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Missed or Late Period: Possible Causes and What to Do

When is a period considered missed?

A period is usually considered late if it has not started 5 or more days after the expected date. If you have had regular periods and then have no period for 3 months, or if you usually have irregular cycles and have no period for 6 months, doctors call this secondary amenorrhea and recommend an evaluation.

What causes a missed period?

•  Pregnancy: the most common cause in sexually active people, even when using contraception.
• Stress, travel, and life changes: moving abroad, exams, jet lag, or illness.
• Weight change and exercise: significant weight loss, low body weight, or intense training.
• Hormonal contraception: some pills, the hormonal IUD, and injections can make periods very light or stop them.
• Breastfeeding.
• PCOS, thyroid disorders, and high prolactin levels.
• Perimenopause or, less often, early menopause (premature ovarian insufficiency).
• Some medicines.

What symptoms might I notice?

Along with a missed period, early pregnancy can cause breast tenderness, nausea, tiredness, and frequent urination. Other causes may bring acne or extra hair (PCOS), hot flashes (perimenopause), or milky nipple discharge (high prolactin).

What should I do first?

Take a home pregnancy test, ideally using first-morning urine, from the day your period is expected or later. If it is negative and your period still does not come, repeat the test in about a week. Home tests are sold at pharmacies and convenience stores in Korea.

When should I see a doctor?

• You have a positive pregnancy test (for confirmation and early care)
• You have negative tests but still no period after a few weeks
• You have missed 3 periods in a row
• You have other symptoms such as hot flashes, nipple discharge, headaches, or vision changes

Seek emergency care (call 119) if you have a missed period or positive pregnancy test together with severe one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness, or fainting. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy.

How is a missed period evaluated at the clinic?

• A urine pregnancy test(10,000 KRW) or a blood β-hCG test (30,000 KRW), which can detect pregnancy earlier and measure hormone levels
• An early pregnancy ultrasound if the test is positive, to check the location of the pregnancy
• A transvaginal ultrasound to look at the uterine lining and ovaries if you are not pregnant
• Blood tests for hormones, thyroid function, and prolactin when needed

Listed out-of-pocket prices; prices may change; confirm with the clinic.

What are the treatment options?

If you are pregnant, Dr. Eun will discuss your options and early pregnancy care. The clinic does not deliver babies and refers patients to a hospital for delivery. If you are not pregnant, treatment depends on the cause and may include lifestyle changes, a short course of progestin to bring on a period, hormonal contraceptives to regulate cycles, or treatment of thyroid or prolactin problems. Individual results vary.

Getting care in English near Seongsu Station

Eunice Women's Clinic is on the 8th floor of Bethel Place, 120 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The building is across the crosswalk from Seoul Subway Line 2 Seongsu Station Exit 3, about a 1-minute walk ( directions). Dr. Eun Mi-na, a female board-certified OB-GYN, holds consultations about a missed period in English.

     

Day	Hours
Mon, Wed, Fri	10:00–19:00 (lunch 13:30–14:30)
Tue, Thu	10:00–20:00 (lunch 13:30–14:30)
Sat	10:00–14:00 (no lunch break)
Sun and public holidays	Closed

Booking is recommended. You can book through Naver Booking, the KakaoTalk channel (search "유니스산부인과"), or by phone at +82-2-467-3100 ( how to book). Call or message to check same-day availability.

If you are pregnant and unsure about continuing the pregnancy, see Abortion in Korea: the law and your options or book a confidential pregnancy termination (abortion) consultation.

Frequently asked questions

How soon can a pregnancy test show a positive result?

Most home urine tests are reliable from the day your period is expected. A blood β-hCG test can detect pregnancy a few days earlier. If the test is negative but your period still does not start, test again in about a week.

Can stress really delay my period?

Yes. Stress affects the brain signals that control ovulation, which can delay or skip a period. Travel, a move abroad, exams, and illness are common triggers. If periods do not return within about 3 months, see a doctor.

I have a hormonal IUD and no periods. Is that normal?

Yes. Many people with a levonorgestrel IUD, such as Mirena or Kyleena, have very light periods or none at all. This is an expected effect. Take a pregnancy test if you have pregnancy symptoms or think the IUD may have moved.

How much is a pregnancy test at the clinic?

At Eunice Women's Clinic, the listed price is 10,000 KRW for a urine pregnancy test and 30,000 KRW for a blood β-hCG test. Prices may change; confirm with the clinic.

Does Eunice Women's Clinic provide pregnancy care?

The clinic offers pregnancy confirmation and early pregnancy care, including early ultrasounds. It does not deliver babies; for delivery and hospital-level care, the clinic refers patients to a partner hospital.

Related pages

•  Pregnancy Test
• Early Pregnancy Ultrasound
• Early Pregnancy Care
• Irregular Periods
• PCOS

This page provides general health information for patients and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Individual results vary. If you have severe pain, heavy bleeding, fainting or other urgent symptoms, call 119 or go to the nearest emergency room. Page updated September 2026.