Why Is My Period Late? Common Causes And Reasons
What are the Reasons For Late Periods?
If you don’t have obvious reasons for missed period, this list probably has the answer. These are the common reasons for a delayed period.
Stress
Stress affects the part of your brain that regulates your periods. It could make the cycle longer or shorter than normal. Taking too much stress can have an impact on your hormone levels. It affects your body weight, too.
There are many simple steps to reduce long term mental stress. You can try meditating or journaling. Take prepper uninterrupted sleep as well.
Body Weight
Drastic body weight changes influence the body’s mechanism. It affects many aspects including your menstrual cycle.
Obesity
Being overweight can upset the hormones needed for regular periods. Extra weight might impair the brain’s control of ovulation. This happens more in case of rapid weight gain (or a big BMI increase). Too much body fat can cause too much estrogen (female sex hormone). This can affect your menstrual cycle or even stop your periods altogether. Sometimes, missed periods due to weight can also be a sign of something like PCOS. If doctors think your weight is the problem, they might want to do some tests. They might also tell you to eat healthier and move more.
Low Weight
On the flip side, weight loss can also affect your menstrual cycle. If you don’t have enough body fat, your body might not make enough of the important hormones. When there aren’t enough such hormones, your body won’t be able to have a period.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS
PCOS is a common hormone problem in women. It often causes irregular periods. What happens is that high levels of male hormones (androgens) are formed in the body. This high amount disrupts egg release. Therefore, periods may be late.
This imbalance also causes other issues. Those issues could be infertility and weight gain. Acne and hair changes can also occur. Some women feel period symptoms without a period. Insulin (a hormone that regulates body sugar) issues are also common in PCOS. This eventually affects hormones and cycles.
Birth Control
Hormonal birth control approaches (pill or shot) change hormone levels. This can lead to delayed or missed periods. Some types make the lining of your womb thin, so there’s little or no bleeding. Certain birth control methods can even stop your period while you use them. Instead of a normal period, you might have light bleeding. If your periods change after starting or stopping birth control, talk to your doctor.
Hormonal Conditions
Your hormones regulate many important processes. Therefore, issues in hormone levels can cause problems like irregular periods. Hormone imbalance can happen for many reasons. So, you need to first understand what is triggering the disruption. It could be a temporary issue or even a chronic one. It might run in your family as well.
To check for a hormonal imbalance, you are likely to take a blood test. The treatment is done according to the cause. Sometimes it only requires some medicines to fix the problem.
Thyroid
It is a small gland located in our neck. Thyroid issues can significantly affect your periods. The thyroid gland controls hormones as well as metabolism. When the thyroid gland is too slow (hypothyroidism), ovulation might stop. This becomes a reason for missed or irregular periods. If it’s too fast (hyperthyroidism), periods might become light in texture. It can cause periods to become rare or even stop completely (a condition called amenorrhea).
Luckily, medicine can usually manage most thyroid issues. You should see a doctor if you think thyroid issues are affecting your period.
Eating Disorder
Eating disorder can seriously mess with your periods. When someone with an eating disorder loses a lot of weight, their body can stop releasing enough estrogen. This low estrogen can prevent ovulation (releasing an egg). Without ovulation, periods get delayed or stop altogether.
Therefore, try to maintain a nutritious diet. Eat meals that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Drink plenty of water as well.
Extreme Exercise
Intense workouts can cause missed periods. Daily exercise with an exceptionally tiring routine can change hormones. Mostly, it affects the hormones of the pituitary (a gland in the brain) and thyroid. This slows your body down and can stop ovulation to save energy. It’s not just a single hard workout. If you train very intensely, talk to a sports medicine doctor. They can provide a diet plan that suits your needs. They can also offer solutions to period-related health conditions.
Why Is It Important To Treat Late Periods?
Our menstrual cycle is a complex process. If there are any issues with it, there might be some serious consequences as well. Therefore, it is important to keep track of your cycle. Late periods can signal hidden health problems like PCOS or thyroid issues. Ignoring them might cause fertility problems or other health concerns.
Finding and treating the cause early can help your hormones, protect your health, and prevent future problems. If your periods are often late, it’s important to see a doctor.
When to Consult with a Doctor or Healthcare Professional?
If you have irregular menstrual cycles, you may want to see a doctor. This can help avoid bigger problems. It’s very important to get help if you have very heavy bleeding. Severe pain, feeling sick, dizziness, or a high temperature are also serious concerns. If you face any of these or a combination of these, please visit a doctor as these could indicate other health issues. Don’t wait for too long to get help. It’s important to address these concerns for your overall well-being.
The Bottom Line
Our bodies are complex, and so are the menstrual cycles. Although there is information available online, it is best to see a doctor. So, if you missed your periods, and are confused about the next step, please consult a gynecologist. Prepare a list of symptoms that you are experiencing to help your doctor better understand your situation.
FAQs
Each month, if there's no pregnancy, the thickened lining of the uterus breaks down and leaves the body. This bleeding is called your period. After your period ends, the cycle begins again to prepare for a possible pregnancy next time.
A normal menstrual cycle typically occurs every 21 to 35 days. The bleeding phase lasts 3 to 7 days.
A period can be late by up to two weeks without pregnancy. Stress or hormones can cause this. But see a doctor for regular delays.
Brown spotting without a period has many causes. It could be old blood or hormone changes. Ovulation or birth control can cause it. If pregnant, it might be implantation. Sometimes it means PCOS or thyroid problems. See a doctor if it continues.
Yes, you can be 6 days late without pregnancy. Stress or hormones usually cause this.
Yes, pregnancy is possible 2 days after your period, especially with shorter cycles. Sperm can live for up to 5 days, and early ovulation could lead to fertilization. The chance is lower, but it's not impossible.
A cycle change from 28 to 35 days is normal. Hormones, stress, thyroid issues, or PCOS can cause this. If this change is regular or you have pain or odd bleeding, see a doctor to check for problems.