It's not uncommon to miss a period now and then. A bad cold or flu may throw your cycle off, as can stress and irregular sleep patterns. Other triggers include being obese or having an eating disorder, a thyroid problem or a major illness. As well, breast-feeding may put your period on hold.
Solutions: Take a pregnancy test to rule out that possibility. Maintain a healthy weight but don't overdo it on your workouts; too much exercise can stop your period altogether. Try a chasteberry supplement, suggests Berni. Visit your doctor if the problem persists for more than two months.
6. Spotting
Low-dose birth control pills often cause spotting. Some women also spot when they ovulate because of a rapid rise and fall in estrogen midcycle. Polyps (an overgrowth of normal tissue in the uterus or cervix) are another culprit. Occasionally, spotting can be a sign of something more serious, such as an infection of the cervix.
Solutions: Visit your doctor to have an exam and talk about the birth control methods you are using. If you have polyps, your doctor can remove them.
7. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
A severe form of PMS with disabling symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, persistent irritability, low energy and food cravings. It has been linked to clinical depression. Doctors differ on how common it is, but Dr. Shaila Misri, director of reproductive and mental health at B.C. Children’s Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, says up to eight per cent of women suffer from PMDD.
Solutions: Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if your PMS symptoms are so severe that you can't function in your job, family or daily life, says Burnett. Ask your doctor for a medical evaluation to determine if your symptoms are a result of your period or some other condition, such as depression.
The good news is that making changes to your diet – eating more fruit, vegetables and complex carbohydrates and less animal fat – can help alleviate your symptoms. So can taking calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids supplements, as well as a B complex vitamin. Medications that may help ease PMDD include antidepressants or the birth control pill.
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