Missed or Irregular Periods

Home Treatment

There is no home treatment for missed or irregular periods; however, the following information may help you find the cause of your missed or irregular periods:

• Eat a balanced diet. Being underweight or overweight can cause missed and irregular periods. For more information, see the topics Healthy Eating and Healthy Weight.
• If you are an endurance athlete, you may have to cut back on your training. Be sure to talk with your health professional about hormone and calcium supplements to protect against bone loss if you are missing periods. For more information, see the topic Fitness.

If you think you might be pregnant

Do a home pregnancy test if you had sex during the previous months. If the result is positive, practice the following good health habits until you see your health professional:

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
• Do not use alcohol or drugs.
• Avoid caffeine, or limit your intake to about 1 cup of coffee or tea each day.
• Do not clean a cat litter box, to avoid the risk of toxoplasmosis.
• Avoid people who are ill.
• Take a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid or a prenatal vitamin.

If the home pregnancy test is negative but you continue to have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your health professional to confirm the results. Practice good health habits until you see your health professional.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• You have early symptoms of pregnancy, such as:
  • Missed periods.
  • Increased urination.
  • Fatigue.
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
• You have missed more than three menstrual periods in a row.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: July 5, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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