Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPCOS & Your PeriodDiagnosisRisks and ComplicationsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
PCOS & Your Period
Diagnosis
Risks and Complications
Treatment
No periods is a common symptom ofpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The absence of periods is also calledamenorrhea. If you have PCOS, you may also have infrequent, irregular periods, known asoligomenorrhea.
This article explains why PCOS causes irregular or absent periods, the risks and complications of PCOS, and treatment options.
Tetra Image / Getty Images
Why PCOS Makes You Miss Your Period
High androgen levels can interfere with egg development and release, or ovulation. Instead of the eggs maturing,ovarian cysts(little fluid-filled sacs) can develop and build up on the ovaries. Ovulation may not occur each month. This leads to irregular periods.
Can Medication Affect Your Period?
Diagnosis of PCOS
PCOS is typicallydiagnosedwhen there’s at least two of three accompanying symptoms:
If you’ve missed at least three menstrual periods in a row, or if you’re 15 or older and have not yet menstruated, it’s time to make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
An occasional missed period is normal. However, not having a regular period may increase your risk ofendometrial cancer.
When ovulation does not occur, the lining is not shed, and progesterone doesn’t go up as it usually would. Then the lining is exposed to unopposed estrogen. This causes the endometrium to grow much thicker than normal and contributes to an increased risk of cancer.
Keep in mind that this does not apply if you’re taking abirth control pill to treat PCOS, especially those designed to prevent you from getting your period more than once every few months. The pill keeps your hormone levels low and your endometrial lining thin, reducing your risk ofendometrial cancer.
Symptoms of endometrial cancer include pelvic pain, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, and a watery or blood-tinged discharge.There are usually no otherearly warning signs, so see your healthcare provider even if your symptoms are mild.
There are many different ways to treat irregular or absent periods in PCOS, depending on your goals and health history. Some healthcare providers recommend oral contraceptives to balance out hormones and create a regular cycle. Metformin can help some people regulate their cycle.
Some people who have PCOS can experience regular menstrual cycles through weight loss,changes to their eatinghabits, and exercise. In addition, the dietary supplementinositolhas been shown to help regulate periods and balance hormones in people with PCOS.
If your periods suddenly become irregular, talk to your healthcare provider. Further diagnostic testing and/or medical interventions could be necessary.
The Pros and Cons of the Birth Control Pill
Summary
Pregnancy or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are primary causes of an irregular or missed periods. Higher amounts of androgens in PCOS can interfere with egg development and ovulation, leading to skipped or absent periods.
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you miss menstrual periods, especially if you miss three in a row.
Signs You’re Having Trouble Getting Pregnant
7 SourcesVerywell 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.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.About polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS.The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome: A brief systematic review.J Hum Reprod Sci.2020;13(4):261-271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How do healthcare providers diagnose PCOS?Ding DC, Chen W, Wang JH, Lin SZ.Association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.Medicine. 2018;97(39):e12608. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012608American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.Naderpoor N, Shorakae S, De courten B, Misso ML, Moran LJ, Teede HJ.Metformin and lifestyle modification in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(5):560-74. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv025.Morley LC, Tang T, Yasmin E, Norman RJ, Balen AH.Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11:CD003053. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003053.
7 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.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.About polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS.The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome: A brief systematic review.J Hum Reprod Sci.2020;13(4):261-271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How do healthcare providers diagnose PCOS?Ding DC, Chen W, Wang JH, Lin SZ.Association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.Medicine. 2018;97(39):e12608. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012608American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.Naderpoor N, Shorakae S, De courten B, Misso ML, Moran LJ, Teede HJ.Metformin and lifestyle modification in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(5):560-74. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv025.Morley LC, Tang T, Yasmin E, Norman RJ, Balen AH.Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11:CD003053. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003053.
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.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.About polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS.The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome: A brief systematic review.J Hum Reprod Sci.2020;13(4):261-271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How do healthcare providers diagnose PCOS?Ding DC, Chen W, Wang JH, Lin SZ.Association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.Medicine. 2018;97(39):e12608. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012608American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.Naderpoor N, Shorakae S, De courten B, Misso ML, Moran LJ, Teede HJ.Metformin and lifestyle modification in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(5):560-74. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv025.Morley LC, Tang T, Yasmin E, Norman RJ, Balen AH.Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11:CD003053. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003053.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.About polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Deswal R, Narwal V, Dang A, Pundir CS.The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome: A brief systematic review.J Hum Reprod Sci.2020;13(4):261-271. doi:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How do healthcare providers diagnose PCOS?
Ding DC, Chen W, Wang JH, Lin SZ.Association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.Medicine. 2018;97(39):e12608. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012608
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.
Naderpoor N, Shorakae S, De courten B, Misso ML, Moran LJ, Teede HJ.Metformin and lifestyle modification in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(5):560-74. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv025.
Morley LC, Tang T, Yasmin E, Norman RJ, Balen AH.Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;11:CD003053. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003053.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
