There are many different reasons women experience changes to their monthly bleeding patterns--some which may be welcome, others that can be cause for concern.

Missed Periods--Cause for Concern
If you miss a period and are not pregnant, consult your healthcare professional. Skipped periods can be a sign of the following medical conditions:
  • Pregnancy
  • Anorexia
  • Dietary deficiency
  • Infertility
  • Hormonal problems
  • Polycystic ovaries
  • Physical illness
Low Body Weight
A woman can also experience changes in her bleeding patterns--or even amenorrhea (failure to menstruate) as a result of low body weight or heavy exercise. Low body fat can cause an imbalance of pituitary hormones or a decrease in estrogen production. Estrogen is directly linked to bone density and has other positive health benefits. When a women is estrogen-deficient for long periods of time, serious health consequences can result. If your period is irregular, it is important to seek guidance from your healthcare professional. He or she may conduct certain diagnostic tests or recommend reducing your level of exercise, changing your eating habits or taking dietary supplements such as calcium.

 

Low body weight can cause you to skip your period and increases your risk of osteoporosis.

If your periods change, talk to your healthcare professional.
 
Menopause
Skipped periods can also be a sign of peri-menopause (the phase before menopause) or the onset of menopause. Menopause is a natural phase of a woman's life that signifies the end of fertility. On the average, it occurs around age 50, but in some women it can arrive as early as the late 30s. A woman is said to have reached menopause if she has not had a period for one full year.
Every woman experiences menopause a bit differently. For some, troublesome physical symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings accompany this transition. Some women experience a myriad of emotions--from happiness to sadness--about transitioning from a time of reproductive fertility. Many women welcome menopause because of the freedom that comes from no longer needing to worry about menstruation or an unplanned pregnancy. If you think you are nearing or experiencing menopause, your healthcare professional can offer you helpful information and guidance.

Welcome Changes
The monthly bleeding women on the Pill experience is not a "menstrual period," but actually a "withdrawal bleed" induced by the withdrawal of hormones during the Pill-free or placebo week. Ironically, many experts believe monthly bleeding on the Pill is not medically necessary. The bleeding women experience on the Pill tends to be comparatively more predictable and lighter than a menstrual period. Some women on the Pill report unscheduled spotting, which is light bleeding that may require wearing sanitary protection but is not heavy enough to require a maxi pad or tampon. Unscheduled bleeding decreases--and the efficacy of the Pill increases--when the Pill is taken the same time every day. If you are concerned about bleeding changes or suspect you may be pregnant, contact your healthcare professional.

 
A woman is said to have reached menopause if she has not had her period for one full year.
 
New Option on the Horizon
Nearly two-thirds of women already taking oral contraceptives would be interested in reducing their number of periods to 4 periods per year. In addition, research shows a majority of healthcare professionals support a woman's choice to decrease the frequency of bleeding. Currently, while oral contraceptives are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decrease the frequency of bleeding, a new extended cycle oral contraceptive, which by design limits the number of periods, is currently being studied and is under review by the FDA.
 
All oral contraceptives have been proven to prevent pregnancy. In addition, benefits to taking birth control pills may include: increased cycle regularity, decreased blood loss and decreased prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, and decreased prevalence and severity of menstrual pain. Additional benefits may include reduced risk of ovarian cysts, decreased incidence of ectopic pregnancy, endometrial and ovarian cancers, and benign breast tumors.

After 40 years of study, women can feel confident that oral contraceptives are a safe and effective method of pregnancy prevention. Whenever choosing a form of birth control, it's important to be aware of risks as well as benefits. Most side effects of the Pill are not serious. And those that are serious occur infrequently. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attack and are increased for women who smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular effects, especially among women over age 35. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.

Women who have had a heart attack, stroke, blood clots, certain cancers or liver diseases, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or who are or may be pregnant should not use the Pill. And, oral contraceptives do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections.
 
Since every woman is unique, you should talk to your healthcare professional about how risks relate to your use of the Pill. Oral contraceptives are not for everyone. Typically, however, risks associated with the Pill are lower than those associated with pregnancy, which oral contraceptives are designed to prevent.