Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffects on PeriodsHormonal Birth ControlHormone TherapyAntidepressantsAntipsychoticsThyroid MedicationBlood ThinnersChemotherapyWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effects on Periods
Hormonal Birth Control
Hormone Therapy
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
Thyroid Medication
Blood Thinners
Chemotherapy
When to Seek Care
It’s normal for your period to vary slightly from month to month. However, the medications you take may be to blame if you notice a sudden change in your menstrual cycle. Talk to a healthcare provider about unusual changes in your menstrual cycle, especially if you’ve recently started a new medication.This article explains which medications may affect your period, including how and why.Grace Cary / Getty ImagesCan Medication Prevent You From Having a Period?Some medications candelay your periodor prevent you from having one altogether. Certain medications can also make your period heavier than usual or cause spotting between periods.Types of medication that can affect your period include:Anticoagulants (blood thinners)AntidepressantsAntipsychoticsChemotherapyHormonal birth control (pills or devices)Hormone therapyThyroid medicationWhat Can Affect Your PeriodHormonal Forms of Birth ControlOne of the most common side effects ofhormonal birth controlis changes in your menstrual cycle. These changes can differ based on the type of contraceptive you are using. Common changes can include:Breakthrough bleeding (bleeding between your regular periods)Delayed periodsMissing periodsLighter periodsHealthcare providers often prescribe hormonal birth control to help lighten periods and cope with preexisting heavy menstrual bleeding.Nonhormonal Birth ControlWhile thecopper intrauterine device(IUD) works differently than hormonal birth control, it can still affect your period. A common side effect of the copper IUD is heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly during the first year after it is placed.Birth Control as Treatment for Heavy Menstrual BleedingHormone TherapyHormone therapyalters the levels of hormones in the body. Healthcare providers prescribe it for various conditions such as menopause, after a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), certain cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and gender-affirming care.The exact changes that occur with hormone therapy depend on the type you’re prescribed but can include breakthrough spotting or bleeding, regulating periods, or stopping them altogether.AntidepressantsAntidepressants can also affect your period. According to research, people who take antidepressants are more likely to have menstrual disorders, such as delayed or missing periods (amenorrhea) orheavy periods.The following antidepressants are commonly linked to menstrual disturbances:Effexor XR (venlafaxine)Paxil (paroxetine)Zoloft (sertraline)The above medications combined with Remeron (mirtazapine)Menstrual cycle disturbances are a relatively uncommon side effect and may result from serotonin’s impact on other hormones, like prolactin, and its effects on blood-clotting.AntipsychoticsMissed or delayed periods are a known side effect of antipsychotic medications.This side effect is also connected toprolactin, a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that supports menstrual cycle regulation.Antipsychotic medications can causehyperprolactinemia, which means abnormally high levels of prolactin. In turn, this can cause amenorrhea.Thyroid MedicationPeople withhyperthyroidism(overactive thryroid) andhypothyroidism(underactive thyroid) often experience menstrual irregularities because the hormones that the thyroid produces play a role in the menstrual cycle.When these hormones are imbalanced, a person can have light periods, missing periods, irregular periods, or heavy periods.Thyroid medicationcan alter your menstrual cycle, but typically, this is a good thing because correcting your thyroid hormone levels can help return your menstrual cycle to normal.How Thyroid Function Affects MenstruationBlood ThinnersBlood thinners can cause heavy menstrual bleeding as a side effect.Jantoven (warfarin)is an example of a prescription blood-thinning medication. It is not available over the counter.Studies show that warfarin, along with other prescription anticoagulants, can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. In one study, two-thirds of women who started blood-thinning medications reported heavy menstrual bleeding, a longer menstrual cycle, and a worsened quality of life.Examples of other blood thinners include:Jantoven (warfarin)Eliquis (apixaban)Xarelto (rivaroxaban)Acova (argatroban)Angiomax (bivalirudin)Pradaxa (dabigatran)Enoxaparin (low molecular weight heparin)12 Commonly Prescribed Blood ThinnersChemotherapyChemotherapy (drugs for cancer treatment) can affect the menstrual cycle temporarily or permanently. It may damage the ovaries and stop your periods while you are taking it.For people under 40, their period typically comes back once they stop chemotherapy. However, they are more likely to have an early menopause. For people over 40 years old, it’s more frequent that their period does not come back; this is called early menopause.Menopause vs. Early MenopauseMenopause—12 months after your last period—typically occurs between age 45 and 55.Early menopause is when menopause occurs before age 45, often due to smoking or certain medications, like chemotherapy.When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderIf you’ve recently started a new medication and have noticed irregular periods or other changes in your menstrual cycle, talk to your healthcare provider—especially if this change affects your quality of life. Your healthcare provider can help identify whether your medication is affecting your cycles or if there is another cause. You can create a plan to manage your health conditions and cycle.SummaryDrugs can alter your menstrual cycle, although the exact changes depend your health conditions and what type and dosage of medication you’re taking. Many types of drugs that can affect your period, including blood thinners, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Talk to a healthcare provider if you think your medication is affecting your cycle.
It’s normal for your period to vary slightly from month to month. However, the medications you take may be to blame if you notice a sudden change in your menstrual cycle. Talk to a healthcare provider about unusual changes in your menstrual cycle, especially if you’ve recently started a new medication.
This article explains which medications may affect your period, including how and why.
Grace Cary / Getty Images
Can Medication Prevent You From Having a Period?
Some medications candelay your periodor prevent you from having one altogether. Certain medications can also make your period heavier than usual or cause spotting between periods.
Types of medication that can affect your period include:
What Can Affect Your Period
Hormonal Forms of Birth Control
One of the most common side effects ofhormonal birth controlis changes in your menstrual cycle. These changes can differ based on the type of contraceptive you are using. Common changes can include:
Healthcare providers often prescribe hormonal birth control to help lighten periods and cope with preexisting heavy menstrual bleeding.
Nonhormonal Birth Control
While thecopper intrauterine device(IUD) works differently than hormonal birth control, it can still affect your period. A common side effect of the copper IUD is heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly during the first year after it is placed.
Birth Control as Treatment for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Hormone therapyalters the levels of hormones in the body. Healthcare providers prescribe it for various conditions such as menopause, after a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), certain cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and gender-affirming care.
The exact changes that occur with hormone therapy depend on the type you’re prescribed but can include breakthrough spotting or bleeding, regulating periods, or stopping them altogether.
Antidepressants can also affect your period. According to research, people who take antidepressants are more likely to have menstrual disorders, such as delayed or missing periods (amenorrhea) orheavy periods.
The following antidepressants are commonly linked to menstrual disturbances:
Menstrual cycle disturbances are a relatively uncommon side effect and may result from serotonin’s impact on other hormones, like prolactin, and its effects on blood-clotting.
Missed or delayed periods are a known side effect of antipsychotic medications.This side effect is also connected toprolactin, a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that supports menstrual cycle regulation.
Antipsychotic medications can causehyperprolactinemia, which means abnormally high levels of prolactin. In turn, this can cause amenorrhea.
People withhyperthyroidism(overactive thryroid) andhypothyroidism(underactive thyroid) often experience menstrual irregularities because the hormones that the thyroid produces play a role in the menstrual cycle.When these hormones are imbalanced, a person can have light periods, missing periods, irregular periods, or heavy periods.
Thyroid medicationcan alter your menstrual cycle, but typically, this is a good thing because correcting your thyroid hormone levels can help return your menstrual cycle to normal.
How Thyroid Function Affects Menstruation
Blood thinners can cause heavy menstrual bleeding as a side effect.Jantoven (warfarin)is an example of a prescription blood-thinning medication. It is not available over the counter.
Studies show that warfarin, along with other prescription anticoagulants, can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. In one study, two-thirds of women who started blood-thinning medications reported heavy menstrual bleeding, a longer menstrual cycle, and a worsened quality of life.
Examples of other blood thinners include:
12 Commonly Prescribed Blood Thinners
Chemotherapy (drugs for cancer treatment) can affect the menstrual cycle temporarily or permanently. It may damage the ovaries and stop your periods while you are taking it.
For people under 40, their period typically comes back once they stop chemotherapy. However, they are more likely to have an early menopause. For people over 40 years old, it’s more frequent that their period does not come back; this is called early menopause.
Menopause vs. Early MenopauseMenopause—12 months after your last period—typically occurs between age 45 and 55.Early menopause is when menopause occurs before age 45, often due to smoking or certain medications, like chemotherapy.
Menopause vs. Early Menopause
Menopause—12 months after your last period—typically occurs between age 45 and 55.Early menopause is when menopause occurs before age 45, often due to smoking or certain medications, like chemotherapy.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you’ve recently started a new medication and have noticed irregular periods or other changes in your menstrual cycle, talk to your healthcare provider—especially if this change affects your quality of life. Your healthcare provider can help identify whether your medication is affecting your cycles or if there is another cause. You can create a plan to manage your health conditions and cycle.
Summary
Drugs can alter your menstrual cycle, although the exact changes depend your health conditions and what type and dosage of medication you’re taking. Many types of drugs that can affect your period, including blood thinners, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Talk to a healthcare provider if you think your medication is affecting your cycle.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause. October 2021.
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Edinoff AN, Silverblatt NS, Vervaeke HE, et al.Hyperprolactinemia, clinical considerations, and infertility in women on antipsychotic medications.Psychopharmacol Bull. 2021;51(2):131-148. PMCID: PMC8146565
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Bannow BS.Management of heavy menstrual bleeding on anticoagulation.Hematology: the American Society of Hematology Education Program. 2020;2020(1):533. doi: 10.1182%2Fhematology.2020000138
Patel JP, Nzelu O, Roberts LN, Johns J, Ross J, Arya R.How do anticoagulants impact menstrual bleeding and quality of life? - The PERIOD study.Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2023;7(2):100072. doi:10.1016%2Fj.rpth.2023.100072
Susan G. Komen.Long term side effects of chemotherapy. April 10, 2024.
NIH National Institutes on Aging.What is menopause?September 30, 2021.
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