Why Is My Period Late? 8 Reasons Besides Pregnancy

If you’re not pregnant, your period may be late due to a great deal of stress or low body weight. Certain conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and others, can also affect your menstrual cycle.

Worried about a late period but know you’re not pregnant? Missed or late periods happen for many reasons other than pregnancy. Common causes can range from hormonal imbalances to serious medical conditions.

Research shows that the prevalence of irregular menstrual cycles is 5-35.6% depending on your age, your occupation, and where you live.

There are also two times when it’s 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.

In this article, we discuss eight reasons your period may be late besides pregnancy.

How long is it normal for a period to be late?

Most people who haven’t reached menopause usually have a period approximately every 28 days. However, a healthy menstrual cycle can range from every 21-40 days.

If your period doesn’t fall within these ranges, it could be because of one of the following reasons.

Can a period be late and not be pregnant?

1. Stress

Chronic stress can throw off your hormones, change your daily routine, and even affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating your period: your hypothalamus. Over time, stress can lead to illness or sudden weight gain or loss, all of which can impact your cycle.

If you think stress might be throwing off your period, try practicing relaxation techniques and making lifestyle changes.

Chronic stress can also affect other health conditions you’re living with, so addressing it yourself or with the help of a medical professional is an important part of taking care of your overall well-being.

2. Low body weight

People who have eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, may experience irregularities in their cycle. Losing too much weight can cause irregular periods and may even stop your cycle altogether. This is because not having enough body fat can pause ovulation.

Getting treatment for your eating disorder and getting to the point where your body fat is optimal again can return your cycle back to its original length.

People who participate in extreme exercises, such as marathons, may also experience cycle irregularities as well.

3. Obesity

In the same way that living with a low body weight can cause hormonal changes, living with a high body weight can also cause irregularities.

Obesity can cause the body to produce an overabundance of estrogen, which is a key reproductive hormone. Too much estrogen can cause irregularities in your cycle and may even stop your periods altogether.

If your doctor has determined that obesity is a factor in your late or missed periods, they may advise you to lose weight through lifestyle changes, such as focusing on nutrient-dense foods and exercising.

4. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a condition that causes your body to produce more of the male hormone androgen. Cysts form on the ovaries as a result of this hormone imbalance. This can make ovulation irregular or stop it altogether.

Other hormones, such as insulin, may also become unbalanced. This is due to insulin resistance, which is often associated with PCOS.

Treatment for PCOS focuses on relieving symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe birth control or another medication to help regulate your cycle.

5. Birth control

You may experience a change in your cycle when you go on or off birth control. Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs.

It can take up to 3 months for your cycle to become consistent again after you stop taking the pill.

Other types of contraceptives that are implanted or injected can cause missed periods as well.

6. Chronic diseases

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and celiac disease, can also affect your menstrual cycle. Changes in blood sugar are linked to hormonal changes, so even though it’s rare, unmanaged diabetes could cause your period to be irregular.

Celiac disease causes inflammation that can lead to damage in your small intestine, which may prevent your body from absorbing key nutrients. This can cause irregular or missed periods.

Other chronic conditions that may lead to cycle irregularities include:

Cushing syndrome

congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Asherman’s syndrome

7. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)

Most vagina owners begin menopause between the ages of 45-55. Those who develop symptoms around age 40 or earlier may be experiencing primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early natural menopause.

About 1% of women before the age of 40 experience POI. While this condition can arise from the surgical removal of the ovaries, other causes include genetic disorders and autoimmune conditions.

If you’re experiencing missed periods and you’re 40 years old or younger, contact your doctor to talk about POI testing and treatment.

8. Thyroid issues

An overactive or underactive thyroid gland could also be the cause of late or missed periods.

The thyroid regulates your body’s metabolism, so hormone levels can be affected as well. Thyroid issues can usually be treated with medication. After treatment, your period will likely return to your normal cycle.

Am I pregnant, or is my period just late?

If your period is late and you think you might be pregnant, you can take a pregnancy test. Most home tests are pretty accurate, but if you think your result may be wrong, you can see your doctor for a blood or urine test.

Certain pregnancy symptoms during the first six weeks after conception can also suggest that you might be pregnant. If you haven’t received your period within six weeks, it’s not likely that the cause is related to natural variations in your menstrual cycle.

When to see your doctor

If your periods seem irregular, or you’ve missed a period but know you’re not pregnant, it’s 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:

unusually heavy bleeding

fever

severe pain

nausea and vomiting

bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days

bleeding after you’ve entered menopause and have not had periods for at least a year

Takeaway

Just as every person is different, every menstrual cycle is different. While 28 days is the generalized cycle length, cycles can range from 28-40 days.

Occasional cycle irregularities can happen for a variety of reasons, from chronic stress to weight loss or weight gain, to stopping or starting birth control.

If you’ve noticed that your cycle has been irregular lately, or you’ve missed a period and know for a fact you’re not pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor right away. The quicker they can make a diagnosis, the quicker you can work on regulating your cycle again.

Read this article in Spanish.

Posted : 2024-08-29 10:50

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.