, staying up late, an irregular eating schedule, and not sleeping enough. Of course, hypothalamic amenorrhea (the stopping of menstruation for several months due to a hypothalamus-related issue) happens to so many women during a variety of stressful life circumstances, like a big move, job change, break-up, or just the usual super-fast lifestyle without any downtime. If you suspect that cortisol is the cause of your missing period, consider 30 minutes of exercise to get those stress hormone levels down.
Cortisol isn’t the only hormone that can mess with your period — insulin also affects the HPA/HPO axis. Studies have shown that when insulin levels are off, ovulation is interrupted. This is critical information for women with PCOS or those who are trying to conceive, but it also helps inform the rest of us how our diets can affect our periods (since what we eat affects our blood sugar levels, which then affects how much insulin is released from the pancreas).
These two hormones will affect your cycle wherever you find yourself in your life cycle, whether you’re getting periods regularly, are postpartum, or are in perimenopause.
Related: How To Get Your Hormones Tested And What To Do Next
The FLO Fix: 2 Micronutrients You Are Missing When You Miss Your Period
The first is vitamin B6. It goes back to that HPO axis: Your pituitary gland sends signals via follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) to synchronize all the action within your cycle. Most of us are deficient in B vitamins, as they are often found in foods many of us like to avoid when we’re watching our weight. Progesterone is required in the right concentration during the luteal phase to hold on to the uterine lining in case of conception, and then to allow it to shed when it’s time for your period. Sufficient B6 is necessary to help make adequate levels of progesterone.
The other nutrient is magnesium, which is actually a micronutrient that supports the pituitary gland. When we are deficient in this key nutrient, the pituitary can perform suboptimally and compromise the FSH and LH signals that help keep your period running like clockwork.
Aside from supplementation to boost these, I’d recommend eating to keep your supply of magnesium and vitamin B6 robust on a daily basis. Try sunflower seeds, prunes, avocados, bananas, leafy greens, fish, and dark chocolate to boost your levels.
Remember, your period will fluctuate based on what you’re eating, so if it starts acting up, look to see if there are any underlying hormone and food issues!
Good things come in threes: I want to hear from you in the comments!
First, tell me what you’re going to try from my prescription above, and why.
Second, what are your top health questions for me, your trusty Hormone Whisperer? Your question could be featured in my column!
Third, everyone you know is hormonal: Spread a little good ovary karma and share this article with your friends on social media, and be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Need more Hormone Help? If you’re cranky and can’t lose weight, it’s time you started dealing with your hormones. Get out of symptom chaos so you can get back into hormonal FLO. Sign up here for a free download of my 4-Day Hormone Detox from my book “WomanCode.”
ABOUT ALISA: Alisa Vitti, HHC, is an integrative nutritionist, best-selling author of WomanCode, creator of the WomanCode System, and the founder of FLOLiving.com, a virtual health center that supports women’s hormonal and reproductive health. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Alisa has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, has a web series on Lifetime, and has been a regular contributor for CBS, Fox, Shape, Women’s Health, MindBodyGreen, and the Huffington Post. She’s also presented at TEDx, Talks@Google, Summit Series Outside, Hay House, WIE Symposium, and SHE Summit.
