Things That Delay Your Period
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.
- 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:
Hormonal contraceptives
Change In Birth Control
If you have recently made changes to your birth control then that can be causing the change in your cycle. Many birth control methods lessen the frequency and severity of your period, and some eliminate your period altogether.
Changes to your birth control include a change in your method of contraception, starting birth control for the first time , or stopping your birth control. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
How To Know If Your Period Is Late
It can be hard to know if your period is late, if you donât know your average cycle length or when your last period was. With Clue you can view your recent period dates, cycle averages and predictions for your next three cycles. You can set a reminder to let you know when your period is coming, and to alert you if itâs late.
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Youve Been Crossing Time Zones
Did you take a big trip recently? Travel to a far-off land can definitely affect your cycle. Since the timing and release of reproductive hormones from the brain is dependent upon light, extensive travel across many times zones may temporarily affect the timing of ovulation and cause a delay in when a period may come, Styer says.
Top 5 Reasons Why Your Period Is Late
Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team
NOTE: If you are 12 years old, your period wont be regular for another 2 years!
Most of us have been there you check the date on your period tracke app and realize youre supposed to meet Aunt Flo today. But she never comes and then a few more days pass and she still doesnt arrive. Seriously, the one time you want your period and it doesnt show up?! There are many explanations for why your period is late. Check out our video on the top reasons why your cycle is taking longer than usual to start here!
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Youve Just Started Menstruating
Young women who have only had a few periods may not have regular cycles at first. It can take a few months for cycles to become regular. This is also true if you have just come off of birth control medication that stopped menstrual periods. It makes take a little while for you to get a period every month again.
Youve 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.
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Possible Reasons Why Your Periods Are Late
May 20, 2021 North Atlanta Women’s Care
While pregnancy is a possible reason for a missed or late period, other medical and lifestyle factors can delay your periods. This can include weight fluctuations, hormonal imbalances, stress, and menopause. Being aware of these conditions will help you identify and treat them on time to regularize your menstrual cycle.
Other Ways To Skip Your Period
Taking birth control pills arent the only way to skip your period. Other options include the progestin-releasing intrauterine device , progestin injection , progestin implant , and the combination NuvaRing or contraceptive patches.
The Mirena IUD works even better than pills to reduce overall bleeding, Dabney says. Many women on the Mirena IUD either get very light periods or no periods at all.
If you arent sure about the pill, speak with your doctor about your other options. Make sure you speak with your doctor before using a birth control patch to skip your period. Compared to birth controls pills, the patch has a slightly increased risk for blood clotting. However, the patch is the same general formulation as combination pills.
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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.
The Best Time To Take A Pregnancy Test
If you have a regular menstrual cycle , then you are only at risk of pregnancy if you had unprotected heterosexual sex or had a high risk of sperm touching your genitals during your fertile window. This is the six days leading up to and including ovulation, usually around the middle of your cycle . You can take a pregnancy test about two weeks after your estimated ovulation day, but the earlier you take a test the less accurate it may be and some brands are more sensitive than others . You should probably take a pregnancy test or contact your healthcare provider if your period is nine or more days late.
If you have an irregular cycle , then unprotected sex or exposure of sperm on your genitals at most times represents a risk. You can take a pregnancy test about two weeks after your last unprotected sexual encounter, though the earlier you take a test the less accurate it may be and some brands are more sensitive than others .
If you get a negative result at first and your period still hasnât come after a week, you might want to try taking another pregnancy testâjust to be sure. The sooner you know if you are pregnant or not, the sooner youâll be able to develop a plan . You can get confidential testing and counseling in most healthcare providersâ offices and clinics.
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Does Missing A Period Mean You Are Pregnant
If you are sexually active and your period is late, there is a chance you might be pregnant so it might be worth taking a test.
Make sure you try and do this about a week after your period usually starts as taking at test too early could result in a fake negative.
There are also some other early symptoms of pregnancy to look out for that could help.
These include tender, painful or swollen breasts, nausea or vomiting and fatigue.
What A Typical 28
- Days 1-5: Menstrual bleeding
- Days 6-14: Uterine lining becomes thicker
- Day 14-19: Ovulation occurs and an egg is released from the ovary fertilization may occur
- Day 19-28 If no fertilization or implantation, hormonal changes occur and uterine lining prepares to shed
If you want a more detailed description of this process, .
There are a bunch of different hormones involved in menstruation estrogen, gonadotropin-releasing hormone , luteinizing hormone , follicle stimulating hormone , testosterone, progesterone and theyre all interdependent .
Your period depends on these hormones working in perfect harmony, so when theyre out of whack, it can wreak havoc on your cycle.
As youll see, there are dozens of things that can throw a wrench into that delicate hormone balance, delaying or preventing the arrival of your period.
Side note: Did you know your cycle even plays a large role in your libido? Yep, its true.
So lets get to the point: What are the things I wish I had known as a college freshman? And what are the things that can disrupt your hormones and cause your period to be late ?
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How Much Of A Delay Is Normal In Periods
Worried about a late period, but know youre not pregnant? Missed or late periods happen for many reasons other than pregnancy. Common causes can range from hormonal imbalances to serious medical conditions.
There are also two times when its typical for your period to be irregular: when it first begins, and when the menopause transition starts. As your body goes through the transition, your cycle can become irregular.
Most people who havent reached menopause usually have a period approximately every 28 days. However, a healthy menstrual cycle can range from every 21 to 40 days. If your period doesnt fall within these ranges, it could be because of one of the following reasons.
What Are Irregular Periods
Even though girls get their periods on a cycle, that cycle can take different amounts of time each month. For example, a girl might get her period after 24 days one month and after 42 days the next. These are called irregular periods.
Irregular periods are very common, especially in a girl’s first few years of getting her period.
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Medicines And Medical Treatment
As discussed above, a number of contraceptive treatments can stop you having periods. Other medicines can affect periods too. Examples are some medicines for schizophrenia , an anti-sickness medicine called metoclopramide and strong painkillers called opiates.A number of operations may result in absent periods. For example, after a hysterectomy you will not have periods. A hysterectomy is an operation where the womb is removed. As the blood during a period comes from the womb, you will never have periods again afterwards. Another operation , which is sometimes done for heavy periods, also causes periods to stop. In this operation the lining of the womb is removed. This is not usually permanent and periods start again in time.
Treatments for cancer, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, can also damage the ovaries and result in absent periods. Recreational drugs such as heroin may also cause periods to stop.
Overactive Or Underactive Thyroid
Your thyroid is responsible for helping to regulate your bodys metabolism. If anything goes wrong with it, then it could cause an imbalance in your bodys hormones. Signs of an underactive or overactive thyroid include excessive fatigue, a rapid heartbeat and mood swings. Thyroid disorders are easily diagnosed with a simple blood test and physical exam.
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You May Be Underweight
For many women, the number on the scale is constantly in flux. But unintentionally losing 5 percent of your weight over 6 to 12 months or weighing 10 percent less than whats considered a normal range for your height affects bodily functions like your cycle.
When the body doesnt get the nutrients it needs to fuel itself, malnutrition occurs. An unbalanced diet, anorexia, bulimia, and exercise bulimia can all lead to malnutrition and cause irregular menstruation.
Eating disorders and excessive exercise also affect estrogen production and, as a result, your period.
Checking your BMI is a quick way to assess your weight, but keep in mind that it doesnt measure muscle and could possibly overestimate your body fat.
How Can You Tell Your Period Is Late
If you dont have any known condition affecting your menstrual cycle, your period should start within 21 to 35 days of your last period, depending on your normal cycle. Regular periods can vary. If your regular cycle is 28 days and you still have not had your period on day 29, your period is officially considered late.
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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.
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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How To Improve Menstrual Regularity
Increased stress, along with diet and exercise changes, can affect your menstrual period. If you experience irregular periods and you have PCOS, chances are it is because of a hormone imbalance.
The best ways to achieve a regular menstrual period if you have PCOS include:
- Follow a healthy diet. Enjoy a diet that is rich in antioxidants and healthy fats as well as low in processed or sugary foods.
- Exercise regularly. One study found that sedentary women with PCOS who exercised for 30 minutes on three days a week ovulated more regularly.
- Take supplements. Supplements that have been shown to improve menstrual regularity and ovulation in women with PCOS include n-acetylcysteine, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and a combination of myo and d-chiro inositol.
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What Is The Menopause
The menopauseis 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
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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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