Emotional upsets, illness, stress, gaining or losing a lot of weight, all can cause a woman's period to be late or even missed. A woman just starting the birth control pill may skip a period, or have spotting between periods for the first few months. Periods may change after pregnancy, or just with time. A woman is as healthy during her period as she is at any time. She can shower or bathe, swim or exercise, have sexual intercourse, or do anything she would normally do.
Most women have some cramping or pain the first day or two of a period.
This can be relieved by exercise, a heating pad, or taking a pain reliever. However, some women do need help for problems with their periods. Women may go to a doctor or clinic if they have such serious cramps that they can't go to school or work, or if the period is very heavy, requiring 10 to 12 pads a day for more than 5 days. Bleeding, spotting or cramping when she is not menstruating should also be checked out. And, if she misses a period and there is any possibility of pregnancy she should have a pregnancy test right away.