Number : How Long Should You Have Your Period On Birth Control
When you have a period on birth control, it can be unpredictable. Strictly speaking, you should get your period during the time youre taking placebo pills. But unscheduled bleeding, whether light spotting or heavy, happens when youre on birth control. Usually, the bothersome unpredictable bleeding will resolve itself after a few months.
But what if you have bleeding for a long time outside of the placebo window? In general, periods should last between 4 and 8 days.
Lets start with defining and quantifying what we mean when we refer to bleeding or spotting. Thatll help you determine it for yourself, and itll help you if you decide to talk to your doctor about it.
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Youve Upped Your Workout Intensity
A strenuous exercise regimen can also cause missed periods. This is most common in those who train for several hours a day. It happens because, whether intentionally or not, youre burning way more calories than youre taking in.
When you burn too many calories, your body doesnt have enough energy to keep all its systems running. More strenuous workouts can increase hormone release that can affect your menstruation.
Periods typically go back to normal as soon as you lessen training intensity or increase your caloric intake.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a set of symptoms caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Many people with PCOS do not ovulate regularly.
As a result, your periods may:
- be lighter or heavier than standard periods
- arrive at inconsistent times
Other PCOS symptoms can include:
- excess or coarse facial and body hair
- acne on the face and body
- weight gain or trouble losing weight
- dark patches of skin, often on the neck creases, groin, and underneath breasts
- skin tags in the armpits or neck
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:
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Do You Still Have A Period When Taking The Pill
Youll also continue to experience a monthly bleed, though this will depend on the type of pill youre taking. For example, women who take combination birth control pills will continue to have a week of period-type bleeding each month. Women who take the minipill may experience more irregular bleeding.
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Youre In Early Menopause
Early menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, happens when your ovaries stop working before you turn 40.
When your ovaries are not working the way they should, they stop producing multiple hormones, including estrogen. As your estrogen levels drop to all-time lows, you will begin to experience the symptoms of menopause.
Late or missed periods may be an early sign. You may also experience:
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Should I See A Doctor For A Missed Period
In most cases, missing your period while taking birth control is not concerning. However, if you have missed one or more doses of your pills, you have experienced nausea with vomiting or diarrhea, or you have taken medication that could interfere with your birth control, you should take a pregnancy test to make sure you arent pregnant. You can also contact your healthcare provider with any concerns related to your missed period or symptoms you are experiencing.
For more answers to your healthcare questions, visit our Knowledge Center.
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Stress And Sleepless Nights
Having stressful days, sleepless nights and excessive weight loss can have serious effects on the way your hormones functions.
Your period is regulated by hormones that will be released from the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovaries and the thyroid glands. When stressed, many of these hormones are not secreted, or their volume is reduced.
This may cause your period to be absent for days. In some women, stress may result to no period for 1 or 2 months.
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How To Prevent Stress From Delaying Your Period
The first step in preventing stress from delaying your period is to understand whats causing your stress and how much stress you can manage. You may not always be able to avoid stress, but you can develop healthy ways to cope with it. Tracking your cycle and any changes you experience in your moods will make it easier to identify any issues that may arise so you can better understand why your period is late.
While stress is a common cause for a late period, it is just one of many potential reasons for a delay in menstruation. Pregnancy, hormonal birth control, and health problems like polycystic ovary syndrome can also make your period late.
Sometimes the stress of worrying about a potential unintended pregnancy can make your period late. Taking a pregnancy test to find out if you are pregnant can reduce this stress. If your period is late, and youre experiencing symptoms like unwanted hair growth, headaches, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping, you may want to see a health care provider to rule out PCOS, which is a treatable condition.
Tracking your mood, life events, and symptoms in an app like Flo can help you gain perspective on your level of stress, and taking simple measures like exercising or making time for meditation can help you get your period back on track.
- Analysis of period and cycle length
- Chances of getting pregnant and ovulation forecast
- Predictions of next period
Mishandling Of Pregnancy Test
If you do not know how to take a pregnancy test you will certainly get a late period negative pregnancy test. In this case, it may be that you are pregnant and you have a late period false negative pregnancy test.
Mishandling of pregnancy tests includes reading results after allotted time. Read pregnancy test instructions thoroughly before conducting the test.
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Reasons For A Late Period: What Might They Be
If your period is five days late, it doesnt necessarily mean youre pregnant. There are multiple factors that can cause your period to be late:
- Physiological Stress, sudden weight changes, climate or time zone changes, breastfeeding , etc.
- Medically induced Associated with taking or stopping medications including hormonal contraceptives and antidepressants
- Pathological Caused by diseases such as ovarian pathology, uterine diseases, endocrine system disorders, etc.
How Many Days Your Period Can Be Late For
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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Can Stress Delay Your Period
Having a manageable amount of stress in your life is normal. But excessive levels of stress, whether physical or mental, can be detrimental to your health. One of the effects of stress is a spike in cortisol, sometimes called the stress hormone.
This is how it happens. Extreme physical, emotional, or nutritional stress activates a chain reaction in your body. It starts from changes in brain activity and activity in the brain endocrine glands, passes through the suprarenal gland where stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released into the blood, and disrupts the hormonal balance of the reproductive organs.
How Many Days Late Can Your Period Be What Others Say
I didnt have my period for two whole months but I wasnt pregnant, never had a baby before, didnt have any health issues and wasnt even on the pill. I had regular periods before that but it was stress that did it for me. This past year, I have had two late periods but otherwise my periods are very regular.
If you ask me, changes in the routine or stress can delay the ovulation sometimes so it is highly likely that you arent pregnant if you have a late period. However, I think it is best to get a pregnancy test just to be sure.
In my opinion, the answer to the questionhow many days late can you period be depends on your ovulation timings. Your period will be late if your ovulation starts late. Thus, unless you are tracking ovulation, there is no way to find out if your period is late or not. I havent had a period in 4 months after my miscarriage. I have just begun to ovulate again and I know that I will have my period in the next few days.
I have always had irregular periods so I just wait and see what happens, if it happens at all. However, when I did get pregnant, I knew about my pregnancy way before I missed my period. My point is that everyone is different and it is better to have a pregnancy test to be sure.
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When To See Your Gp
See your GP if you’re not pregnant you’ve had a negative pregnancy test and you’ve missed more than 3 periods in a row.
If you’re sexually active and you have not taken a pregnancy test, your GP may advise you to take one.
They may also ask you about:
- your medical history
- any emotional issues you’re having
- any recent changes in your weight
- the amount of exercise you do
Your GP may recommend waiting to see whether your periods return on their own. In some cases you may need treatment for your periods to return.
You should also see your GP if your periods stop before you’re 45 or if you’re still bleeding when you’re over 55.
Reasons For Late Periods
As a quick reference list, the following are the reasons for late periods:
These 15 reasons for a late period have only one reason for getting a positive pregnancy test. So if you get late period negative pregnancy test it is normal!
Only 1/15 cases of late-period give a positive pregnancy test. Pregnancy is the only reason for late period positive pregnancy test.
Rest all will give late period negative pregnancy test.
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Why Is My Period Late On Birth Control
Contraceptives can help regulate your periods, but other factors including stress, diet, and changes in weight can still affect your menstrual cycle. It’s also possible to experience oligomenorrhea, infrequent or abnormally light bleeding, while using contraceptives.
Whats The Short Answer
Its common not to get a period after stopping the pill, explains Gil Weiss, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Illinois.
The phenomenon is called post-pill amenorrhea, Dr. Weiss continues. The pill suppresses your bodys normal production of hormones that are involved in your menstrual cycle.
He says it can take several months for your body to return to its normal production, and therefore several months for your period to return.
But, in some cases, there is another reason for late or missed periods.
It can be something as simple as lifestyle factors like stress or exercise. Or it could be an underlying condition like hypothyroidism.
Discover other factors that could be causing your post-pill period problem, and how to get your cycle back on track.
Stress can affect the delicate hormonal balance that controls your menstrual cycle.
Stress induces the hormone cortisol, says Kecia Gaither, MD, who specializes in OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine.
This, she says, can interfere with the hormonal regulation of menses via the circuit between the brain, ovaries, and uterus.
Other symptoms of stress to look out for include muscle tension, headaches, and sleeplessness.
You may also experience signs of stomach discomfort such as bloating, or mood problems like sadness and irritability.
While small amounts of stress are unlikely to cause changes, long-term or significant stress levels can stop periods.
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How Will I Know If I Am Pregnant
If you have a regular menstrual cycle one of the first signs that you are pregnant is a missed period, however you might notice that your period is very light compared to normal. If you have missed a period you can purchase a pregnancy test to complete in the privacy of your own home, visit your GP or your local sexual health clinic.
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
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Are Hormones To Blame
When you get your period, your levels of estrogen and progesterone are low.
In the first 4 or 5 days, your pituitary gland increases output of follicle-stimulating hormone and your ovaries start producing more estrogen.
Between days 5 and 7, estrogen levels typically crest, your pituitary gland releases a surge of luteinizing hormone , and your progesterone levels start to increase.
A shift in hormone levels could create the appearance of a stop-and-start pattern.
Period flow or regularity issues could be affected by a variety of health conditions, including:
- Fibroids, which are abnormal benign growths that develop in or on the uterus.
- Endometriosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome , which occurs when the ovaries make large amounts of androgens . Sometimes, small fluid-filled sacs form in the ovaries.
Other Reasons For A Late Period
The human body is a wonder in its own right where thousands of metabolic reactions are occurring at the same time. Considering this it is no surprise that there is a wide range of reasons why a womanâs period may be late. When your period is late, it can be concerning, but remember that it is normal for girls in early puberty to experience irregular cycles or periods since their body is adapting to these new changes. However, a late period in adult women might signify something else. Letâs understand the possible other reasons for a late period.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
One of the most common causes of a late period is this endocrine disorder. The World Health Organization predicts that this disorder has affected 116 million women worldwide since 2012. It is a complex genetic disorder suffered by women. Women suffering from PCOS experience a hormonal imbalance that makes them produce more male hormones, collectively known as androgens. These androgens develop certain male characters in such females as excess facial or body hair, weight gain, or irregular periods. The exact cause of this disorder is unknown. It is advisable to visit a doctor if you believe that you might be suffering from PCOS as this disorder has potential long-term effects on womenâs fertility and requires appropriate treatment.
Taking Birth Control
Menopause
Other Medical Factors
If you found this article helpful, then why not take a look at our guide to or this ?
Kidadl Team
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What To Do If Stress Delays Your Period
If you suspect that stress is the cause of your delayed period, there are several lifestyle changes you can make. Firstly, it is important to identify the possible causes of your stress and understand the level of stress youre under.
Keeping a journal is one way to do this. Talking to a therapist is another. Meditation, yoga, and exercise are common methods that many people find helpful. In some cases, cognitive behavioral therapy may be recommended.