Missed Or Irregular Periods: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Are you using a hormonal birth control method, and your periods are different than you expected?

See significance of using hormonal birth control methods if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Note:

Your health professional may be able to give you advice over the telephone regarding this problem.

Yes

Have you missed 1 or more periods, but you have not skipped any of your birth control pills?

Yes

Have your periods been different than what your health professional told you to expect?

Yes

Have you continued to miss periods or have very light periods and you have followed the instructions given by the health professional who prescribed the birth control pills?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	July 05, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer