What To Do If Your Period Is Late
It might be worth doing a home pregnancy test if you are a few days late. This test is simple, and checks for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin , which is only present when youre pregnant. These tests are increasingly accurate, and its even possible to get a positive result from the day your period is due.
At the same time, its also possible to get a false negative in the first few days after a late period. So, testing a week after your period was due is more likely to show accurate results.
Its understandable that you might worry about how late can a period be without being pregnant. So, if you know you are not pregnant, and your period is later than usual, then it might be worth having a chat with your doctor. It can be helpful to understand what else might be going on with your body.
Can Stress Delay Your Period
Having a manageable amount of stress in your life is normal. But excessive levels of stress, whether physical or mental, can be detrimental to your health. One of the effects of stress is a spike in cortisol, sometimes called the stress hormone.
This is how it happens. Extreme physical, emotional, or nutritional stress activates a chain reaction in your body. It starts from changes in brain activity and activity in the brain endocrine glands, passes through the suprarenal gland where stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the blood, and disrupts the hormonal balance of the reproductive organs.
How Late Can Your Period Be
Dr. Archana NirulaThere may be a slight delay in the audio
Most women have their periods 11 to 13 times every year but some may have more or less than this. Late periods are common. Usually, the menstrual cycle is 28 days long but it can vary from woman to woman. If you do not get your periods on a regular cycle, then it is considered to be irregular menstruation.
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Whats A Normal Menstrual Cycle
Your menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. The average menstrual cycle is about 25-30 days, but it can be as short as 21 days or longer than 35 its different from person to person. The number of days in your cycle may also vary from month to month. When you get your period, its normal to bleed anywhere from 2 to 7 days.
The average person loses anywhere between 1-6 tablespoons of menstrual fluid during each period. It can be thin or clumpy, and varies in color from dark red to brown or pink. If your period is so heavy that you have to change maxi pads or super tampons every hour, call your doctor or your local Planned Parenthood health center.
Everyones body is different, so their periods are different too whats normal varies from person to person, and can change over your lifetime. Some birth control methods or health conditions may also affect your period.
A Missed Period Could Mean You’re Pregnant But There Might Be Another Cause
Pregnancy is by far the most common cause of a missed period. However, other medical and lifestyle factors can also affect your menstrual cycle making your period late.
Weight changes, hormonal irregularities, and menopause are among the most common causes if you’re not pregnant. With these issues, you may miss a period for one or two months, or you may experience complete amenorrheathat is, no period for three or more months in a row.
A normal menstrual cycle is about 28 days. However, a normal cycle could be up to 40 days. If your cycle is longer than this, or longer than usual for you, it’s considered late.
This article explores 10 common reasons your period may be delayed.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
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Consider Taking A Home Pregnancy Test
You can take a home pregnancy test as early as 14 days after unprotected sex. If you did not use a method of birth control or are concerned about a possible birth control failure, take an at-home pregnancy test. Any test is good, whether purchased from a drug store, like CVS or Walgreens, or the Dollar Store expensive tests are usually no better than affordable tests. Make sure to read and follow the directions about how to take the test and when to read the results. If the test is negative, and your period is still late or you are concerned about possible symptoms of pregnancy, repeat the test in about a week. If the test is positive, then keep reading.
My Period Is Late: Is There Any Reason To Be Worried
Numerous studies show that a slight variation in the length of your menstrual cycle is normal.
More than 100 women with average menstrual cycle lengths took part in a large-scale study that showed interesting results: cycle variability of more than seven days was observed in 42.5 percent of the participants! As you can see, a one to two-day variation is very common.
Another large study conducted by Flo and the University of Adelaide showed that only about 16 percent of the participants had a 28-day cycle, even though you might have been told this was the typical length for menstrual cycles.
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What To Do If Your Period Is Delayed
If your period is late, the first step is to complete out a pregnancy test from the pharmacy. If you havent had a period for more than 3 months and you cannot identify the cause, you should go to a gynecologist so that he or she can identify the cause and treat the problem. In some cases, the use of medication is recommended to stimulate your period.
The doctor may order bloodwork to assess progesterone and prolactin levels, which may help to identify the reason for this delay and guide the most appropriate treatment.
Also, depending on what is causing your period delay, you may need to reduce the intensity of physical exercise, take it easy, avoid stress and maintain a varied and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. These are all factors that contribute to a regular menstrual cycle.
It is also recommended that you see your doctor regularly to identify possible health problems or diseases such as polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, anorexia, bulimia, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, all which can cause changes to your menstrual cycle.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Home pregnancy test is positive
- You want a pregnancy test done in the office
- Sexual intercourse within the last 3 months
- Recent breast swelling, weight gain or nausea
- Has missed 2 or more periods and prior periods were regular
- Recent weight loss
Recent Stress Causing Late Period
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Your Weight Has Changed
If your weight has fluctuated drastically up or down, it can cause your period to be late. Being underweight or having a low body-fat ratio can alter your hormone levels, lowering them to levels where menstruation does not occur. Obesity and missed periods can sometimes signal a serious medical condition and you should be seen by your doctor.
Youve Upped Your Workout Intensity
A strenuous exercise regimen can also cause missed periods. This is most common in those who train for several hours a day. It happens because, whether intentionally or not, youre burning way more calories than youre taking in.
When you burn too many calories, your body doesnt have enough energy to keep all its systems running. More strenuous workouts can increase hormone release that can affect your menstruation.
Periods typically go back to normal as soon as you lessen training intensity or increase your caloric intake.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a set of symptoms caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Many people with PCOS do not ovulate regularly.
As a result, your periods may:
- be lighter or heavier than standard periods
- arrive at inconsistent times
Other PCOS symptoms can include:
- excess or coarse facial and body hair
- acne on the face and body
- weight gain or trouble losing weight
- dark patches of skin, often on the neck creases, groin, and underneath breasts
- skin tags in the armpits or neck
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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:
Referral To A Specialist
If your GP thinks a medical condition might have caused your periods to stop, they may refer you to a specialist.
Depending on what your GP thinks is causing the problem, you may be referred to:
- a gynaecologist â a specialist in treating conditions affecting the female reproductive system
- an endocrinologist â a specialist in treating hormonal conditions
You may have a gynaecological examination and various tests, including:
- blood tests â to see if you have abnormal levels of certain hormones
- an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan â to identify any problems with your reproductive system or the pituitary gland in your brain
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Reasons For Missed Periods
There are many reasons why you may have missed your period. Some women miss periods regularly because they dont ovulate regularly. You might also miss a period if you have a change in your sleep patterns, for example, or if you start working night shifts which can throw your cycles out of whack as your body learns to adjust to it.
You can also miss your period if your weight is too low. After a certain amount of body fat, you may not have the hormone production to sustain your periods. This is often true if youre a very competitive athlete or suffer from disordered eating like anorexia or even bulimia.
Sometimes stress can be a reason that your period is missing. This can usually be determined easily by a discussion with your doctor.
How Much Delay In Periods Is Normal
Menstrual cycles are considered normal if they last anywhere between 21 to 35 days. Your cycle can vary, but your period is considered late after five days from the date when you expected it to come. A period is considered to have been missed if its been six weeks or more since the first day of your last menstruation.
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Why Are Some Periods Late Or Missed And Others Are Not
Periods can be late for all kinds of reasons, like weight changes, an increase in exercise, hormones, and stress. It’s also really common for periods to change in timing and flow during the first few years of your menstrual cycle, while your body develops and settles into a pattern.
This is probably what’s causing your period to be tardy for the party. It is possible to be pregnant and have light bleeding that seems kind of like a period, but it’s not the same as a period.
If you really feel like something is wrong, check with your healthcare professional who might offer an early pregnancy test or blood tests to be sure.
Are there early signs of pregnancy, even 3 days late?
Answer: There are some early signs of pregnancy that can start as early as 3 days past ovulation. Just because you’re feeling a little off and have a late period doesn’t mean you’re pregnant necessarily.
Also, a late or missed period can be common in some cycles, especially if you have irregular periods or polycystic ovary syndrome.
There are some early pregnancy signs to watch out for as we will go on to talk about in our blog below that can help you better navigate your next move.
Doing Too Much Exercise
The stress that intense physical activity places on your body can affect the hormones responsible for your periods. Losing too much body fat through intense exercise can also stop you ovulating.
You’ll be advised to reduce your level of activity if excessive exercise has caused your periods to stop.
If you’re a professional athlete, you may benefit from seeing a doctor who specialises in sports medicine. They’ll be able to give you advice about how to maintain your performance without disrupting your periods.
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How Does Your Lower Stomach Feel In Early Pregnancy
Lower abdominal pain is normal during pregnancy and is most common between 18 and 24 weeks. Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
Diabetes And Thyroid Disease
Jay M. Berman, M.D., FACOG, chief of gynecological services at Detroit Medical Center’s Harper Hutzel Hospital and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Wayne State University, says other issues such as diabetes and thyroid disease may be to blame.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, thyroid disease can cause problems with your menstrual period because thyroid hormones help control your period. Therefore, unbalanced thyroid hormone can cause your period to be irregular.
In addition, some studies have found a link between type 1 diabetes and early menopause. Researchers believe this occurs because this type of diabetes causes premature vascular aging and, in turn, ovarian aging. As you reach early menopause, your periods may be late and irregular.
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Can Stress Make Your Period Late
Absolutely! Stress and anxiety can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to many symptoms such as diarrhea, rapid breathing, abdominal pain, and late periods. Stress can suppress the action of certain hormones that are needed to regulate your menstrual cycle. Thats why finding effective stress management techniques can be helpful in regulating your menstrual cycle.
How To Delay Your Period
- Taking the combined contraceptive pill
Other ways you might be able to delay your period including taking the phasic contraceptive pill and progestogen-only pill , however the effects on periods are variable.
You might be wondering how to take period delay medication and how safe each of these methods are. Well take you through this below. So if youd like to find out more, read on.
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How Late Can A Period Be
A typical menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but depending on the woman, a healthy cycle can be a short as 21 or as long as 35 days. Track your period over several months to look for cycle patterns and changes . This will help you figure out what a normal menstrual cycle usually looks like for you.
A period is usually considered late if it hasnt started within seven days of when you expect it .
Possible Causes For A Late Period
If your period is late, you are advised to perform at least 2 pregnancy tests, with a 7-day interval between each test. If both of these yield negative results, likelihood of pregnancy is low, and the delay in period can be a result of other situations like:
These situations can lead to the absence of your menstrual cycle for more than 3 months . You are advised to see your doctor if this happens.
Menstruation is also considered to be delayed when a girl who has reached the age of 16 has not yet menstruated for the first time. This is also known as primary amenorrhea and should be investigated by a gynecologist. This delayed period may be related to problems such as head trauma, prematurity or defects in the reproductive system such as an imperforate hymen, vaginal septum, or absence of a uterus.
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How Soon To Take A Pregnancy Test To Know If You Are Pregnant Or Not
The level of human Chorionic Gonadotropin otherwise known as the pregnancy hormone in the body is measured by all pregnancy tests to determine pregnancy. Urine has hCG present in it too which is detected by home pregnancy tests. Not all pregnancy tests are equally sensitive. Detection of even the lowest amounts of hCG is possible with highly sensitive tests even after a week of conception or four days before the due date of your period.
The unit mIU/ml is used for describing the sensitivity of pregnancy tests. 10-40 mIU/ml is the sensitivity range of pregnancy tests. Tests with lower value of mIU/ml are more sensitive and can detect pregnancy at an earlier stage than others.
Accurate results from home pregnancy tests can be expected if the test is done two weeks after ovulation, which is when your period becomes due.
A negative pregnancy test can mean that you are not pregnant or that your ovulation occurred later and your pregnancy hasnt begun yet. 10% women can have low amounts of hCG when they have missed a period. So, if your period doesnt occur even after a negative result, test again some days later. In case of pregnancy, the levels would be up and the test would be able to detect them.
Blood tests can detect hCG too. You can detect pregnancies much earlier with blood tests as their sensitivity is higher than that of urine tests. However, blood tests for pregnancy arent done unless they are medically needed.