What Causes You To Be Late On Your Period

Can Having Sex Make Your Period Late

What can cause a missed period? – Dr. Shefali Tyagi

A menstrual cycle is the body’s way to get ready for pregnancy. Every cycle lasts for 28 days on an average, varying between 21-35 days in adults and 21-45 days in teens. The periods can last from 3-5 days or extend up to 7 days. However, if your periods are regular and you notice that they have been delayed for more than 5 days from the due date, they could be late if one period is late for more than 6 weeks, it can be considered missed. Do you know why your period is late? Can having sex make your period late? Read on to know more.

The Two Parts Of Your Menstrual Cycle

The first part of your menstrual cycle is called the follicular phase. This phase starts on the first day of your last period and continues until the day you ovulate. This phase of your menstrual cycle may be different for every woman . The second part of your menstrual cycle is called the luteal phase. This phase begins on the day of ovulation and lasts until your next period starts. The luteal phase usually has a more precise timelinefor most women, this part of your menstrual cycle typically lasts around 12-16 days.

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.

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You Used Emergency Contraception Sometime In The Past Few Months

If you’ve taken emergency contraception, like Plan B, as a precautionary measure after unprotected sex, there’s a chance it could be making your period very late. Princeton reported several studies that showed menstrual cycle lengths were altered after women took emergency contraception.

However, if your period is more than a week late and you recently took emergency contraception, The Center for Women’s Health suggests seeing your health care provider.

Normal Cause Of A Missed Period During The First Year

Can a yeast infection cause a late period, THAIPOLICEPLUS.COM
  • Skipping periods is common during the first 1 to 2 years after they start. This is due to not releasing an egg each month.
  • This is most likely the cause if less than 2 years since the first period
  • Has missed periods in the past or has had only 1 or 2 periods
  • Otherwise healthy
  • No signs of pregnancy such as breast tenderness, breast swelling or nausea

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You Are Taking Contraceptive Or Inserted Iuds

Did you start any pill to prevent pregnancy? or recently inserted an intrauterine device ?

Contraceptive pill and IUDs can cause no period in women. If pills are taken continuously without a break you will possibly not have to bleed at all.

It is very important to let your health professional know about your late period. The reason being that, there are newer generation pills that can delay period for a few months.

However, your 5 days late period while on contraceptives may still be due to pregnancy.

Did you miss your COC pills for days without using other forms of contraception? Do you have signs of pregnancy body fatigue, pain in your breast or spotting before your period?

You have to check for pregnancy to be sure.

Other reasons your period is 5 days late are

Late Period: Everything You Need To Know

Having a late period might come as a surprise, especially if youre not trying to get pregnant. Should you take a pregnancy test? The truth is, there are many reasons for late periods other than pregnancy. Your health, age, diet, stress, and exercise can all affect the regularity of your menstrual cycle. In this article, well look at the most common late period causes and go over some common questions about delayed menstruation.

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Reasons For A Late Period

Now that weve explained what qualifies as a regular menstrual cycle, lets go over why some people have late or irregular periods.

During the early stages of puberty, its common to have irregular cycles. Its normal for adolescents to have irregular cycles for the first three years after they get their period. This is because the ovaries may not be releasing an egg every month yet, since hormone levels are still changing. However, for people who are already past that phase, there are lots of other things that can cause a late period and irregular periods.

Here are eight common causes of a late period:

How Late Can A Period Be Before You Should Worry

How Long Can Stress Delay Your Period?

It is not unusual for women to have late period once in a while. However, if it becomes persistent and irregular then it may be a bad sign. Normal menstrual cycle occurs between 21 to 35 days. If youve not seen your period a week after missing your period, then you should inform your doctor or run a home pregnancy test.

Also, if youve taken any pill or morning after pill, you can have a skipped period. If you still dont feel signs of pregnancy, then maybe youre not. However, it is always a good idea to always test for pregnancy.

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Reasons Your Period Is Late

During your usual morning routine, you open your cabinet, spot a box of tampons in the back, and you suddenly realize youre late. When was my last period? you think as you try to remember the last time you needed to reach for that box. Panic then takes over as your mind shoots straight to pregnancy.

While being pregnant is a possible reason for a missed period, there may be factors related to your health or lifestyle that are causing the delay, notes Shelley White-Corey, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A& M Health Science Center College of Nursing and a womens health nurse practitioner.

Breastfeeding

Your period may not make an appearance after your baby is born, but dont be alarmed! If you are breastfeeding your little one, a lack of periods is completely normal. Referred to as lactational amenorrhea, this is a phase that disrupts the rhythm of your menstrual cycle. After a few months, your monthly period should be right back on track.

Weight loss or weight gain

Whether youre overweight or underweight, any change in pounds can affect your monthly cycle. Common health problems linked to weight and irregular menstruation include eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and uncontrolled diabetes. If you suspect this might be an issue for you, see your health care provider right away.

Increased exercise
Stress
Sleep schedule changes
Medication
Thyroid dysfunction
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Perimenopause

Suzannah Smith

When To Talk To Your Ob/gyn

Since there are so many things that can cause you to miss a period, its hard to figure out for sure what is happening to you on your own. If you get a negative pregnancy test and think you could still be pregnant, then wait a few days and test again.

If you know that theres no way you could be pregnant or you receive a second negative test, then consider reaching out to your OB/GYN. Your doctor can run special tests to check your hormones and other health factors to figure out what you need to regulate your period again.

Schedule a checkup at one of our All About Women offices in Gainesville and Lake City, FL with one of our caring and trusted doctors. Were ready to answer your questions and get you on the path toward a healthier and happier YOU.

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Hormones And Your Menstrual Cycle

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormone signals in the brain. Each month, your ovary will release an egg after the egg has matured. The egg enters into the fallopian tube and makes its way down to the uterus with hopes that a sperm will fertilize it. Your monthly menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and lasts until the first day of your next period.

How Many Days Your Period Can Be Late For

10 Reasons for a Missed Period

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?

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What Is A Late Period

Although a few people might have pinpoint predictability with periods, most have a little variation. So if your period is a day or two late, dont panic.

Your menstrual cycle is the length of time from day one of your period to day one of your next period, Dr. Higgins says. On average, these cycles are 24 to 38 days long.

That means that a 28-day cycle one month and a 26-day cycle the next month is probably nothing to worry about. Your period might be considered late if:

  • Its been more than 38 days since your last period.
  • Youre normally really regular, and your period is more than three days late.

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.

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Can I Miss My Period For Two Months And Not Be Pregnant

Depending on the cause, yes. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, chronic diseases, and malnutrition can make you miss consecutive periods. Some oral contraceptives can also stop your periods. However, its always a good idea to take a pregnancy test in these cases. If the test is negative, make an appointment with your health care provider to determine the cause of your missed periods.

How Many Days Late Can Your Period Be

My period is a day late. Is it too soon to take a pregnancy test?

I had my period late by 6 days.. Can I be pregnant? A pregnancy test is the first option to use to be certain of this because many factors can lead to late periods and every menstrual cycle is different. Generally speaking, if you usually have a regular menstrual cycle, a period up to 10 days late can be normal.

Having a late period can be because of a number of reasons:

  • Delayed ovulation can be caused because of anxiety or stress which can result in a late period.
  • You can miss your period if you have gained or lost a lot of weight as well.
  • Other factors like hormonal imbalance, effects of drugs can all lead to late period.

It is also important to ensure accurate counting of your cycles or you will wrongly assume that you have had a late period. The first day of the cycle is the first day bleeding occurs. Begin counting the cycle from this first day to the 28th day to get the estimated arrival time of your period. However, if you find out that you are having irregular periods without being pregnant then consult a health care professional to know its cause.

Ask Yourself These Questions

1. What type of medication are you taking at the moment?

Contraceptives either in the form of injections, oral or implanted, certain chemotherapy drugs, antipsychotics antidepressants and thyroid medications can all cause amenorrhea in certain women.

2. What kind of workout routine do you follow?

3. Has your thyroid been checked before?

4. Are you chronically ill?

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You’re Experiencing Early Menopause

One of the defining signs of menopause is the total disappearance of the menstrual cycle for more than 12 months. Most individuals who have a menstrual cycle anticipate they will experience this sometime during their late 40s or early 50s. But for some, it can happen earlier.

Perimenopause refers to the temporary stage right before full-blown menopause occurs. During this time, the ovaries start to produce less estrogen than normal, which causes you to get your period less often.

Even if you’re below the typical menopausal age, this is not something you should rule out entirely. The American Pregnancy Association says one out of every 1,000 women between age 15 and 29 will experience premature menopause.

In general, if your late period is accompanied by night sweats or vaginal dryness, you may want to ask your doctor about checking for perimenopause.

How Long Does It Take To Miss A Period After Conception

Most people miss their period around two weeks after conception. Thats because conception tends to happen around day 1214 before your next period starts, which is when you ovulate. Two weeks after that, youre on approximately day 28 of your cycle, which is when you would normally expect your period to come.

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Why Is My Period Late

Every woman in their reproductive years and at puberty will notice cyclical bleeding called period or menstruation.

Normal period in girls last about 2-7 days with normal flow of 40 60 mls. Between 2 of your period is ovulation cycle or menstrual cycle.

The normal cycle is between 21 35 days and can vary due to stress, anxiety, illnesses or due to medical conditions.

What Should I Do If I Have Not Started My Period

Late/Missed Period

Girls start their periods at a very variable age. So it may be that your friends have been having periods for a while but you have not. Usually this will be normal variation and nothing to worry about. Ask your doctor’s advice if:

  • You are 16 years old or older and still have no periods.
  • You are 14 years old or older and have not developed breasts or pubic hair and do not have periods.
  • You have a pain in your tummy every month but no bleeding.
  • You can feel a lump in the lower part of your tummy.
  • You have had sex without using contraception .

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