Reasons My Period Could Be Late

Things That Delay Your Period

8 Reasons Your Period Is Late

A missed period is often the first sign of pregnancy, but there are other reasons for lateness, too. Here are some other factors that can delay your monthly flow:

Extreme diet and exercise

A healthy diet and regular exercise can do wonders for your health. But if you overdo it, you might say bye-bye to your periods, at least temporarily.

Athletes who train really hard or who dont get enough calories may stop menstruating, Dr. Higgins says. Its the bodys way of telling you that it doesnt have enough resources to support a pregnancy.

When your periods stop due to weight loss, diet or exercise, youre experiencing secondary amenorrhea. This means you previously had periods, but they have stopped. Secondary amenorrhea might happen to you if you:

  • Eat an extreme, calorie-restricted diet.
  • Have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.
  • Lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time.
  • Undergo hardcore exercise training, such as for a .

Polycystic ovary syndrome

PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that interferes with the release of an egg . When you dont ovulate, you usually dont have a period. Many people with PCOS have irregular, late or missing periods. Other symptoms of PCOS include:

  • Excess facial or body hair.
  • Thinning hair.
  • Weight gain or trouble losing weight.

Doctors diagnose PCOS by checking your symptoms and performing medical tests when needed. Medication and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms.

Stress

Some examples of major stress include:

Youth

Under Or Overactive Thyroid

The thyroid gland is sort of like your bodys internal thermometer, regulating functions such as internal temperature and metabolism. An overactive or underactive thyroid is one reason why your menstrual cycle could be wonky.

According to reproductive endocrinologists at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut, too high or low hormone levels produced by the thyroid can cause late, missed, or irregular periods, and even menstrual spotting between cycles or menorrhagia, which is abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding during periods.

Does Parsley Help Induce An Early Period

Yes, the addition of Parsley to your daily diet can help regulate your cycle. Consumption of Vitamin C rich food is known to to induce an early period. Parsley is rich in Vitamin C as well as Apiol which stimulates uterine contractions. You can add Parsley to your meals or prepare Parsley tea with warm water.

Read Also: Can Your First Period Be Brown

You Asked: What Is Stress Doing To My Body

Stress is often referred to as the health epidemic of the 21st centurythe culprit behind frazzled and exhausted populations worldwide. With at least 70 percent of people in the United States experiencing the physical and psychological effects of stress, its become somewhat of a personal pathogen. In fact, repeated bouts of stress may even take years off your life. A Texas A& M Health Science Center College of Nursing expert explains the damaging side-effects of the chronically over-stressed.

According to the World Health Organization , a little stress is actually good for you. Little bursts of stress during working hours or during your day can help you to focus more and perform better, said Raquel Reynolds, M.S.N., RN, PHCNS-BC, PhD a clinical assistant professor in the Texas A& M College of Nursing, who studies workplace stress. When the stress is repeated over and over again, and translates to chronic stress, is when detrimental health effects happen.

Forty-eight percent of people report stress has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lifewith 40 percent of workers suffering on the job. Individual factors like stress from your personal or social life play in, but, according to Reynolds, situational stressors are far and above the major reason so many peoples bodies are over-worked and pushed to their limit.

How Can An Ayurvedic Diet Help You Get Regular Periods

Why Is My Period Late Other Than Pregnancy
  • Ayurveda recommends nourishing herbs like Ashwagandha and Shatavari in teas or cooking that can regulate your metabolism rate and control hormonal imbalances.
  • Consuming raw fruits such as apples, watermelon, muskmelon, and fibre-rich vegetables can help regulate your monthly cycle.
  • Add healthy fats like ghee, and flaxseed oil to your cooking and try to always eat warm food. Ginger is also good to be used in tea for gaining strength in the body.

Don’t Miss: Can Chlamydia Make Your Period Late

Youre In Early Menopause

Early menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, happens when your ovaries stop working before you turn 40.

When your ovaries are not working the way they should, they stop producing multiple hormones, including estrogen. As your estrogen levels drop to all-time lows, you will begin to experience the symptoms of menopause.

Late or missed periods may be an early sign. You may also experience:

What Is The Menopause

The menopause is when you have no periods and you will not be able to get pregnant naturally. This happens to women in their late forties to mid-fifties. Many women will notice that their periods completely stop, however others will see their periods become less frequents in the years and months leading up to the menopause.

References

Recommended Reading: 3 Periods In One Month Causes

Your New Exercise Regimen Could Be Depleting Hormone Levels That Make Your Period Happen

Even if you aren’t training overly strenuously, any change in exercise habits can cause changes in your period, according to a Harvard Study reported by the New York Times.

Strenuous exercise decreases the body’s estrogen levels and since estrogen is the primary hormone that triggers ovulation, a lack of it can slow down the entire menstrual cycle. Sometimes this can result in delays that last as long as several months.

Taking Only The Active Combination Pills

Does a late period = pregnancy? Reasons you might be late (PCOS)

If youre using a combination pill pack, you just need to take only the active pills with no breaks in between. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist so they can show you which pills are active and which are the placebo pills. Youll want to throw out the placebos.

If you take the active pills continuously, you wont get a period until you stop them.

If you stop taking active pills, you may experience a withdrawal bleed, which is similar to your period. Dabney recommends that you allow this to happen once every three to four months.

Dabney says some birth control pills have a higher risk of abnormal bleeding than others. You should check with your doctor if you want to start skipping your period. They may recommend that you change the type of pill you take.

Youll also want to check with your insurance provider to make sure theyll cover more pills in less time, since youll be going through pill packs faster.

You should not be off of the birth control longer than 7 days, or you will lose contraception efficacy.

Read Also: How Many 2 Week Pay Periods In A Year

Read Also: How To Talk About Periods With Your Daughter

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?

Undergoing Inflammatory Diseases In The Body

  • Females who suffer from various inflammatory diseases, such asCeliac disease, Late periods are more common in people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, and so on.
  • Essentially, any disease in your body can cause hormonal imbalance, slow your metabolism, and result in menstrual disorders.
  • Also, if you experience chronic trauma or stress from the disease, it can lead to late period cycles.

Also Check: 9 Year Old Starting Period Symptoms

You’ve Been Sick Or Are Dealing With A Medical Condition

Illness can certainly influence the timing of your cycle, Styer says. The common cold may not be enough to shift your cycle, but both temporary sickness and chronic conditions can throw it out of whack. Druet names thyroid disorders and uterine polyps or fibroids as other conditions that can have the same effect.

I Have Irregular Periods And Dont Know When My Next Period Will Start When Should I Take A Pregnancy Test

What Causes Delay In Period Aside Pregnancy

Most pregnancy tests claim to be the most accurate after a missed period. But irregular periods can make it hard to predict when to take the test.

Periods are considered irregular if:

  • The number of days between periods is either shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days
  • The number of days in the menstrual cycle varies from month to month. For example, your cycle may be 22 days one month and 33 days the next month.

If you have irregular periods, try counting 36 days from the start of your last menstrual cycle or four weeks from the time you had sex. At this point, if you are pregnant, your levels of hCG should be high enough to detect the pregnancy.

If your test says you are not pregnant, but you still think you may be pregnant, wait a few more days and take another pregnancy test. Or, call your doctor for a blood test.

You May Like: What Are The Symptoms Of A Girl Starting Her Period

Reasons Why Your Period May Be Late

1. Pregnancy

To prevent any proverbial elephants in the room, lets get this one under our belts first! If your period is running late, ask yourself: is there any chance I could be pregnant?

Its fine to wait a few days after you would have expected your period to start to see if its just running late. However, if it still hasnt made an appearance after that, and you have had sex, then its best to take a pregnancy test. You can take most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If youre not sure when your next period is due, the NHS recommends doing the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex or when you suspect your contraception may not have worked. Some pregnancy tests advertise that they can be taken earlier than this. It is worth bearing in mind that accuracy of these tests can vary at such an early stage in a pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests are widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets, but you can often get one for free from your doctors surgery, contraception & sexual health clinic, or NHS walk-in centre, as well as some pregnancy advisory services. You can contact your GP, doctor, or sexual health clinic for advice about taking a pregnancy test, or next steps if you have a positive result. More information is available on the NHS website.

2. You are just starting your periods

3. Post-birth or breastfeeding

4. Perimenopause

5. Changing your contraception

6. Stress

7. Your diet

8. Weight changes

9. Intense exercise

Its Rooted In Compulsive Habits

If you have bulimia or another eating disorder, you may be obsessed with your body image and go to severe measures to alter your weight. Anorexia nervosa causes people to restrict their calorie intake. Bulimia causes binge eating and purging.

Bingeing is consuming a large portion of food in a short period of time. People with bulimia tend to binge in secret and then feel immense guilt. These are also symptoms of binge eating disorder. The difference is that bulimia includes purging by behaviors such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, or fasting. People with bulimia may continue to binge and purge for a while, and then go through periods of not eating.

If you have bulimia, you may also exercise compulsively. Regular exercise is a normal part of a healthy lifestyle. But people with bulimia may take this to the extreme by exercising for several hours a day. This can lead to other health problems, such as:

  • body injuries

Also Check: Why Is My Period 6 Days Late

Don’t Miss: Can I Go To The Gynecologist On My Period

Chronic Diseases Like The Celiac Disease

Metabolism diseases like Diabetes and celiac disease alter the sugar balance in the body.

The changes in blood sugar change the glucose crossing blood-brain barrier. This will affect the hormones produced by the brain.

Hormones control and coordinate the reproductive cycles. Change in hormone cycles can cause late periods.

Any chronic disease like ovarian cancer is also a reason for late periods.

Sohow Much Of A Delay In Your Period Is Still Considered Normal

5 Reasons Your Period is Late – Pandia Health

âIf you have one or two irregular periods it is definitely something to pay attention to,â says Sherry Ross, MD, an ob-gyn at Providence Saint Johnâs Health Center in Santa Monica, California. A period is considered late if it hasnât started five or more days after the day you expected it to begin, according to Summit Medical Group. So if your period is, say, 10 days late, definitely take a pregnancy test and check in with your ob-gyn regardless of the results. In general, if your flow has been MIA for a week or more, that’s a sign you should take the test and also check in with your gyno to see what might be going on.

But again, you can miss a period and *not* be pregnant. If there’s no way you’re pregnant and/or your test comes back negative , one of these factors, including all the stress you might be under right now, may be to blame for your late period problems. Then, your next step is definitely calling your doc so they can help you suss out the best solution or treatment for your situation.

Also Check: Can Plan B Make Your Period Early

When To Talk To Your Doctor About A Late Or Missing Period

Most people who menstruate dont have a perfectly regular cycle. A couple days off here or there generally isnt cause for concern . However, you should speak with your doctor if youve ruled out a pregnancy and:

  • You havent had a period in over three months
  • Your periods are suddenly irregular
  • You notice there are more than 35 days between your periods
  • Your period lasts for more than seven days
  • You bleed between periods
  • Your periods are extremely heavy
  • Your periods are extremely painful

Any of the above could indicate a more serious underlying condition and, regardless, you should always bring up worrying menstrual cycle changes to your healthcare provider or ObGyn.12

Common Reasons Your Period Could Be Late

Posted by south ave& filed under Women’s Health.

At one point or another in every womans life, her periodwill probably be late. Some women simply have unpredictable cycles and are usedto this. Others may get their period like clockwork, and therefore start topanic when their expected time of this month comes and goes and nothinghappens.

Although it is often the first assumption , a lateperiod doesnt always mean youre pregnant. There are plenty of reasons yourperiod could be delayed that are no cause for concern just yet.

Read Also: Taking A Pregnancy Test Before Missed Period

When To Contact A Doctor

Having a light period is not usually a cause for concern. However, if someone has consistently light periods or starts skipping periods altogether, they should talk with a doctor.

A person should also contact a doctor if a light period coincides with other symptoms that are causing concern, such as pelvic pain.

Could You Be Pregnant

How Many Days Can Exercise Delay Your Period

If you missed your period, answer these 4 questions:

  • Am I trying to get pregnant?
  • Have I had sex during my fertile days?
  • Have I not used contraception?
  • Did I ovulate?
  • If you answered yes to all questions, there is a high chance that you are pregnant. But only a positive pregnancy test will confirm your suspicion.

    Recommended Reading: Is It Bad To Masterbate On Your Period

    Theres An Issue With Your Thyroid

    The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck and it has a lot of responsibilities. Its mostly known for regulating the bodys metabolism and temperature, but when it is producing too few or too many hormones it can impact your menstrual cycle.

    According to the Office on Womens Health, hypothyroidism often causes menstrual irregularities, including both late and absent periods. A study from the late 90s reported that hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, can throw off your cycle, too.

    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.

    Also Check: Is It Normal To Pee Blood On Your Period

    You May Like: Will Plan B Delay My Period

    You’ve Been Exercising Excessively

    If you’ve really ramped up your workout routine, you could see the effects in the timing of your period: Expending a lot of energy may signal to your body that it’s time to ramp down the production of fertility-related hormones. Excessive exercise can affect the delicate cross talk between the brain and ovaries, Styer says. As a result, the hormone signals from the brain may not be as efficient as usual in directing the selection of an egg from the ovary. That may mean your period is delayed, or that it wont happen at all that month.

    Plenty of women who work out may experience somewhat irregular cycles, but if you stop getting your period altogether for three months or more a condition called amenorrhea it’s important to see a doctor. Amenorrhea is linked with increased risk for osteoporosis.

    Related Posts

    Popular Articles