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Most people with a uterus have 11 to 13 menstrual cycles per year, but many have fewer, and many have more. Whether or not you're trying to get pregnant, a late or missed period can bring all sorts of emotions: excitement, fear, anxiety, and relief, just to name a few.
Secondary amenorrhea is the technical term for missing your period for more than three cycles, even though you’ve had typical cycles before. And while pregnancy is the most common cause, a variety of things, from stress to thyroid issues, may prevent you from having your period this month. Here’s what you need to know about these conditions, and how they affect your menstrual cycle.
Sources: NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Ins... + 7
- NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. About Amenorrhea. January 31, 2017.
- HealthyWomen.org. Heavy Periods. July 15, 2021.
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- National Health Service (UK). Stopped or missed periods. June 12, 2026.
- Cleveland Clinic. Can Stress Cause You to Skip a Period? How Stress Can Impact Your Menstrual Cycle. September 24, 2025.
- WomensHealth.gov. Polycystic ovary syndrome. November 5, 2025.
- Torre DL, Falorni A. Pharmacological causes of hyperprolactinemia. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2007 Oct;3(5):929-51.
- WomensHealth.gov. Breastfeeding and everyday life. October 23, 2025.
