When To Reach Out To Your Doc
If missing your period has become a regular occurrence its best to check in with the doc to see whats up with your bod. Even if youre just going through a change in the pattern of your regular periods theres no harm to bring it up, better to put your mind at ease than to cause unnecessary stress for yourself.
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Risk For Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gynecologic cancer and one that is most often occurs after menopause.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you are at an increased risk of endometrial cancer. The increased risk is thought to be associated with insulin resistance and chronically high insulin levels.
With that said, the risk is especially high if you are significantly overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can trigger an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone that not only interferes with menstruation but can cause the lining of the uterus to overgrow, leading to endometriosis.
Endometriosis is linked to an increased risk of endometrial cancer. The same is true if you have abnormally high estrogen levels and abnormally low progesterone levels common in people with obesity.
When Should You See Your Doctor
There are several cases when consulting a doctor is advised so they can perform blood tests and assess you for various health conditions:¹²¹³
- No period for months
- Typically regular periods suddenly become irregular
- Menstrual cycles last less than 21 days or more than 35 days
- Bleeding lasts more than seven days
- Heavy bleeding or passing large clots during periods
- Breakthrough bleeding between periods
- Periods become extremely painful or cause nausea and vomiting
- Experience symptoms of toxic shock syndrome after using tampons
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What Is An Irregular Period
Though we typically think of regular menstruation as a 28-day cycle â counted from the first day of period bleeding until the day before the next period begins â it does vary for each person. A normal cycle with regular periods should at least have the following components:â´
- The cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days
- The bleeding lasts two to seven days
- The heaviest bleeding occurs within the first three days
Irregular cycles will include constantly changing cycle lengths, brief or extended periods, irregular menstrual bleeding and bleeding between periods.
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Youre Getting Closer To Menopause
Women in their 40s and early 50s who are approaching menopause a normal increase in the frequency of prolonged time intervals between periods, Styer says. But dont rule it out if youre not yet in your 40s. Some women do experience ovary function loss before then.
All this said, Styer notes that you may not be able to pinpoint the cause of a late period without consulting your physician but you may not need to. The vast majority of cases of one late period and or few late periods in the course of year does not warrant medical evaluation and should not be of concern, he says. But if it becomes a recurrent issue specifically, if you go longer than 40 or 50 days between periods or your periods dont come at least every 35 to 40 days then its time to make an appointment.
Bottom line? Befriend your cycle, know your cycle, and track your cycle, Druet says. It can give you and tell you a lot.
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Types Of Pregnancy Tests
As recently as the 1970s, you had to miss your period before you took a pregnancy test, and the results could take up to two hours. Today, you can find out that youre pregnant much earlier, faster, and with better accuracy using home pregnancy tests.
At-home pregnancy tests are easy to use and almost as accurate as those given at the healthcare providers office. However, there are some things to consider when deciding what kind of pregnancy test is right for you.
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Reasons Your Period Could Be Late Besides Being Pregnant
Whether you get your period every 28 days like clockwork or have a flow that prefers to come and go as it pleases, having a period go MIA often feels like cause for alarm. Your mind runs wild with thoughts of pregnancy tests and ultrasounds and watching your baby graduate college – an imaginary life that youve created and nurtured and helped grow all because that little bit of blood you were hoping to find this morning didnt make its appearance. Whether pregnancy right now is your goal or youre holding off temporarily or forever, a fetus in utero is certainly not the only cause of a period gone rogue. Here are 6 reasons, besides being pregnant, that your period could be late.
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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.
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Reasons Your Period Could Be Late Other Than Pregnancy
, Allure Magazine
Im late. These two words have a pretty powerful connotation. Say them to any fellow adult with the proper gravitas, and the person youre talking to may assume youre pregnant. Late periods and pregnancy, in many peoples minds, are inherently connected. One must mean the other, right? Wrong.
True, a late period can be an indicator that youre pregnant, but it can also be attributed to many other things or sometimes nothing. Menstrual cycles vary significantly when you are in your teens, breastfeeding, or going through perimenopause, Anna Druet, chief scientific researcher at female health app Clue, tells Allure. Beyond those times, its still very normal for cycles to vary, to an extent.
Before you even begin to get concerned about a late period, know that the timing of yours could vary by up to seven to nine days from one cycle to the next. Your body is not a clock, after all, and your cycle is constantly adapting to your environment, Druet says. Its much more common to have some variation than to be completely regular.
But that time of the month could be delayed for a specific reason. Ahead, eight things that might be keeping your period at bay.
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Reasons Your Period Is Late When You Know Youre Not Pregnant
Have you ever had a late or missed period when you are certain you arent pregnant? It may cause you a moment of panic, but a late period is often caused by factors that have nothing to do with reproduction. If you have a late period and you are sure youre not pregnant, one of the following factors may be to blame.
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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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How To Tell If Your Period Is Late
Many people have irregular menstrual cycles, either longer or shorter than others. Sometimes its hard to remember the exact date of your last period and when to expect your next period. Between 10% and 20% of pregnant people get a negative pregnancy test because they test too early.
Tracking your cycle can help you know a few things: when you ovulated, the first day of your last period, when to expect your next period, and a general idea of the length of your cycle.
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Extreme Training And Exercise
Reproductive hormones, such as estrogen, require some degree of body fat to perform their functions. Women who are in extreme training programs for sports or recreation may find that they reach a level of low body fat that causes their periods to stop.
Usually, periods resume normal cycles once you stop training more than two hours per day.
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Blood Sugar Increases During Your Period
If you have problems controlling your blood sugar the week before your period, it may not be caused by anything you are doing. It may, in fact, be due to changes in your hormone levels.
Roughly halfway through the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs. At that point, progesterone levels increase. Increases in progesterone are, in turn, associated with increased insulin resistance.
That means that during the second half of your cycle when progesterone levels are naturally higher, you may experience some insulin resistance. This response is known as luteal phase insulin resistance. People with type 1 diabetes tend to be more sensitive to this.
Luteal phase insulin resistance can lead to a hyperglycemic event in which your blood sugar spikes even if you are adhering to your routine diet and exercise plan.
An increase in progesterone can also trigger food cravings for simple carbohydrates and may cause you to lose your motivation to exercise. This can further contribute to poor glycemic control.
If you are living with diabetes, it is important to be mindful of your diet and exercise during the luteal phase. If you are on diabetes medications, it is extra important to check your blood sugar regularly to maintain glycemic control.
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Missing a period every once in a while is usually not cause for concern. How much of a delay is normal for your period? It depends. On average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but 40 days could also be within the range of normal. And your cycle will change throughout your life, so at some time, you’re likely to experience a late period when you’re not pregnant.
That said, you should see a healthcare provider if you miss more than one period, or if your missed period is accompanied by new or unusual symptoms.
Seek medical attention right away if you also experience any of the following:
- New or worsening headaches
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/8heres Why Youre Having A Late Period
Being late on your period can be alarming, especially if you’re sexually active, but not prepared to have a family anytime soon.
But a missed period is not always a sign of pregnancy, like we almost always assume. There could be several other possible reasons behind it. Your health, your lifestyle and your stress levels could have a lot to do with your irregular periods and it is important to investigate all potential causes thoroughly.
Having said that, here are some of the common reasons behind why you may be experiencing a late or a missed period, besides pregnancy.
What You Should Do If You Miss A Period
Unless youre experiencing other symptoms that concern you or you suspect you might be pregnant, theres no need to worry about missing one or two periods. Missing an occasional period now and then is not terribly uncommon, Dr. Stewart said.
If you miss three consecutive periods, you should talk to your primary care physician or OBGYN. Often the source is fairly obvious and a brief discussion with your provider could address the issue, Dr. Stewart said.
Your doctor will start with your medical history and a physical exam. From that information you can work with your doctor to plan next steps, which could be lab tests or imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
Most of the time, you will find a simple solution to get your periods back on track. But its important to seek medical care, since sometimes missed periods could be signs of serious health problems. Thyroid disease, pituitary dysfunction, ovulatory dysfunction, chronic kidney disease or cancer can all be associated with amenorrhea. And those conditions could be linked with problems like osteoporosis, abnormal pregnancy, or cancer of the uterine lining.
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Your Weight Or Diet Has Dramatically Changed
Styer says that if youve lost or gained a high amount of weight, your cycle may be affected. Your changing diet may also be the cause of a late period, Druet notes. Severely restricting the amount of calories you consume or not getting enough calories for how much you exercise can cause the reproductive hormones to stop, whilst weight gain can cause estrogen to rise, she says. Bothcan affect the menstrual cycle.
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Reducing Exercise If Youre An Athlete
Missing periods may occur due to low energy availability, especially in adolescent athletes. This can occur if you arent taking in enough energy relative to the energy youre burning through exercise.
People who limit their food intake and engage in extreme exercise, with or without the use of laxatives, may develop amenorrhoea. This may be considered a warning sign for other health issues associated with low energy, such as poor bone accrual and low bone mineral density, both of which are associated with decreased bone strength.
If you may have amenorrhoea due to low energy availability, it is best to reduce the amount of exercise you do on a daily basis. You may want to see a doctor or trainer to determine how much exercise is safe for you to perform.
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Why Is My Period Late 8 Causes Completely Unrelated To Pregnancy
If youve found yourself Googling, why is my period late? Weve got the answers for you.
Did you know that women today will have an estimated 450 periods throughout their lifetime? With so many periods throughout a life time, its likely that at some point yours will occur off schedule no matter how like clock-work your cycle typically is.
For many sexually active women, the first assumed cause for a late period is pregnancy, but in reality, there are various other reasons for irregular periods. In some cases, an irregular cycle might simply be a fluke, but other times, late or missing periods may be a sign of a larger problem. Because of this, even after pregnancy has been ruled out, you should still consult your doctor to investigate your condition further.
In many cases, your periods can return to normal with proper diagnosis and treatment, but its up to you to recognize symptoms, and bring attention to the problem first!
Discontinuing Birth Control Pills May Delay Periods By Months
If you have discontinued birth control pills, it is normal to miss your period.This is because birth control pills prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and when you stop taking them, your body requires a certain time to rebalance its functioning.It may take a few weeks or even months for your period to resume. However, consult your doctor if you are worried.
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When To See Your Doctor
If your periods seem irregular, or youve missed a period but know youre not pregnant, its a good idea to talk with your doctor ASAP, as there are many reasons and conditions that could be causing the issue.
Your doctor can properly diagnose the reason for your late or missed period and discuss your treatment options. If you can, keep a record of changes in your cycle as well as other health changes. This will help them make a diagnosis.
If you have the following symptoms, contact a doctor immediately, or call 911:
Why Am I Not Getting My Period At All
The medical term for absent periods is amenorrhea, and is considered to occur when a woman who has previously had normal periods stops menstruating for six months or more. Many of the causes of amenorrhea are the same as those for a skipped period. Your period can be absent for a number of reasons:
Pregnancy
The most common reason to not get your period is because you are pregnant. A home pregnancy test can quickly tell you if that is the reason.
Menopause
Most women stop getting their periods in their late 40s or early 50s. The average age is 51 years old.
Breastfeeding
If you breastfeed frequently, including at night-time, you may not get a period for many months. Be aware that you will ovulate prior to getting your period back, so birth control is important if you are not ready to be pregnant again.
Stress
While a sudden stressful life event can result in a single missed period, ongoing, high level stress and anxiety can cause your period to stop altogether. Managing stress though self-care, counselling, changing your life circumstances, medication, or other strategies can help you return to having normal periods.
Weight loss
Ongoing, dramatic weight loss, from low intake, excessive exercise, gastric bypass surgery, or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can stop your period. This happens because the hormones required for ovulation are not produced.
Underweight
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