Women's Health Last updated on 2022-05-16 15:42:38
Why Is My Period Late? How Late Can A Period Be & When To Be Concerned?
- Dr. Abhishtita Mudunuri
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9 Min Read
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Fact Checked
Introduction
Are you worried about your late or missed period even though you know you are not pregnant? Hold on! A late period isn’t usually a matter of serious concern. It is very common even in women with a regular cycle. However, you need to know what is normal, what isn’t and when to see a doctor. And we are here to help you understand just that. In this article, we’ll broadly look at - 13 reasons that delay your periods - What do late periods mean? - What to do if you have delayed or missed periods and - When to see a doctor?What is a late period?
On an average, women typically have a 28-day period cycle. But it can vary anything from 21 to 35 days, which is considered normal. Suppose you have a regular cycle of 32 days and still haven’t menstruated on the 33rd day, it means you’ve had a late period. But if you’ve not had your periods after 6 weeks or 35 days, it means that you’ve missed your periods. A missed period, that happens frequently, usually indicates an underlying medical condition, and it’s advisable that you see a doctor soon.How much of a delay is normal in periods?
A period that occurs 1 or 4 days earlier or later is considered normal. Further, a period that lasts between 3 to 7 days long is also considered normal (most periods last 3 to 5 days). But a period that occurs at any time of the month and is unpredictable is considered irregular. Read more on Accurate Period Calculation: No More Pills.Things that delay your periods
Let’s now look at 13 factors that delay your periods.(1) Stress

(2) Low Body Weight

(3) Obesity
Just as being underweight causes irregular periods, being obese can also cause the same. Being overweight causes your body to secrete excess estrogen, which can cause late or missed periods. In certain cases, excess estrogen can even halt your periods altogether.(4) PCOS

(5) Birth Control
Birth control pills usually make periods regular. But sometimes, it can do just the opposite — it can cause irregular periods. Similarly, when you stop taking the pills, it can take a few months for you to get back to normal. i.e., you may have irregular periods for a few months. If you use an intrauterine device (IUD), implant, or shot, you could completely stop having periods.(6) Chronic Diseases

(7) Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is a condition wherein your ovaries stop working before you turn 40. As a result, they stop producing many important hormones, including estrogen. Low levels of estrogen secretion can cause you to have menopause-like symptoms. You may experience hot flashes, night sweating, and trouble sleeping. Other signs include vaginal dryness, trouble conceiving, decreased sexual desire, and mood disturbances.(8) Thyroid

(9) Extreme Diet & Exercises
Extreme workouts are another reason why you may have delayed or missed periods. When you exercise several hours a day, you may be burning too many calories than you are taking in. As a result, your body may not be left with enough energy for other bodily functions, eventually affecting your periods.(10) Early Perimenopause
Perimenopause refers to the time during which your body is transitioning into menopause. It means you are nearing menopause, and ovulation will no longer be regular, leading to delayed or missed periods. Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. It's a condition in which women stop ovulating and having periods.(11) Breast Feeding
A missed period is completely normal when breastfeeding your baby. This condition is referred to as lactational amenorrhea. It's that phase where lactating mothers don't experience periods. But don't worry. Your periods should be right back on track after a few months. Meanwhile, keep your doctor in the loop about your health condition.(12) Sleep Schedule Changes

(13) Medication
Certain medications such as antipsychotics can cause amenorrhea or missed periods. Birth control medications such as IUDs, implants, and shots can also cause missed periods.Don’t ignore a missed period
Usually, an occasional late period is often the result of something minor. But if you frequently have late periods, check with your doctor to rule out any underlying medical condition. And when you go to the doctor, they may want to know about your previous periods but most women find it hard to explain this to their doctor. Therefore, it’s important that you maintain a period tracker. A period tracker helps you track - Your average cycle duration - Follicular phase - Ovulation phase - Luteal phase and - Fertility window periodWhat to do if your period is late?
If you are not pregnant and if you haven’t had your periods in three months and cannot identify what the cause is, you may have to check with your doctor. The doctor will usually prescribe blood tests to assess your progesterone and prolactin levels to identify the underlying cause of delayed or missed periods. They may then additionally advise or prescribe medications to treat the underlying cause. Additionally, depending on what the cause is, you may have to - Manage your stress levels - Increase or decrease the intensity of your workouts - Eat a balanced diet - Improve your lifestyle - Improve your sleeping patterns - Manage an underlying health condition etc Also, it’s recommended that you regularly visit your doctor to identify possible health conditions that can cause changes in your period cycle: - PCOS - Endometriosis - Bulimia - Anorexia - Hypothyroidism - Pituitary gland disordersUnsure where to go?
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How are absent periods treated?
Treatment for absent periods or amenorrhea depends on the underlying cause. If it’s due to hormonal imbalance, it can be treated with supplemental or synthetic hormones. Sometimes, missed periods may require surgical removal of ovarian cysts, scar tissue, or uterine lesions. Treatment for missed periods also requires simple lifestyle changes, balanced diet and regular exercise.Will I need any tests for a missed period?
You doctor may prescribe the following tests to diagnose the cause of delayed or missed periods:Blood Tests:

Hormone challenge test:
Here, your doctor will prescribe hormonal medication for 7 to 10 day to trigger menstrual bleeding. This test is done to check if delayed or missed periods are due to a lack of estrogen.Imaging Tests:
It includes - Ultrasound: It’s done to check for abnormalities in your ovaries. - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It’s done to check for abnormalities in your pituitary gland present in the brain.Are there any complications of a missed period?
Occasional delayed or missed periods are due to minor issues as discussed above and easily treatable. But frequent missed periods may indicate the following:(1) Infertility
Chances are that women who aren’t menstruating aren’t ovulating i.e., not producing eggs from their ovaries.(2) Weak Bones (Osteoporosis)
Missed periods due to menopause would over the years cause osteoporosis. It’s a medical condition where bones become weak and fragile. Women, after hitting menopause, are at higher risk for osteoporosis than others.(3) Heart Disease
Women with low estrogen levels are at higher risk for heart diseases. Further, women with PCOS are also more likely to develop heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.(4) Oligomenorrhea
It’s a medical condition wherein you don’t get your periods for 35 days or more. As a result, you have only 4 to 9 periods in a year. The most common causes of oligomenorrhea are: - PCOS - Cushing syndrome - Prolactinoma - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - Pelvic inflammatory disease - Asherman’s syndrome - Primary ovarian syndrome - Hyperthyroidism and - Eating disorders Other factors that also lead to oligomenorrhea are - Type 1 diabetes - Tumors in your ovaries or adrenal glands - Hormonal contraceptives - Antipsychotic and antiepileptic medications - Intense physical workoutsSupporting your child when they start menstruating
When young girls first start menstruating, it takes a few years for their period cycle to settle down. They may not immediately start having a regular 28-day period cycle. That’s because young girls in their teens or preteens have an immature Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) Axis. The HPO axis system regulates ovulation and menstrual cycles. It takes a few years for their system to mature and regulate their periods. Once the HPO axis system matures, their periods become more predictable. Here are a few tips to helping your child when they start menstruating: - Talking about periods, flow, period pain, what’s normal or abnormal, pads, etc - Encourage keeping track of periods using online period trackers such as this and - Discuss menstrual hygiene
Conclusion
Occasional delayed or missed periods may be due to minor reasons and isn’t a matter of serious concern. It could be due to stress, abnormal sleeping patterns, obesity or low body weight which can be easily fixed through healthy lifestyle modifications and eating habits. But frequent missed or delayed periods may indicate an underlying medical condition. If you have not had your periods in 35 days or after 6 weeks, it’s high time you seek medical attention. Read a complete guide on Periods: Cycle, Problems and Tracking.References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/why-is-my-period-late
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-late-can-a-period-be
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-is-my-period-late/
- https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/9-reasons-missed-period/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318317
- https://patient.info/womens-health/periods-and-period-problems/missed-periods#:~:text=As%20long%20as%20you%20are,start%20later%20than%20in%20others.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-late-can-a-period-be
- https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/period/reasons-for-a-delayed-period
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-is-my-period-late/
- https://www.medicinenet.com/how_late_can_period_be_before_know_youre_pregnant/article.htm
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