Why Is My Period Late
Variation in your menstrual cycle is completely normal, especially if you have just started getting your period, are breastfeeding or nearing the menopause. There are lots of reasons for a late period lifestyle factors such as stress and diet can affect your cycle.
The medication you’re on or a new contraceptive can influence the length of your period and the length of your cycle, so you may experience a delayed period from time to time. Many women have irregular periods the date they start can change as well as how long they last and how heavy they are.
Could You Be Pregnant
If you missed your period, answer these 4 questions:
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.
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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When To See Your Doctor
If your periods seem irregular, or youve missed a period but know youre not pregnant, its a good idea to talk with your doctor ASAP, as there are many reasons and conditions that could be causing the issue.
Your doctor can properly diagnose the reason for your late or missed period and discuss your treatment options. If you can, keep a record of changes in your cycle as well as other health changes. This will help them make a diagnosis.
If you have the following symptoms, contact a doctor immediately, or call 911:
Top Reasons Why Your Period Might Be Late
Your period may be late for several health-related reasons :
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Very low body weight/extreme exercise
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Eating disorders
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Chronic conditions
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Hormone changes related to medications or birth control
Pregnancy tests work by checking your blood or urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . This hormone has to be at a certain level to be detected by a pregnancy test . The earlier you take a test, the less accurate it may be. It is recommended to take a pregnancy test 1-2 weeks after your missed period . If you donât want to wait that long, you can consider taking it 2 weeks after your last unprotected sexual encounter. If you get a negative result at first and you still havenât had your period, you can take another pregnancy test a few days later or repeat the test if youâre unsure you took the test correctly . Seek advice from your healthcare provider if youâre unsure of your test result.
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What To Do If Your Period Is Late
If youâve had sex that could result in pregnancy or if sperm could have reached your vulva during another type of sex or intimacy and your period is 10 or more days late, you should take a pregnancy test. Regardless of the results of the pregnancy test, you should talk with your healthcare provider . There are reasons other than pregnancy that your period may be late. If you have not had sex or participated in any type of sexual intimacy but you have not had a period for more than 90 days, you should speak to a healthcare provider . They can help you sort out what may be making your periods unpredictable.
Weight Gain Or Obesity
Rapid weight gain can throw your cycle. Thats because it affects the part of your brain that regulates hormones .
That can lead to hormonal fluctuations that may cause two periods in one month or to infrequent periods.
Obesity has a complex relationship with menstruation. High levels of fat can upset the balance of sex hormones and lead to excess estrogen.
Too much estrogen can make you have short menstrual cycles and more periods.
Hormonal imbalances can also cause heavier bleeding, more cramps, and longer-lasting pain during your period.
Menstrual changes related to weight are most severe when the extra fat is mostly around the belly.
Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for your body can help keep your menstrual cycle regular. If you need help losing weight, talk to your provider about your options.
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How Do Urine Pregnancy Tests Work
Pregnancy tests look for the pregnancy hormone hCG, which increases as a pregnancy progresses. The normal range for hCG levels in pregnant people can vary widely. It’s possible that your levels arent yet high enough to be detected .
An early pregnancy test might pick up very low amounts of hCG. However, its possible that you dont have enough circulating hCG to get a positive result even on a sensitive test.
This doesnt mean anything is wrong. How much hCG you have isn’t important rather, it’s how quickly your levels double and increase .
Another common reason for getting a false negative is not having enough hCG in the urine you test. In early pregnancy, you can dilute the hormone concentration in your urine if you drink a lot of water before testing.
This is more likely to happen in very early pregnancy when you take the test later in the day. The hCG concentration is higher when youve held your urine for a while, which is why it’s recommended that you take a pregnancy test in the morning.
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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Get A Pregnant Result As Fast As 1 Minute From The Day You Miss Your Period
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test has been designed to offer you the easiest pregnancy testing experience, with the accuracy you expect from Clearblue and a result as fast as 1 minute.
A pregnant result may appear in 1 minute when testing from the day of the missed period. Wait 3 minutes to confirm a not pregnant result.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Home pregnancy test is positive
- You want a pregnancy test done in the office
- Sexual intercourse within the last 3 months
- Recent breast swelling, weight gain or nausea
- Has missed 2 or more periods and prior periods were regular
- Recent weight loss
Recent Stress Causing Late Period
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Days Late For Your Period Could You Be Pregnant
If you’re trying to conceive, a missed period can be an exciting time. However, it’s important to remember that a late period doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pregnant. There are a number of factors that can contribute to a delayed period, including stress, travel, and changes in your exercise routine.
If you’re used to having a normal cycle, it can be worrying or exciting when you suddenly find yourself 3 days late with a possible missed period. While there are many potential reasons for a missed period, one possibility is that you’re pregnant. But how can you tell for sure?
Menarche And The Teenage Menstrual Cycle
Menarche is a girlâs first menstrual period. A first period usually happens after breasts, pubic hair, and underarm hair have begun to grow. Menarche is a sign of growing up and becoming a woman. It can happen as early as about age 9 or up to age 15. The first few periods are usually light and irregular. About 2 out of 3 girls have a regular pattern of menstrual periods within 2 years of menarche.footnote 1 During the teen years, periods may become longer and heavier. For more information, see Menarche.
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Calculator: Is My Menstrual Period Late
Is your period late or could you be pregnant? Use this menstrual period calculator to see if your period is late or if a baby may be the way!
Missing a period, especially if you always had regular menstrual periods, is a significant event, so naturally, the next question that follows is, “Am I pregnant?” Pregnant women have no menstrual period. But not every woman who misses her period is pregnant.
Home Pregnancy Test Accuracy
If used correctly and at the right time, home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate at detecting pregnancy. Used correctly means that you read the directions and follow them. Each test has slightly different directions, so if using different brands, itâs important to read the directions. Also, using the test at the right time makes a difference in âaccuracyâ. Women who test too early will get inaccurate results.
The absolute best time to take any pregnancy test is a few days after a missed period. This is when the hormone hCG, the pregnancy hormone produced by the growing balls of cells if there is indeed a pregnancy, is most easily detected by home pregnancy tests. Too soon before that and you may get a false negative as your body has not produced enough hCG.
Some tests do claim that they can get you early results, meaning results before your next expected period. If you truly read their statements, however, youâll find that the early results are only possible for a small percentage of women, not every woman. Itâs most likely a marketing ploy to encourage you to take more tests and hence spend more money.
I have had three different experiences with home pregnancy tests. With my first pregnancy, I saw a positive result on the day of my expected period. With my second pregnancy, I didnât get a positive result until almost my sixth week of pregnancy . With my third, I was able to test two days before my expected period and get a positive result.
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When Should You See Your Doctor
There are several cases when consulting a doctor is advised so they can perform blood tests and assess you for various health conditions:¹²¹³
- No period for months
- Typically regular periods suddenly become irregular
- Menstrual cycles last less than 21 days or more than 35 days
- Bleeding lasts more than seven days
- Heavy bleeding or passing large clots during periods
- Breakthrough bleeding between periods
- Periods become extremely painful or cause nausea and vomiting
- Experience symptoms of toxic shock syndrome after using tampons
Should I Be Worried If My Period Is 2 Days Late
Can I be pregnant if my period is 2 days late?
It is normal to occasionally experience a period that is a few days late. However, a missed period is when the cycle completely changes. A missed period may be a sign of pregnancy or another underlying cause. Early signs of pregnancy can be easy to miss, especially if the person has not been pregnant before.
Is 3 days late too early to test?
The best time to take a pregnancy test is after your period is late. If you donât want to wait until youâve missed your period, you should wait for at least one to two weeks after you had sex. If you are pregnant, your body needs time to develop detectable levels of hCG.
How late can a period be without being pregnant?
A late period is when a womanâs menstrual cycle doesnât start as expected, with a normal cycle lasting between 24 to 38 days. When a womanâs period is seven days late she may be pregnant although other things may cause a late or skipped period.
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Changes In Bathroom And Stomach Habits
In addition to nausea and vomiting, you may experience other stomach problems when you first become pregnantlike constipation, frequent urination and bloating, to name a few.
Constipation is normally characterized by fewer than three bowel movements a week, hard stool, dry stool or stool that is difficult to pass. The progesterone that starts to form from the placenta slows the bowels down, says Brown. Constipation can occur early on in pregnancy, but can come back during the third trimester, too.
Frequent urination is common. Symptoms can start even earlier than your missed period, since the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterus and begins making the pregnancy hormone hCG, prompting you to run to the bathroom more often.
Bloating can happen early on in pregnancy, and may continue throughout your nine months. The progesterone hormone causes your muscle tissues to relax, slowing down digestion. That, in addition to an expanding uterus, can put pressure on your rectum and cause it to feel heavy.
Heres how to keep your stomach happy during pregnancy:
- Aim to get at least 25 grams of fiber a day from foods like leafy greens and whole grains.
- Talk to your OBGYN about any iron supplements youre taking.
- Discuss with your OBGYN whether you need to try over-the-counter medications.
- When you feel the urge, do not hold in bowel movements.
- Take it easy on foods that may upset your stomach, like beans, cabbage and fried items.
Medications Or Drugs And Smoking
Any medicines or drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor can also cause late period negative pregnancy test. Smoking is a cause of infertility in women. Taking drugs and other illegal stimulants is a reason for late period negative pregnancy test.
Drugs make conceiving hard. Even if you get pregnant, the drugs can damage your pregnancy.
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Due Date Calculator: How Many Weeks Am I In My Pregnancy
The estimated date of delivery , also known as the due date, is when one can expect the labor to start. This date can be determined using a pregnancy due to date calculator. However, its only an estimate, and only one out of every 20 women gives birth on their estimated due date. Youll most likely begin labor two weeks before and after your due date.
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What Is Considered A Late Period
The average menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days. But it’s common for women to have a slightly shorter or longer cycle than this. This means that a womanâs menstrual cycle can fall anywhere within 21 to 38 days.
Your period can last for 3 to 8 days, and bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days.
It can take a few months to a few years to establish a regular cycle when you start getting your period for the first time. Some women always have irregular periods, where their menstrual cycle varies from month to month.
Keeping track of periods can help you to establish the length of your cycle, helping you to identify any irregularities. Some smartphone apps make tracking easier. Knowing when to expect your period will help you recognize if your period is late. Often periods are 2 to 3 days late with cycle fluctuations.
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This Is When Bleeding Happens Between Menstrual Periods Sometimes This Can Be Normal But In Other Cases It Can Be A Sign Of A Problem
The majority of women will at some point experience bleeding in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This is called intermenstrual bleeding, or spotting. As with other variations from normal bleeding, sometimes spotting is not something you need to worry about, and other times it can be a sign of a problem.
What About A Missed Period On The Copper Coil
There are lots of reasons why you might have a late or missed period with the copper coil . The copper coil is hormone free so should not affect your natural cycle . So in this case, other things may affect your natural cycle include stress, illness, excessive exercise, or weight change. Sometimes we never know what caused the disruption.
If you have an IUD and your period is late, you can do a pregnancy test if youre worried. In some rare cases women with copper coils can have an ectopic pregnancy . If you have a positive pregnancy test with a coil in, then you need to seek urgent medical attention.
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