How Late Is Normal For A Period

Not Sure What To Do Next

If you are still concerned about your irregular periods, check your symptoms with healthdirects online Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.

The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether its self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero .

What Happens To Your Brain When You Take Drugs

While the specific effects of drugs on the brain can vary somewhat depending on the drug that people abuse, virtually every drug that is abused has an effect on what professionals often call the executive functioning areas of the brain. The functions of those areas can be remembered by thinking about the tasks of the chief executive officer in any company: planning, organizing, prioritizing, acting when it is time to act, as well as delaying or preventing action when appropriate. The parts of the brain that tend to harbor the executive brain functions are the front-most parts of the brain, called the frontal lobes, including the frontal cortex and prefrontal cortex. When a person takes drugs, the inhibitory functions of the brain are particularly impaired, causing the person to have trouble stopping him or herself from acting on impulses that the brain would otherwise delay or prevent. This disinhibition can lead to the substance abuser engaging in aggressive, sexual, criminal, dangerous, or other activities that can have devastating consequences for the addicted person or those around him or her. Given that the brain of individuals below about the age of 25 years is in the process of actively and rapidly developing and is therefore not fully mature, drug use that takes place during the childhood or teenage years can have particularly negative effects on the younger person’s ability to perform all these essential executive functions.

When Should I See A Doctor About My Menstrual Cycle

Contact your doctor or your local Planned Parenthood health center if:

• Youre worried that you might be pregnant because youve had unprotected sex and missed your period.

• Your period is so heavy that you have to change maxi pads or super tampons every hour.

• Your period lasts much longer than usual, or longer than 7 days.

• You’re light-headed, dizzy, or your pulse is racing.

• Youre 16 years old and still havent gotten your period.

• You have severe pain before or during your period.

• You have unusual bleeding between periods.

• You suddenly feel sick or get a fever when using a tampon.

• Your periods or PMS keeps you from your normal day-to-day activities.

• Your periods stop or suddenly become irregular.

• Your period comes more often than every 21 days or less often than every 45 days.

• You get very anxious or depressed around the time you get your period.

Don’t Miss: What Is Methane On The Periodic Table

Know Whats Normal For You

Keep track of your periods with an app or a simple paper calendar. Take note of the rate of flow and when it shows up, so youll spot any changes right away.

Finally, see your gynecologist regularly and discuss your periods during your appointments. If anything seems weird to you, bring it up.

Your period is a clue to whats going on with your reproductive health, Dr. Higgins says. Your doctor wants to know the details so we can help you stay healthy.

How Many Days Late Can Your Period Be

I had my period late by 6 days.. Can I be pregnant? A pregnancy test is the first option to use to be certain of this because many factors can lead to late periods and every menstrual cycle is different. Generally speaking, if you usually have a regular menstrual cycle, a period up to 10 days late can be normal.

Having a late period can be because of a number of reasons:

• Delayed ovulation can be caused because of anxiety or stress which can result in a late period.
• You can miss your period if you have gained or lost a lot of weight as well.
• Other factors like hormonal imbalance, effects of drugs can all lead to late period.

It is also important to ensure accurate counting of your cycles or you will wrongly assume that you have had a late period. The first day of the cycle is the first day bleeding occurs. Begin counting the cycle from this first day to the 28th day to get the estimated arrival time of your period. However, if you find out that you are having irregular periods without being pregnant then consult a health care professional to know its cause.

Ask Yourself These Questions

1. What type of medication are you taking at the moment?

Contraceptives either in the form of injections, oral or implanted, certain chemotherapy drugs, antipsychotics antidepressants and thyroid medications can all cause amenorrhea in certain women.

2. What kind of workout routine do you follow?

3. Has your thyroid been checked before?

4. Are you chronically ill?

Don’t Miss: Why Am I Bleeding A Lot During My Period

Is It Normal For A 12 Year Old To Miss Her Period

It’s common, especially in the first 2 yearsafter a girl starts getting her period, to skipperiods or to have irregular periods. Going on a tripor having a major change in schedule can also make yourperiod come at a different time than expected. All of thisis perfectly normal.

Furthermore, is it normal to miss a period at 12 years old?

This is a menstrual period. The average age forperiods to begin is 12. But they may start as earlyas 8 or as late as 16, and still be considered withinthe normal range. For the first few years aftermenstruation begins, long, irregular cycles are common andnot cause for concern.

Beside above, is it common for a teenage girl to miss her period? Many girls get regular periods most of thetime, but occasionally skip a period or get an extraperiod during times of pressure or stress. In fact, you maynotice that when you go on a trip or have a major change inyour schedule your period is late. All of this isperfectly normal.

In respect to this, how often should a 12 year old get her period?

Most girls get their first period whenthey’re around 12. But getting it any time betweenage 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl’s body has its ownschedule.

How long is it normal for a period to be late?

Most periods last 3 to 5 days, but anywhere from2 to 7 days is normal. Menstrual cycles may happenaround the same date every month or they may be irregular. Amenstrual period is considered late if it hasn’tstarted 5 or more days after the day you expected it tostart.

Factors That Can Affect Menstruation Length And Heaviness

• How long does a period last? It can change month-to-month and as you age, modify your diet and change birth control. There are healthy guidelines for menstruation, but everybody is different. Your cycle and your friends will most likely differ.
• Birth control is one of the leading factors that may affect menstrual cycle changes. For instance, hormonal birth control may shorten it, while a copper IUD may do the opposite.
• A certain level of irregularity is normal. One study published in Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology found that between 14% and 25% of women have irregular cycles. This can mean a shorter period or heavier/lighter flow between months.

You May Like: Starting Birth Control On First Day Of Period

Your Menstrual Cycle In Your Late

The average age of menopause is 51 to 52. However, menopause can occur earlier for some women. During the 10 years before menopause, many women often experience changes to their cycles.

The average menstrual cycle for women in their late-30s and 40s tends to be shorter cycles with heavier bleeding. They may also have intermittent menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. During this time, you can also expect some variation in the number of days of bleeding or the amount of flow. Some cycles may be skipped and thenfollowed by a heavy cycle.

Watch for the same issues as above, but also pay attention to:

• heavy bleeding that is accompanied by dry skin, hair loss and a slow metabolism, as this could signify thyroid issues
• bleeding between cycles or after intercourse.

Remember, you know your body best. If something doesn’t feel right to you, contact your provider to determine the right course of action. Seeing your provider for an annual physical is a great opportunity for you to talk about any changes to your menstrual cycle and body.

Weight Is An Important Cause Of Missed Periods

Being overweight or underweight can affect your periods, and so can losing a lot of weight very quickly.

If you are not eating enough or restricting your diet then this will switch off the ovulation hormones. This will then cause a missed period or your periods might stop completely.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder or restrictive dieting please seek medical help. It is worth it to help you get better.

Being overweight can also affect your periods but in a different way. The extra estrogen being produced by your body disrupts the hormonal balance that regulates ovulation. This can lead your periods to become irregular.

Read Also: What Is The Incubation Period For Kennel Cough

How Many Days Your Period Can Be Late For

You have every right to be confused and upset if you are trying to conceive but keep seeing a negative pregnancy test even when your period gets late. Under normal circumstances, the ovaries release an egg per month, around two weeks after the beginning of the period. The uteruss inner lining sheds if the egg remains unfertilized, marking the beginning of the period. But how late can your period be? How can you know if its a pregnancy or a just an irregular period?

Long Periods & The Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation, whether in the form of a normal or long period, is only part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is the process during which a woman’s ovaries produce eggs, release those eggs, and, in the absence of fertilization , results in a period approximately once a month. In other words, there’s a lot going on within the body before, after and during menstruation, much of which varies depending on the cycle and the person.

Recommended Reading: 9 Year Old Starting Period Symptoms

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.

Three Phases Of The Menstrual Cycle

The phases of your menstrual cycle are triggered by hormonal changes.

Menstrual period

On Day 1 of your cycle, the thickened lining of the uterus begins to shed. You know this as menstrual bleeding from the vagina. A normal menstrual period can last 4 to 6 days.

Most of your menstrual blood loss happens during the first 3 days. This is also when you might have cramping pain in your pelvis, legs, and back. Cramps can range from mild to severe. The cramping is your uterus contracting, helping the endometrium shed. In general, any premenstrual symptoms that you’ve felt before your period will go away during these first days of your cycle.

Follicular phase

During the follicular phase, an egg follicle on an ovary gets ready to release an egg. Usually, one egg is released each cycle. This process can be short or long and plays the biggest role in how long your cycle is. At the same time, the uterus starts growing a new endometrium to prepare for pregnancy.

The last 5 days of the follicular phase, plus ovulation day, are your fertile window. This is when you are most likely to become pregnant if you have sex without using birth control.

Luteal phase

This phase starts on ovulation day, the day the egg is released from the egg follicle on the ovary. It can happen any time from Day 7 to Day 22 of a normal menstrual cycle. During ovulation, some women have less than a day of red spotting or lower pelvic pain or discomfort . These signs of ovulation are normal.

You May Like: Why Am I Bleeding When I Already Had My Period

A Few Ways To Get Your Period Back On Track

Getting your period back on track might be possible by eliminating the unhealthy stressors in your life. If thats not possible, learning and adopting new coping strategies might work.

If you have experienced delayed periods in the past, it can be quite helpful to track your moods, changes in diet, new medication, or big life events. This will help you better identify what some of your stressors are. The Flo app can help you with this.

Here are a few ways to reduce stress and get your period back on track:

How Long Can Stress Delay Your Period

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, although its normal for a menstrual cycle to be anywhere from 21 to 35 days, and this can vary by a few days each cycle without being considered late.

A general rule of thumb is that a period is considered late if it is delayed by five days or more.

Anyone who gets a period will probably experience a late period at least once in their life. It may come as a surprise that stress is actually a very common cause for a late period. If a period is delayed due to stress, how late it is depends on many factors, including the amount of stress, coping abilities, and the persons individual cycle.

If the stress is acute, your period might only be a few days late, but some people who experience severe chronic stress can go months without getting a period.

Don’t Miss: My Periods Are Irregular How Can I Calculate Ovulation