You've probably been told, in one way or another, that an irregular, missing or difficult period is just something to live with. I see it very differently. Your cycle is one of the most useful health signals your body gives you.
Why your cycle is a vital sign
This isn't only my opinion. Leading obstetric bodies have argued for years that the menstrual cycle should be treated as a vital sign, alongside things like your blood pressure. A regular cycle is a reasonable sign your body feels safe and well fuelled enough to run everything properly.
What a change can be telling you
When your cycle shifts, it's often the first clue that something needs attention:
- Irregular or missing periods can point to under fuelling, stress, thyroid issues or blood sugar problems.
- Painful or heavy periodsare common, but common isn't the same as nothing to look at.
- Spotting before your period can flag low progesterone, stress or nutrient gaps.
The point isn't to panic at every change. It's that your cycle is information, and information deserves a proper look.
The myth worth setting straight
Losing your period because you train hard or eat very clean isn't a sign of health. In active women the common driver is low energy availability, simply not eating enough for the training you're doing. The 2023 IOC consensus on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport describes exactly this, a mismatch between fuel in and energy out that affects your health and your performance.
Before rushing to fix hormones, the better question is why your body felt it had to switch the cycle off. Often the answer is more food, more rest, and less relentless training.
Birth control isn't a forever explanation
Yes, your cycle can take time to settle after coming off contraception. But if months have passed and it still hasn't returned, that deserves investigation, not more waiting.
When to get it looked at
If your cycle has become irregular, disappeared, turned very painful, or keeps doing something that doesn't feel right, and especially if no one has ever really investigated why, it's worth a proper look. You can read about our integrative and hormone health approach, or book a consultation to have it properly assessed.