What are the causes of having infrequent periods?

When your periods do not come often, it means your body may not be sending the right signals to create your monthly cycle. This can occur for several reasons. One big reason is a hormonal imbalance. Your body needs hormones to help build up and then shed the lining of your uterus. If these hormones are not balanced, periods might come less frequently. This can also occur after starting a new birth control. Stress is another factor; when you feel very stressed, your body might pause the cycle as it works hard to cope with change. Changes in weight—either losing too much or gaining too much—can also throw your hormones off balance. For example, very low body weight can mean your body doesn't have enough energy to support a regular cycle. Some medical conditions, like PCOS, can also affect your hormones and make your periods infrequent. It's important to keep track of your cycle, and if your periods remain irregular or you feel other problems, check your symptoms with our free AI-powered tool to better understand what might be causing your cycle changes and get guidance on the best steps to take.