Late Period: Everything You Need To Know
Having a late period might come as a surprise, especially if youre not trying to get pregnant. Should you take a pregnancy test? The truth is, there are many reasons for late periods other than pregnancy. Your health, age, diet, stress, and exercise can all affect the regularity of your menstrual cycle. In this article, well look at the most common late period causes and go over some common questions about delayed menstruation.
When To See A Doctor
Missing a period does not always indicate pregnancy or a health issue. Speak with a doctor if periods do not arrive by age 16 or if they stop for more than 3 months in a row.
Tracking periods can help a person recognize any irregularity. Anyone who notices a change in the length of time between periods should speak with a doctor. Also, it is a good idea to consult a doctor if periods come more often than every 21 days or less often than every 45 days.
Amenorrhea is not life-threatening . However, the hormonal imbalances that can cause it can also lead to harmful complications, such as hip and wrist fractures. A doctor can help identify the cause of menstrual irregularity and recommend an effective treatment or management plan.
Also, anyone who suspects that they are pregnant, even after taking Plan B, should speak with a doctor.
How Do I Know If Im Ovulating
A few days before you ovulate, your vaginal mucus or discharge changes and becomes more slippery and clear. This type of mucus helps sperm move up into your uterus and into the fallopian tubes where it can fertilize an egg. Some women feel minor cramping on one side of their pelvic area when they ovulate. Some women have other signs of ovulation.
Luteinizing hormone is a hormone released by your brain that tells the ovary to release an egg . LH levels begin to surge upward about 36 hours before ovulation, so some women and their doctors test for LH levels. LH levels peak about 12 hours before ovulation.1 Women who are tracking ovulation to become pregnant will notice a slight rise in their basal temperature around ovulation. Learn more about tracking ovulation to become pregnant.
You May Like: Dark Brown Discharge Instead Of Period
You Have A Medical Condition
There are medical conditions thatcan cause hormone imbalances and late periods. They can include thyroidconditions, polycystic ovarian syndrome and uterine fibroids. Yourperiod can also be delayed by other chronic health problems such as diabetesand celiac disease.
If your period is late, PregnancyCare Clinic is here to help. We provide no-cost pregnancy testing and otherconfidential pregnancy services. Contact us today.
Pirie, Kaitlyn. . 6 Reasons for a Missed orLate Period, According to Doctors. Retrieved on December 2, 2019 fromhttps://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a29134229/missed-late-period-reasons/
Galen, Nicole. . Eight Possible Causes of a Late Period. Retrieved on December 2, 2019 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318317.php
Cherney, Kristeen. . Premenopause, Perimenopause, and Menopause. Retrieved on December 2, 2019 from https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/difference-perimenopause
How Late Can A Period Be Before You Should Start To Worry
Content by
Delay your period for vacation, wedding, sporting event or for any other special occasion
Stop your period for up to 17 days
Your period is late. If youâre worried, itâs understandable. Try not to panic. Whilst pregnancy is one reason your period might be late, there are also other reasons. Often lifestyle and medical factors can be the cause. .
Read Also: Primosiston To Stop Period
When Do Most Girls Get Their Period
Most girls get their first period when they’re around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl’s body has its own schedule.
There isn’t one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues that it will start soon:
- Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop.
- Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
How Do You Know If Your Period Is Late
Whether youre busy or just have a lot on your mind, its easy to forget when you should expect your period to start. But if youre not sure when to expect your period, its hard to know if its late.
A period tracking app like Flo can help. By logging your usual menstrual cycle dates, Flo can predict when you can expect your period. This information can also be very useful if you need to go to your health care provider when you miss your period. Having information about your cycle can help them understand whats happening inside your body.
Recommended Reading: 90 Day Probationary Period Template
Reasons Your Period Is Late
During your usual morning routine, you open your cabinet, spot a box of tampons in the back, and you suddenly realize youre late. When was my last period? you think as you try to remember the last time you needed to reach for that box. Panic then takes over as your mind shoots straight to pregnancy.
While being pregnant is a possible reason for a missed period, there may be factors related to your health or lifestyle that are causing the delay, notes Shelley White-Corey, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A& M Health Science Center College of Nursing and a womens health nurse practitioner.
Breastfeeding
Your period may not make an appearance after your baby is born, but dont be alarmed! If you are breastfeeding your little one, a lack of periods is completely normal. Referred to as lactational amenorrhea, this is a phase that disrupts the rhythm of your menstrual cycle. After a few months, your monthly period should be right back on track.
Weight loss or weight gain
Whether youre overweight or underweight, any change in pounds can affect your monthly cycle. Common health problems linked to weight and irregular menstruation include eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and uncontrolled diabetes. If you suspect this might be an issue for you, see your health care provider right away.
Increased exercise
Stress
Sleep schedule changes
Medication
Thyroid dysfunction
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Perimenopause
Suzannah Smith
Late Period And Brown Or Pink Discharge
If your period is late and you have brown or pink discharge, these may be early signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, this coloured discharge can be caused by implantation bleeding when the fertilised egg attaches to your uterus lining. Implantation bleeding can happen 1 to 2 weeks after the egg has been fertilised.
You should consider when in your cycle you have had unprotected sex. You’re most fertile when you ovulate as this is the time your egg is released from your ovaries. You are most likely to get pregnant around 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. Although possible, it’s unlikely that you’ll get pregnant just after your period. You should take a pregnancy test if youâve had unprotected sex, your period is late and you have brown or pink discharge.
Women have some vaginal discharge nearly every day. Itâs often clear or white. It can turn pink or brown when it mixes with blood. This coloured discharge does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. It can also happen for other reasons. Most commonly, it can occur after a vaginal exam, following strenuous sex, or if you’re taking birth control pills. It can also be a sign of another medical condition such as PCOS or perimenopause.
Bad-smelling brown discharge can indicate that a foreign object, such as a tampon, condom or contraceptive is left in your vagina accidentally and you should see your doctor.
Don’t Miss: Can You Donate Blood While Menstruating
Reasons For A Late Period: What Might They Be
If your period is five days late, it doesnt necessarily mean youre pregnant. There are multiple factors that can cause your period to be late:
- Physiological Stress, sudden weight changes, climate or time zone changes, breastfeeding , etc.
- Medically induced Associated with taking or stopping medications including hormonal contraceptives and antidepressants
- Pathological Caused by diseases such as ovarian pathology, uterine diseases, endocrine system disorders, etc.
How Late Is Late
Your period can be off by about a week before its considered late.
Most women tend to have menstrual cycles that stay around the same length, said Ann Mullen, director of health education at Cycle Technologies, which offers educational program resources in the reproductive health, family planning and global health field.
But, she said, it can be perfectly fine to have up to a week of variation in cycle length.
If someone had a 25-day cycle one month, it would be considered normal if that person had a 30- or 31-day cycle the next, she said. A period might be considered late if it comes eight or more days after it was expected.
Don’t Miss: Usaa New Car Insurance Grace Period
What Should I Do If I Have Missed My Period
Don’t panic! In most cases there is nothing serious going on. The most important thing to do is to do a pregnancy test if there is any chance at all you could be pregnant. If you otherwise feel well in yourself, and you are not pregnant, then the chances are your periods will start up again in due course.
You should consult a doctor if:
- You have not had a period for three months and your periods were previously regular.
- You have not had a period for 6-9 months but your periods have always been infrequent.
- You could be pregnant.
- You wish to become pregnant.
- You have hot flushes or night sweats and are under the age of 45.
- You have lost weight or your BMI is 19 or less.
- You or someone close to you is concerned about your eating or weight.
- You have milk leaking from your breasts and are not breastfeeding.
- You feel unwell in yourself .
- You have not had a period for six months after stopping the contraceptive pill .
- You are worried about your lack of periods.
Stopped Or Missed Periods
There are many reasons why a woman may miss her period, or why periods might stop altogether.
Most women have a period every 28 days or so, but it’s common to have a slightly shorter or longer cycle than this .
Some women do not always have a regular menstrual cycle. Their period may be early or late, and how long it lasts and how heavy it is may vary each time.
Read more about irregular periods and heavy periods.
Don’t Miss: Usaa Grace Period Auto Insurance New Car
When To See Your Doctor
Your doctor can properly diagnose the reason for your late or missed period and discuss your treatment options. Keep a record of changes in your cycle as well as other health changes to show your doctor. This will help them make a diagnosis.
If you have the following symptoms, contact a doctor right away:
Can You Swim While Wearing A Tampon
Yes, you can! In fact, tampons are some of the most suitable sanitary products for taking a dip in the water while on your period.
Before you get into the water, insert the tampon. This will allow it to absorb menstrual blood instead of water.
When you get out of the water, take out the used tampon and insert a fresh one.
Its important to change your tampon every eight hours to reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
Keep a stash of extra tampons for whenever you want to get back into the water.
Read Also: Employee Probationary Period Template
You’re Sick Or You Were Not Long Ago
Things like the flu or a stomach virus may not hurt you in the long run, but they could have an impact on your next menstrual cycle. Your body simply doesn’t function the same way when you’re feeling sick, Dr. Gersh says. If you’re experiencing noticeable changes in your digestion or respiratory health, it’s possible that your reproductive system has taken a hit, too. You should be back to normal when you start feeling 100% again.
Is It Hygienic To Swim On Your Period
Most people pay close attention to their hygiene during their period. Depending on your comfort level, you may feel more cautious about swimming at this time. Nevertheless, its absolutely possible to swim during your period.
Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools add a halogen to the water either chlorine or bromine.
What do these chemicals do? They kill the bacteria and other microbes that accumulate in a warm, wet place where lots of people swim. In treated water, the chance of getting an infection when swimming in a pool is, thankfully, low. Some doctors recommend avoiding lake or ocean swimming due to a greater risk of infection, as these bodies of water cant be treated with a halogen.
If you wear sanitary products, make sure to keep any used ones out of the water because they could pose a health risk to other swimmers.
You May Like: 90 Day Probationary Period Policy Examples
You Recently Took An International Flight
When we travel across time zones, “the loss or gain of hours… affects your circadian rhythm, which in turn influences the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle,” Druet says.
Because our circadian rhythm is intimately connected with our menstrual cycles, it could take a period or two before your hormones are back in balance with the time zone you’ve settled into. So don’t be surprised if your period decides to be extra stubborn when you and your bestie take that trip to Europe you’ve been planning for a while. “Also, be aware that your fertile window may be different,” Druet advises.
Normal Cause Of A Missed Period During The First Year
- Skipping periods is common during the first 1 to 2 years after they start. This is due to not releasing an egg each month.
- This is most likely the cause if less than 2 years since the first period
- Has missed periods in the past or has had only 1 or 2 periods
- Otherwise healthy
- No signs of pregnancy such as breast tenderness, breast swelling or nausea
Read Also: Usaa Grace Period
What Are The Signs Of Implantation
Implantation is the process when an embryo attaches itself to the uterine lining. It doesnt always cause symptoms. However, some people report feeling light cramping, headaches, and mood swings around the time of implantation. Implantation bleeding can occur around the date when you expect your period, but its usually lighter and only causes pink or brown spotting or discharge.