Why is my period late? 8 possible reasons

Having a late period can be very distressing, especially if a woman is used to having regular periods or is concerned about an unexpected pregnancy.

However, there are many other reasons why a woman might have a late period, ranging from birth control to stress.

In this article, we look at eight possible reasons for a late period.

Share on PinterestThe menstrual cycle may be affected by periods of stress.

Prolonged periods of stress can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, making it longer or shorter, or even causing a missed period.

Some women also report more painful period cramps when experiencing stress.

Avoiding the situations that cause the stress, taking regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can help a person eliminate stress and maintain a regular menstrual cycle.

If a woman is experiencing chronic stress, she might find it beneficial to speak to a doctor or counselor, who can help her identify effective coping mechanisms.

The average onset of menopause is around the age of 52 when a woman has not had a period for at least 12 months.

Many women experience symptoms as early as 10 to 15 years before menopause. This is known as perimenopause and indicates that estrogen levels are beginning to fluctuate.

Irregular estrogen levels can alter a woman’s menstrual cycle, making it common for women in perimenopause to experience irregular or missed periods. Once a woman has gone a full year without a period, she is said to have gone through menopause.

Significant weight loss or intense exercise can cause a woman to miss her period. Being underweight or having a low body-fat ratio can alter reproductive hormone levels, lowering them to levels where ovulation and menstruation do not occur.

A woman who has missed one or several periods after losing a significant amount of weight should consult a doctor or dietician about getting the appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that her body needs.

Just as weight loss can cause a woman to miss her period, being overweight can also affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Obesity and missed periods can sometimes signal that a woman has a medical condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so it is important for a woman to be correctly diagnosed by a doctor.

The doctor may recommend blood tests or an ultrasound to look at the ovaries to make sure that no underlying medical conditions are causing missed periods.

Share on PinterestSome birth control pills can cause a missed period.

Some types of birth control, particularly hormonal methods, can cause a woman to miss a period.

Typically, hormonal birth control provides a form of estrogen combined with progesterone for a set amount of time, followed by several hormone-free days. The withdrawal of these hormones triggers a period.

Sometimes, these hormones keep the lining of the uterus so thin that there is not enough of the lining to cause a period. This applies to all forms of hormonal birth control, including pills, patches, shots, implants, and rings.

In most cases, this is not harmful, but women should speak to a doctor with any concerns about their birth control method.

Some hormones, such as prolactin or thyroid hormones, can cause a woman to miss her period.

If a hormonal imbalance is responsible for a missed or late period, it can easily be detected with a blood test.

The cause of these hormonal imbalances needs to be investigated by a doctor. Some hormonal imbalances are a common problem that runs in families, or they might be caused by something much more serious, such as a brain tumor.

In many cases, taking medication can help periods return to their normal cycle.

PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of childbearing age.

Though the symptoms vary between individual women, those who have PCOS tend to have abnormal hormone levels, which can cause small cysts to develop on the ovaries, acne, excess facial and body hair, male-pattern baldness, and obesity.

Irregular or even absent periods are also a common feature of this condition.

Women who suspect that they have PCOS should visit their doctor for an evaluation. If not properly treated, an absence of periods during childbearing years may cause endometrial cancer.

Women should not rule out pregnancy as a possible reason that their period is late, even if they are using contraception. Women can still get pregnant even if they use birth control correctly.

A sexually active woman with a late period should use a home pregnancy test. It is important to note that there are no forms of birth control that are 100 percent effective. Anyone who is pregnant should seek prenatal healthcare right away.

A woman who has a negative result on the home pregnancy test but whose period still does not start should see a doctor.

If a woman is concerned about missed periods, it can be helpful to keep a written record of her periods, including the start and end dates, and a list of any other associated symptoms.

If a doctor has a written record to refer to, they can make a diagnosis more quickly. Using a simple calendar can work, but there are also apps available for smartphones.

Share on PinterestA written record of periods may help a doctor to make a diagnosis.

Having regular check-ups with a gynecologist or women’s health specialist can help address many questions about menstrual cycles. Sometimes, a late period is an isolated occurrence and is not a cause for concern.

However, certain symptoms may require medical attention. They include:

• missing several periods in a row
• a positive pregnancy test
• having symptoms of PCOS, as described above
• having gained or lost a lot of weight
• feeling overly stressed

Why is my period late? 8 possible reasons

Having a late period can be very distressing, especially if a woman is used to having regular periods or is concerned about an unexpected pregnancy.

However, there are many other reasons why a woman might have a late period, ranging from birth control to stress.

In this article, we look at eight possible reasons for a late period.

Share on PinterestThe menstrual cycle may be affected by periods of stress.

Prolonged periods of stress can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, making it longer or shorter, or even causing a missed period.

Some women also report more painful period cramps when experiencing stress.

Avoiding the situations that cause the stress, taking regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can help a person eliminate stress and maintain a regular menstrual cycle.

If a woman is experiencing chronic stress, she might find it beneficial to speak to a doctor or counselor, who can help her identify effective coping mechanisms.

The average onset of menopause is around the age of 52 when a woman has not had a period for at least 12 months.

Many women experience symptoms as early as 10 to 15 years before menopause. This is known as perimenopause and indicates that estrogen levels are beginning to fluctuate.

Irregular estrogen levels can alter a woman’s menstrual cycle, making it common for women in perimenopause to experience irregular or missed periods. Once a woman has gone a full year without a period, she is said to have gone through menopause.

Significant weight loss or intense exercise can cause a woman to miss her period. Being underweight or having a low body-fat ratio can alter reproductive hormone levels, lowering them to levels where ovulation and menstruation do not occur.

A woman who has missed one or several periods after losing a significant amount of weight should consult a doctor or dietician about getting the appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that her body needs.

Just as weight loss can cause a woman to miss her period, being overweight can also affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Obesity and missed periods can sometimes signal that a woman has a medical condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so it is important for a woman to be correctly diagnosed by a doctor.

The doctor may recommend blood tests or an ultrasound to look at the ovaries to make sure that no underlying medical conditions are causing missed periods.

Share on PinterestSome birth control pills can cause a missed period.

Some types of birth control, particularly hormonal methods, can cause a woman to miss a period.

Typically, hormonal birth control provides a form of estrogen combined with progesterone for a set amount of time, followed by several hormone-free days. The withdrawal of these hormones triggers a period.

Sometimes, these hormones keep the lining of the uterus so thin that there is not enough of the lining to cause a period. This applies to all forms of hormonal birth control, including pills, patches, shots, implants, and rings.

In most cases, this is not harmful, but women should speak to a doctor with any concerns about their birth control method.

Some hormones, such as prolactin or thyroid hormones, can cause a woman to miss her period.

If a hormonal imbalance is responsible for a missed or late period, it can easily be detected with a blood test.

The cause of these hormonal imbalances needs to be investigated by a doctor. Some hormonal imbalances are a common problem that runs in families, or they might be caused by something much more serious, such as a brain tumor.

In many cases, taking medication can help periods return to their normal cycle.

PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of childbearing age.

Though the symptoms vary between individual women, those who have PCOS tend to have abnormal hormone levels, which can cause small cysts to develop on the ovaries, acne, excess facial and body hair, male-pattern baldness, and obesity.

Irregular or even absent periods are also a common feature of this condition.

Women who suspect that they have PCOS should visit their doctor for an evaluation. If not properly treated, an absence of periods during childbearing years may cause endometrial cancer.

Women should not rule out pregnancy as a possible reason that their period is late, even if they are using contraception. Women can still get pregnant even if they use birth control correctly.

A sexually active woman with a late period should use a home pregnancy test. It is important to note that there are no forms of birth control that are 100 percent effective. Anyone who is pregnant should seek prenatal healthcare right away.

A woman who has a negative result on the home pregnancy test but whose period still does not start should see a doctor.

If a woman is concerned about missed periods, it can be helpful to keep a written record of her periods, including the start and end dates, and a list of any other associated symptoms.

If a doctor has a written record to refer to, they can make a diagnosis more quickly. Using a simple calendar can work, but there are also apps available for smartphones.

Share on PinterestA written record of periods may help a doctor to make a diagnosis.

Having regular check-ups with a gynecologist or women’s health specialist can help address many questions about menstrual cycles. Sometimes, a late period is an isolated occurrence and is not a cause for concern.

However, certain symptoms may require medical attention. They include:

• missing several periods in a row
• a positive pregnancy test
• having symptoms of PCOS, as described above
• having gained or lost a lot of weight
• feeling overly stressed

Delayed menstruation: causes, diagnosis | Kotex®

Expert Comment
Gynecologist Anastasia Degteva

“Someone’s cycle “runs like clockwork”, but not everyone. If your period comes with a difference of up to 7 days, then this is also normal! However, if there is concern, it is better to consult a gynecologist.
It is important to keep a calendar in a special application so that the doctor can accurately understand whether there really are problems with the cycle.

Despite the unpleasant symptoms that a woman experiences during menstruation, the absence of menstruation causes stress and excitement.

However, missed periods do not always mean pregnancy or possible health problems. The female body is not a precisely adjusted mechanism that works by the clock. Menstruation may come a few days earlier or later – this is normal.

But if it becomes difficult to cope with the stress of the absence of menstruation, then you should not refrain from taking sedatives. Excessive excitement can aggravate the situation, because stress is one of the possible causes of cycle failure.

What is a missed period?

A delay in menstruation is a failure or a slight deviation in the menstrual cycle, which every woman encounters at least once. Officially, the absence of menstruation after the 35th day of the cycle can be considered a delay in menstruation.

In order to know exactly when your period should come, it is convenient to use the menstruation tracker in VKontakte “My Calendar” from Kotex, in which you can regularly mark the start and end dates of menstruation. Thanks to the calendar, you can track the duration of your cycle and understand that delays of up to 5-7 days sometimes happen, and this is the norm.

Causes of delayed menstruation:

Let’s answer the question: “Why do periods disappear?”:

• pregnancy;

• malnutrition;

• stress;

• establishment of a cycle in a teenage girl;

• hormonal disorders, often due to thyroid dysfunction;

• onset of menopause;

• regular fatigue and lack of sleep;

• long flight;

• climate change;

• strong weight loss;

• excessive physical activity;

• diseases of the reproductive system;

• postpartum period.

Signs of delayed menstruation are simple: menstruation does not come on time. Sometimes their absence can be accompanied by the same symptoms of PMS as during menstruation: headache, nausea, severe weakness, increased sensitivity in the mammary glands.

How many days can a delay in menstruation normally last?

If the menstruation was delayed by 5-7 days, and additional unpleasant symptoms or pain did not increase, then there is nothing terrible in this. However, if the situation repeats the next month, it is better to consult a gynecologist. Regular delays are cause for concern.

The norm of delayed menstruation is 5-7 days. Most women note that they often have a one-day delay in menstruation, most often the onset of their menstrual cycle ranges from 3 to 5 days.

In adolescent girls whose cycles have not yet been regulated, periods can be delayed by up to 6 weeks. Can there be a delay in menstruation longer? Yes, this happens too. It is necessary to inform your gynecologist about the absence of menstruation. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary examination to determine the reason for such a delay.

The first year or even two menstruation in girls almost always pass with a failure in the cycle. This is absolutely normal, because for a young organism, the process of menstruation is a new phenomenon that needs time to settle down and settle down.

Pregnancy

The most obvious reason why there is no period is pregnancy. When menstruation is delayed by 7-10 days, many girls are convinced that they are pregnant.

First you need to calm down and understand that even if the presence of pregnancy is confirmed, it has already happened anyway. Stress and anxiety can make you feel worse and create an unfavorable environment for your unborn child.

You can find out about pregnancy on your own with the help of a pharmacy test, but you can’t do without going to the gynecologist.

You can read about the first symptoms of pregnancy in our previous article.

Reasons for missed periods other than pregnancy

Consider the reasons for the failure of the cycle and answer in detail the question: “I am not pregnant, but there is no menstruation: why?”

Amenorrhea

The reason for the delay of menstruation for a month may be amenorrhea – this is the absence of menstruation. With amenorrhea, periods are not just delayed, they do not occur. This is not about a delay of 4 days, the absence of a menstrual cycle can last a couple of months, and sometimes last more than a year. Despite the fact that amenorrhea is considered to be a disease, it does not occur without concomitant causes – any malfunctions in the body.

Causes of amenorrhea:

• excessive physical activity;

• diet and any other dietary restriction;

• stress;

• gynecological diseases;

• breastfeeding.

Whatever the cause of amenorrhea, it must be dealt with by a specialist. Menstruation will definitely recover if the cause is eliminated and the right treatment is chosen.

Stress and hormonal failure: causes of missed periods

“All problems are from nerves” is a popular saying, which, not without reason, has received popular recognition. Delayed periods due to stress is a common problem for many girls.

Serious stress is a test for the whole organism. For the menstrual period, strength and energy are needed, and with powerful stress, they simply may not be there. Menstruation “calms down” and waits for a favorable moment when the body calms down and the nervous system returns to normal.

With hormonal failure – no menstruation due to the fact that regular lack of sleep, constant overwork and excessive stress are also stressful situations for the body. Due to stress, there is a failure in some brain functions that are responsible for the correct functioning of the reproductive system.

Physical activity

Often, in pursuit of a beautiful and slender body, girls exhaust themselves with physical exertion. This negatively affects the entire body, including the reproductive system. Sport is always good, but everything should be in moderation. It is optimal to train 3-4 times a week or every day, choosing moderate activities.

With active sports, as well as with the observance of sports diets, in the female body, muscle mass begins to increase, and fat begins to slowly melt. But for the normal functioning of the female body, fat is needed. In pursuit of the press cubes, you can lose the most important thing – women’s health.

Choose moderate exercise and a balanced and varied diet so that a healthy lifestyle is truly healthy, not fanatical.

Weight problems

A sharp weight loss or a sharp set are all signals that something is wrong with the body. If serious diseases are excluded, then often such weight fluctuations occur on the basis of nervous disorders, which include an eating disorder.

Here already one gynecologist will not cope. Eating disorders should be treated by an appropriate specialist. This could be a psychotherapist who specializes in eating disorders, or even a psychiatrist, especially if disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and compulsive eating are diagnosed.

Delayed menstruation with sharp fluctuations in weight is almost always inevitable. It is important to seek help from a specialist in time, until a simple delay in menstruation develops into a serious illness.

Inflammatory diseases of the uterus and pelvic organs

Inflammatory diseases are diseases associated with the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Unfortunately, these diseases are diagnosed quite often. But if you are regularly examined by a gynecologist and any disease is detected in time, then the treatment will not be difficult and long.

Symptoms of inflammatory diseases:

• redness in the mucous membranes and genitals;

• itching and burning in the vaginal area;

• pain in the lower abdomen;

• vaginal dryness;

• unnatural or excessive vaginal discharge;

• fever;

• General deterioration of health.

Inflammatory disease refers to many diseases that occur due to various infections and viruses. These can be infections and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as diseases of nonspecific pathology.

Any inflammatory disease can lead to problems with the menstrual cycle. Therefore, first you need to diagnose this disease and begin its treatment. The menstrual cycle will quickly recover when the disease begins to recede.

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign neoplasms. Often, menstruation with fibroids is plentiful, even blood clots are possible.

Delayed menstruation with uterine fibroids is not a frequent occurrence, but it is not excluded. Typically, such a delay occurs with fibroids against the background of ovarian dysfunction. But even after a delay in menstruation with such a disease, the discharge is quite plentiful.

Polycystic ovaries

One of the most common causes of delayed menstruation is polycystic ovaries. Unfortunately, this disease is not uncommon now, it is diagnosed in 90% of women suffering from infertility.

This disease belongs to the group of endocrine pathologies and often leads to infertility. However, you should not immediately give up, now polycystic ovaries are perfectly treatable, after which the chances of enduring and giving birth to a child increase significantly.

To detect polycystic ovaries, the gynecologist usually prescribes a blood test for hormones and ultrasound of the pelvic organs.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease in which the lining of the uterus grows outside of it. Endometriosis occurs due to hormonal imbalances in women. With endometriosis, a delay in menstruation is rare, since heavy menstruation with blood clots is more characteristic of it.

However, there is still a correlation between endometriosis and infertility. A neglected disease can lead to complications, one of which is infertility.

Side effects of birth control pills

Delayed periods with oral contraceptives may occur in the first months of taking them. This usually happens because the body needs time to get used to the new drug, and the cycle is established. But when taking OCs, it is not menstrual bleeding that occurs, but the so-called withdrawal bleeding.

If you stop taking birth control and you don’t have a period for a month, that’s fine too. After taking OK, the body needs time to recover. The female reproductive system is restored in 1-2 months. It is advisable to inform your gynecologist about the withdrawal of contraceptives and any changes in the menstrual cycle.

Read more about oral contraceptives in our article: what are OK, how they work and how to take them.

Why is delayed menstruation dangerous to health?

Menstruation is a natural and normal process for a woman, conceived by nature. Any failure in the menstrual cycle is a deviation from the norm, a signal that something is wrong with the body. These can be hormonal problems, endocrine diseases, gynecological pathologies, infertility and nervous disorders. In addition, a long absence of menstruation can lead to cancer and diabetes.

When should you see a doctor?

The delay of menstruation more than the prescribed norm is a cause for serious concern, this is an abnormal process that requires mandatory treatment. You should consult a doctor if your period is delayed by more than 7 days, as well as if you have any unpleasant symptoms.

If you have a delay of 3-4 days every month, this is also a reason to contact a gynecologist. The doctor you trust should be aware of all the changes and your feelings throughout the cycle.

The delay in menstruation is an unpleasant phenomenon. But after a delay, as a rule, menstruation still occurs. It is important to take care of hygiene products and choose the right one: a pad, tampon or night panties in case of heavy discharge.

Delayed menstruation: signs, symptoms, what to do?

Leading obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-surgeon

Temisheva

Yakha Akhmedovna

Experience 46 years

Obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category, Ph. D.
Delayed menstruation is a failure of the menstrual cycle, which can be noticed by the absence of critical days in a period of 35 days or more. The symptom can occur at any age, as many reasons can lead to it.

If the discharge does not appear within 5-7 days, after which they make themselves felt, this is not a pathology. In the event that the failure lasts longer or occurs more than once, you should make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Symptoms

There is only one sign of a delay in menstruation – their absence. However, you should carefully consider your condition and observe how you feel. Additional symptoms may point to the cause of the failure. These include headaches, sudden weight gain or loss, nausea, increased sensitivity in the chest, general physical weakness, and others.

Main causes

Pregnancy

There can be many reasons for delayed periods, but most often the delay occurs during pregnancy. So, if critical days do not occur, you should first take a pregnancy test (sold at any pharmacy). For the most accurate result, it is recommended to purchase 2-3 tests from different companies at once.

During pregnancy, a woman may experience mild nausea, sudden changes in mood, pain in the chest and swelling. The absence of additional symptoms does not exclude pregnancy.

In addition to the test, you can take an analysis for the content of chorionic gonadotropic hormone (hCG) in the body, which will give a more accurate answer.

If both examinations show the absence of pregnancy, and menstruation does not occur, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist as soon as possible to identify the exact cause.

Gynecological diseases

Ectopic pregnancy, polycystic ovaries, tumor formations in the female genital area, inflammation in the pelvic area – all this can lead to a failure of the menstrual cycle.

Most of these diseases require emergency diagnosis and treatment, so do not hesitate to visit a gynecologist.

Strong stress

The symptom of delayed menstruation can provoke serious emotional or physical stress, mental overload, lack of rest.

Often, it is the failure of the menstrual cycle that overvoltage manifests itself. Thus, the woman’s body screams for help, and if it is not heard, other ailments may be added to the delay.

Climate change

A flight from a hot country to a cold one and vice versa, accompanied by a sharp change in sleep and wakefulness, often also entails a failure of the menstrual cycle.

In most cases, the situation will normalize on its own over time.

Malnutrition

The standard rate of delayed menstruation of 5-7 days can also be the body’s call for help if the failure is caused by following a strict diet.

Many women who want to quickly lose extra pounds often forget about health in the pursuit of harmony. Any diet should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. In addition, in no case should you enter the diet abruptly, as a rapid entry entails stress for the body.

Therefore, it is important to balance your diet, preferably with the help of a professional nutritionist.

Hormonal changes in the body

A common reason for a delayed menstrual cycle is a hormonal failure associated with the thyroid gland. This is especially true of puberty or the threshold of menopause.

The same applies to long-term use, and then a sharp cessation of hormonal drugs.

In this case, the gynecologist may recommend a consultation with an endocrinologist.

Postnatal period

During pregnancy and for some time after childbirth, women experience a lack of menstruation.

You should not forget about the need for contraception after childbirth, since the absence of critical days does not mean the exclusion of unwanted pregnancy. The first ovulatory cycle, as a rule, begins imperceptibly for a woman, and without proper protection, she has a high chance of becoming pregnant.

Diagnostics

Having found a long delay in critical days, as well as brown discharge during a delay in menstruation, you need to seek help from a specialist.

The following methods are used in the diagnostic process:

• standard gynecological examination;
• blood donation for the level of hCG, as well as the study of pituitary and ovarian hormones;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• MRI and CT of the brain (in rare cases, if necessary).

It is advisable to conduct the examination in the same clinic where the specialist receives. The fact is that the analyzes of each laboratory have their own reference values, and the equipment has indicators. So the doctor will know exactly what is happening with the patient’s body.

In the absence of problems from the point of view of gynecology, the doctor may refer you for a consultation with a nutritionist, endocrinologist or psychotherapist.

Answers to common questions

Delayed menstruation: what to do?

With a delay of more than 5-7 days, you should do a pregnancy test (if there was sexual intercourse) and make an appointment with a gynecologist.