How Late Can My Period Come
Your period is generally considered late once it?s been at least 30 days since the start of your last period. Many things can cause this to happen, from routine lifestyle changes to underlying medical conditions. If your period is regularly late, make an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.
What If I Miss A Period
A missed period is one of the first signs of pregnancy, but it doesnt always mean youre pregnant. Sometimes you skip a period for no reason at all, especially during the first few years of your period. Lots of other things can throw off your regular cycle and mess with the timing of your period. These include:
-
Using hormonal birth control, like the pill, patch, ring, implant, and hormonal IUD
-
Sudden weight gain or loss
-
Having very little body fat, which can happen if youre an athlete or have an eating disorder
Take a pregnancy test if you had unprotected sex and then missed your period. Just missing your period isnt a foolproof way to know that youre pregnant a pregnancy test is the only way to find out for sure. You can get a pregnancy test at drugstores or your local Planned Parenthood health center.
Hormonal birth control can affect your cycle, and even make your period stop altogether. If youve been using your birth control correctly or are on a highly effective method , its very, very unlikely that a missed period means youre pregnant. But you can always take a pregnancy test to be sure.
Does Magnesium Make Period Lighter
Due to your hormones, your magnesium levels tend to be a lot lower on your period. Your body will produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone during your period. Your magnesium levels will be lower as a result of these elevated temperatures. According to other studies, magnesium deficiency has been correlated to the onset of menstrual migraines. For more relief from PMS headaches, visit our latest blog: PM Headache.
Don’t Miss: Is Ovulation Before Or After Period
How Depression Affects The Menstrual Cycle
The stress hormone cortisol is primarily responsible for changes in a woman’s cycle when she’s depressed. As cortisol levels rise in response to stress, the hypothalamus, an organ in the brain that plays an important part in regulating the reproductive system, stops sending signals to the ovaries to do their job.
Without this signal, ovulation is either delayed or stopped altogether. The result is a late period or sometimes no period at all.
Factors That Can Affect Your Menstrual Cycle
Chioma Ndubisi, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in sexual and reproductive health in New York, New York.
Most people think of periods as a predictable part of a woman’s life. As a biological woman, you will most likely develop a period however, when and how frequently it occurs can vary even if you’ve been getting your period for years.
Also Check: Can You Get Pregnant Having Sex On Your Period
How To Make Your Period Go Away
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 1,403,014 times.Learn more…
Periods are your body’s way of showing you that your reproductive system is working properly, and not getting your period at all is usually a sign of illness or an unhealthy lifestyle. However, there are ways to make a normal, healthy period last a shorter amount of time. To make your period go away faster, you can use heat, exercise, and other habits that speed the flow of blood while also changing your diet to keep yourself hydrated and maximize your vitamin C intake. Certain medications, like birth control, can also change your cycle and shorten your period long-term.
Can Magnesium Delay Your Period
According to an estimated 68% of American adults, magnesium is not present in their recommended daily intake. Its used in a whopping 600+ cell reactions, for example, supporting muscles contraction. Its so vital that it actually helps our DNA to be stable. Were dedicating a whole blog post to this miracle mineral to find out what it is, all of its body benefits, and how it can help you. We get it from eating foods that naturally contain this mineral, such as nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and others. However, we can become deficient in magnesium, which can lead to a lot of pain.
Recommended Reading: How Long Is A Woman’s Period
Can You Make Your Period Come Faster
There are various reasons why you might wish to induce your period. Perhaps you want to get your period over and done with before a holiday or a special occasion. Maybe you have an irregular cycle and want more predictability so that you can plan a pregnancy. Or maybe your period is delayed, causing you to feel stressed or worried.
If your period is delayed, or you stopped getting it, treating the cause may help you regulate your monthly cycle.
How Late Can A Period Be
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the average length of a womans menstrual cycle is 28 days. Cycle length is counted as the first day of menstrual bleeding to the first day of menstrual bleeding. Note that we said average: Many women have shorter and longer cycles that still fall within the range of normal.
In fact, your menstrual cycle can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days without raising any eyebrows. Cycles that last longer than 35 days can be a sign of menstrual irregularities, like oligomenorrhea or polymenorrhea, but can also simply mean that your body is more sensitive to things like changes in sleep patterns or excessive stress. Being new to menstruation, breastfeeding, being postpartum, and transitioning to menopause also affect the length of your cycle.
So, what actually constitutes a late period? Opinions vary, but in general, your period is considered late if its five days past due per your routine cycle length, or is considered missed entirely if its been six weeks or more since your last period.
For example, if you tracked your cycle for three months, with the first period you recorded occurring 93 days before the start of your most recent period, you would divide 93 by three to get an average cycle length of 31 days. If you dont want to do these calculations yourself, you can also download a period tracking app to your smartphone or tablet and let it do all the work for you.
You May Like: How To Reduce Period Pain At Home
Why Do Some Menstrual Periods Become Irregular
There are many variables that can affect the length and timing of your menstrual cycle. Some are correctable, but others can signal significant medical issues.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome This metabolic and hormonal disorder occurs when the ovaries or adrenal glands overproduce the male hormones and the body has insulin resistance. Studies have shown that 87 percent of women with irregular menstrual cycles have PCOS.
- Thyroid or pituitary disorders Hypothyroidism , hyperthyroidism , and hyperprolactinemia can all affect menstrual regularity, says Dr. Lynn. One study found that 44 percent of study participants with irregular periods also had thyroid problems.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease An inflammation of the female reproductive system, PID is usually caused by sexually transmitted infections.
When To Visit The Ob/gyn
A rule of thumb when dealing with periods is that one or two irregular months arent abnormal, but anything more is worth a phone call to our office. Amenorrhea, which is the absence of periods, can be caused by a number of factors, and we can help diagnose and treat those issues.
Have you noticed something is off with your menstrual cycle? Bring your problems to Dr. Serrano at Serrano OBGyn. You can make an appointment by calling our office in San Antonio, Texas, at 210-761-5309, or visit our contact page for more information.
You Might Also Enjoy…
Read Also: Will Plan B Delay My Period
How To Detox Your Liver In Sync With Your Menstrual Cycle
Drink lots of water to flush toxins. Bonus points for a squeeze of lemon juice in each glass. Eat right. Avoid conventional foods with pesticides, hormones, and other unhealthy food additives. Filter your water. Both the water you bathe in and drink likely have chlorine, fluoride, and other toxins like heavy metals lurking.
Other Reasons For A Late Period
A late period can be very scary, especially if you are sexually active and not ready to have a baby. Many factors can affect and delay your periods. Here are those factors:
1. Pregnancy
This is one of the most important reasons why your periods may be delayed. If you had sex within 2-3 months of your last period and have not had your period since then, it is very likely that you are pregnant. Consult your healthcare provider for a proper pregnancy test.
2. Stress
Stress, either emotional or physical, can delay your period. A new job, illness, depression, exam, fever, strenuous exercises or a weight gain or loss are some of the reasons that can increase your stress levels and affect your periods. Once you make some changes to alleviate your stress, you could become regular again.
3. Improper Eating Habits
Improper eating can affect your hormones like estrogen and cause them to be very high or very low . Improper production or levels of these hormones can interfere with your menstrual cycle and make them more sporadic and irregular. In this case, you may have delayed periods.
4. Young Age
Many teenagers notice delay in their periods because their hormones have not been fully developed and are not completely tuned for efficient working. This causes irregular periods and delays of up to 3 months. The periods get regular with age however, they may remain irregular for many women.
5. Hormonal Imbalance
6. Excessive Exercise
7. Too Much Alcohol
8. Premature Menopause
Recommended Reading: Can I Ovulate Without A Period
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.
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.
Also Check: Can Birth Control Stop Your Period Forever
Related: Your Private Parts: A Lesson In Female Anatomy
Sometimes, abnormal growths in your uterus can cause your period to go wacko. These include:
Polyps: These little growths on the cervix or inside the uterus are caused by an overgrowth of uterine lining. Uterine polpys tend to cause bleeding between periods, and cervical polyps lead to bleeding after sex, says Dweck. You likely won’t notice any other symptoms you’re more at risk if you’re obese, diabetic, or have high blood pressure, says Shepherd. Often, your doctor will recommend just keeping an eye on them. But if bleeding is particularly problematic, your doctor may surgically remove ovarian polyps cervical polyps can be easily removed in office.
Ovarian cysts: These fluid-filled sacs form in or on the ovaries, typically as a byproduct of ovulation. In addition to irregular periods, they cause bloating and pain. Many cysts aren’t problematic and go away on their own. Depending on the size, location, and symptoms, your doctor may watch and wait or put you on birth control to help shrink the cyst and get your period back in line, says Dweck. About one in 10 women end up needing minimally-invasive surgery.
Endometriosis: When the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, women experience super-heavy bleeding with painful cramps, intestinal pain, and sensitivity, and spotting between periods. If your doctor determines you have endometriosis, she may put you on birth control in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary, Dweck says.
How To Delay Your Period For Your Holiday
Because the beach + period can be a faff
Technically speaking, you can do whatever you like when you’re on your period – from sex to swimming, you should never feel like anything is off limits to you because of your uterus. But between the cramps, the mood swings, the bloating, and obviously the bleeding, it’s also totes fair enough if your period and your holiday are not a match you want to make.
The good news is that with a bit of forward planning, it is possible to put your period off until bikinis and beaches are safely off of your schedule. What you need is a medicine called Norethisterone, which can give you up to 17 days delay.
“It comes in the form of tablets which you must start to take three days before your period is due,’ explains Dr Kieran Seyan, from the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor Team. “You must then take three tablets a day during the time you wish to delay your period. You can take the tablets for a maximum of 20 days, which will delay your period by a maximum of 17 days.” When you get back from your break, you simply stop taking Norethisterone and your period should arrive 2-3 days later.
However, it might seem like a magical solution to all of your period-based problems, but as with any medication, Norethisterone is not without its caveats: Dr Kieran notes that it can cause side effects, and very rarely these can be serious – including increased risk of blood clotting, stroke, acne, fluid retention, headache and nausea.
Read Also: My Period Is A Week Late
Can Travel Affect Your Period
- Can Travel Affect Your Period?
Ever wondered whether travelling affects your menstrual cycle? Well, you wouldnt be mistaken for thinking so
Were all aware that jet lag messes up our sleeping patterns, but how does it impact our menstrual cycle?
When you travel overseas, particularly to a place where theres a dramatic time difference, your internal body clock otherwise known as your circadian rhythm gets thrown off. Your circadian rhythm influences hormone release and other important bodily functions so, when its out of kilter, this can impact your levels of oestrogen and progesterone, both of which play a key part in ovulation and your menstrual cycle. Disturbing your circadian rhythm may cause a delay in the oestrogen spike that leads to ovulation, so youll have a later period than normal that month.
Not only can jet lag affect your period but it might cause all kinds of other changes in your body irritability, exhaustion, stomach upset and a lack of appetite.
Its not just international travel that might upset your flow any changes in your sleep cycle can have an effect on your period. If you start working night shifts, for example, or find yourself having trouble sleeping for a short time, then you might begin to notice some changes to your menstrual cycle.
If your bodys used to regular exercise and this suddenly changes, then that might have an impact on your period too.
What To Do When Your Period Is Late
If your period is more than a week late and you got a negative pregnancy test, you may want to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to be safe. Your doctor can do a blood test to confirm that youre not pregnant.
If the blood test is also negative and your practitioner rules out any other possible concerns, its fine to sit back and go with the flow . Every woman skips a period now and then, especially if shes under stress or has been sick. Relax and do what you can to ease anxiety by eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Read Also: How To Reduce Period Cramp Pain
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.
When Is A Menstrual Period Considered Irregular
A normal cycle from the first day of one period to the first day of the next can be anywhere from 21 to 35 days, says Becky Lynn, MD, the director of the Evora Center for Menopause and Sexual Health and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Saint Louis University in Missouri: We all think that 28 days is the normal cycle, but there’s actually some room for variability. To determine whether your menstruation schedule is irregular, count from the last day of your previous period and stop counting on the first day of your next. Repeat this for three months. If the number of days between stopping and starting your period is outside of the 21 to 35 days range, you have an irregular cycle. Menstruation can also be considered irregular if your cycle length varies by more than 20 days from month to month.
Don’t Miss: Is It Normal To Miss Your Period For A Month