Late Period Negative Pregnancy Test: Causes And Is It Common
Many people who miss a period will take a test to check for pregnancy. If the pregnancy test is negative, various conditions and factors may be responsible for the lack of menstruation.
The ovaries release an egg during ovulation, approximately every 28 days. If no sperm fertilizes the egg, a persons period will usually start about 14 days later.
While a missed period is one of the first signs of pregnancy, there are various other reasons why it can occur.
Menstrual irregularities, such as missed or late periods, occur in of women of childbearing age. They can result from a range of conditions besides pregnancy, including hormonal imbalances, hormonal birth control, stress, weight loss, trauma, and certain health conditions.
This article discusses what can cause a person to miss their period and how common this is.
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation during a persons reproductive years. Someone may have this condition if they miss their period for 3 months in a row or have not had their first period by the age of 15.
This condition affects 34% of women.
Amenorrhea usually happens when the ovaries stop making enough of the hormone estrogen. A range of factors can cause a lack of estrogen.
Several health factors and conditions can cause a person to miss their period.
Pms Is Still A Mystery
Itâs 1 or 2 weeks before your period starts, and here come the breakouts, sluggishness, cravings, bloating, and mood swings. Sound familiar? Every woman is different, but for many, PMS is a fact of life.
But doctors donât know exactly why that is. It seems to be a mix of hormone changes during your menstrual cycle, chemical changes in the brain, and other emotional issues you might have, such as depression, that can make PMS worse.
Whatâs more, once you get your period, the rollercoaster may continue. One study found that period-related pains such as cramps, bloating, backaches, and headaches can cloud your thinking, because the pain may make it harder for you to focus on the tasks at hand. Not that you canât still do them you can. It may just feel like it takes more work.
Lifestyle changes are usually the best way to take control of PMS. Aim to get about 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, get 8 hours of shut-eye per night, and donât smoke. Your diet makes a difference, too, so fill up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains while you limit salt as well as sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
Let your doctor know if PMS keeps you from doing what you normally do, or if you have symptoms of depression or anxiety. You may have a more serious condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder that needs medical attention.
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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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Changes To The Cervix
Bleeding between your periods may be caused by changes in the cells of your cervix. This may be due to inflammation, hormonal changes, a Human Papilloma Virus infection or cervical cancer. If you have bleeding between your periods, your doctor will be able to examine your cervix using a speculum and can take a sample of cells for a cervical screening test.
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Why Does This Happen
Hormones
Now, this can be caused by a variety of factors. Very often its just your hormones having one last fling. They go, I dont want to stop yet. I want to have one more go at having periods before I calm down for good. So this is usually the most common reason.
Diet
But another interesting fact is if you decide to overhaul your diet, and a lot of women going through the menopause get to the point where they say, I need to do something about my diet. I need to eat healthy, or I need to exercise a bit more. If you are giving your body a lot more extra nutrition, that can very often feed your hormones as well. And that can be one of the primary reasons for getting a period back, if you have decided just to sort everything out.
Prolapses
Now, there can be other reasons as well. Theres something called a prolapse, where the pelvic floor muscles tend to get a little bit weak. And that allows either the womb, or the bladder, or the bowel to slightly shift position. And this could maybe irritate the womb and trigger a bleed as well.
Fibroids
There can be other issues as well such as fibroids, which you might not even been aware that you had. And suddenly because your hormone levels are changing or maybe sometimes the womb starts to get a little bit thinner as you go through the menopause, this could irritate the fibroid. So when you get to this stage, it is really important that you just get things checked out by your doctor as well.
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When Should You Call Your Doc About Long Periods
If your period lasts longer than seven days, or if it suddenly changes significantly in length for three or more cycles in a row, that warrants a call to your ob-gyn, says Tom Toth, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF. Its also worth seeing your doc if youre soaking a pad or tampon every hour for several hours or passing clots.
That doesnt necessarily mean youre dealing with something serious, but you want to get to the root of your period problem sooner rather than later. Thats because once youre north of seven days and still bleeding, youre at an increased risk for menorrhagia.
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Simply put, menorrhagia is when bleeding is too heavy and interferes with your quality of life or requires interventions like blood transfusions, iron transfusions, medications or surgical procedures, Dr. Shepherd explains. Menorrhagia can also lead to other issues, like anemia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Anemia can cause you to experience fatigue, weakness, and, in severe cases, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Taking iron supplements can help improve symptoms, but you need to see your doc to get an the cause of the heavy bleeding.
What Should I Do If I Have Missed My Period
Don’t panic! In most cases there is nothing serious going on. The most important thing to do is to do a pregnancy test if there is any chance at all you could be pregnant. If you otherwise feel well in yourself, and you are not pregnant, then the chances are your periods will start up again in due course.
You should consult a doctor if:
- You have not had a period for three months and your periods were previously regular.
- You have not had a period for 6-9 months but your periods have always been infrequent.
- You could be pregnant.
- You wish to become pregnant.
- You have hot flushes or night sweats and are under the age of 45.
- You have lost weight or your BMI is 19 or less.
- You or someone close to you is concerned about your eating or weight.
- You have milk leaking from your breasts and are not breastfeeding.
- You feel unwell in yourself .
- You have not had a period for six months after stopping the contraceptive pill .
- You are worried about your lack of periods.
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How Do I Know If My Cycle Is Normal
Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and continues until the first day of your next period. How long your period lasts and how often you get your period is different for everyone.
Normal menstrual cycles range from 21 to 35 days long, with an average of 28 days. Periods usually last from 3 to 7 days.
If you always have approximately the same number of days between periods, your menstrual cycle is regular. If your periods dont follow a pattern, they are irregular. This is called oligomenorrhoea.
For a year or two after you first get your period, its normal for your menstrual cycle to be irregular. For most women, periods will eventually become regular. However some women never develop a regular cycle.
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 38 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 contact your 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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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 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 check in with your health care provider to be safe.
If your practitioner rules out any other possible concerns, it’s fine to sit back and go with the flow . Every woman skips a period now and then, especially if she’s 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.
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Symptoms Of Missed Periods In Teens
Lack of menstrual bleeding is the main symptom of amenorrhea. The other signs and symptoms may depend on the cause.
These may include :
- Weight loss or gain: This can be seen in teenage athletes and those with eating disorders and thyroid problems.
- Facial hair, hair loss, acne: These symptoms can be associated with polycystic ovarian disease and other hormonal imbalances.
- Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting can often be seen in the case of pregnancy.
These are signs and symptoms of conditions that may contribute to amenorrhea. You may visit your teens healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Why Do I Have Period Symptoms But No Period
Whether youve been tracking your period for years or are just starting to pay attention to the nuances of your menstrual cycle, one of the biggest clues that your period is headed your way is the slew of period symptoms that can feel like they are taking over your life. Over 90 percent of women say they get some premenstrual symptoms, which can range in intensity from mild to severe and often include headaches, fatigue, cramps, moodiness, insomnia, and tender breasts.
But what happens when your period symptoms flare up, youve got your tampons ready to go, and then no period shows up? The reflex reaction for most women is to think that they must be pregnant. Even if you havent had sex in weeks, its easy to go straight to that thought.
While it can be alarming if you werent planning on having a baby, pregnancy is only one of the possible reasons that you could be having period symptoms but no blood. If you are pregnant, implantation occurs at roughly the same time your period would come normally. The symptoms? Almost identical to those you have right before you get your period. It can seem like a cruel joke, but the similarities are just your bodys way of processing fluctuating hormone levels.
But before you run to the store for a box of pregnancy tests, call your mom and your best friend, and figure out how youre supposed to have a successful career and a baby , explore what else could be happening in your body. There are several reasons that periods go rogue.
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Causes Of Missed Periods In Teenagers
Causes of amenorrhea in teenage girls include :
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Should I Be Concerned If My Cycle Has Changed
Any change in your normal menstrual cycle may be a cause for concern. A change in your cycle could be:
- you have a period more often or less often than is normal for you
- your period does not come at all, this is called amenorrhoea
- your bleeding is heavier or lighter than usual
- your period is longer or shorter than is normal for you
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Doing Too Much Exercise
The stress that intense physical activity places on your body can affect the hormones responsible for your periods. Losing too much body fat through intense exercise can also stop you ovulating.
You’ll be advised to reduce your level of activity if excessive exercise has caused your periods to stop.
If you’re a professional athlete, you may benefit from seeing a doctor who specialises in sports medicine. They’ll be able to give you advice about how to maintain your performance without disrupting your periods.
Why Spotting Between Periods Happens And When To Be Concerned
Bleeding or spotting between regular monthly periods can be alarming. When this happens, you may see just a spot or two of blood on your underwear or toilet tissue, or you may be bleeding as if youve started your period.
I often get questions about spotting between periods from my patients. While most of the time spotting isnt anything to worry about, it can point to a more serious issue that might need treatment.
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There Are Many Reasons That Periods Can Be Irregular Or Absent Some Require Treatment And Some Do Not
It is not uncommon to occasionally miss a period, or for periods to become irregular from time to time. Under some circumstances, periods can even stop altogether. Sometimes these irregularities are due to normal changes, and are not cause for concern. Other times, they are a sign that something is going on, and a call to your doctor is warranted.
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What To Do If You Have A Missed Period For 2 Months
If you miss your period for 2 months in a row, you should connect with your doctor to see if everything is okay. You can also try a few things at home first:
1. Take a Pregnancy Test
After the first month passes, take a home pregnancy test when you are around two weeks late for your period. You can buy these online or at any drugstore. If the test is positive, give your doctor a call for confirmation. If the test is negative, give it a few more weeks then re-test.
2. Change Your Lifestyle
Have you started a new birth control method? Are you under a lot of stress? Have you lost or gained weight? One of the above causes may be the issue and you may be able to make some changes in your lifestyle that will help balance your cycles.
3. Call Your Doctor
If you don’t have a period after two or three months, you need to call your doctor. Going longer than two months is abnormal and you will need to be evaluated. The doctor will diagnose the cause and you may need medical treatment.
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