Menstrual cycles or periods are a natural process and it happens to every woman. A menstrual cycle on average consists of 28 days but in some women, it can vary. The late period is a very disturbing problem and irregular periods are painful too.
When you get a delay in your menstrual cycle then the first thing that comes to your mind is pregnancy but this is not the only reason to miss your period. There are many reasons for missed periods such as depression, obesity or some medications, etc.
Pregnancy is a very common reason to miss a period for a sexually active woman. But there are other reasons for irregular or missed periods after marriage or before marriage.
Don’t panic if you missed your period you can check pregnancy with a homemade pregnancy test. If it comes negative then the reason behind the late period could be your lifestyle, eating habits, weakness, etc.
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How much delay (Late) in Periods is Normal?
If you are having a regular period then the average period cycle is 28 days long. But it can be shorter or longer, you may have a menstrual cycle 21 to 35 days long. Normally the period lasts for 2-5 days but sometimes it can be 2-7 days.
A menstrual cycle can be late for 14 days and if you have a delay in the period of more than 14 days then consult with your doctor. 7- 14 days late in your period is considered normal if you are having irregular periods. Irregular periods are painful sometimes.
What Causes Delay in Menstrual Period Apart from Pregnancy?
Many women get a shock when they have a late period and are afraid that they might be pregnant. But to be honest, pregnancy is not the only reason behind the late period.
There are other reasons which can cause a delay in menstrual cycles 2, 3, 4, 5, or even more than 15 days late period.
1. Stress
Stress can cause many health issues including delay in period. When you are going through stress, your body produced less amount of the hormone which is responsible for ovulation.
If you don’t get your ovulation on time automatically it will delay your period. Physical or mental stress can make your period delayed or you can miss your period without being pregnant.
Daily exercise helps you keep healthy and stay fit but you might be surprised to know that too much exercise prevents you from having a period.
If you are spending too much time in the gym, or in dance classes then your body may produce less amount of estrogen which results in the late period.
A professional athlete, dancer, and gymnast can suffer from a health problem known as amenorrhea. This is a serious health problem where you can miss your period for 3 months with being pregnant.
2. Anovulation
One of the most common reasons to miss a period is when you are not pregnant. This is a health condition that is mainly related to infertility in women.
It occurs when a woman doesn’t produce a mature egg and doesn’t have ovulation known as anovulation. A menstrual cycle will not occur until you have ovulation.
This problem can occur because of many reasons such as taking too many birth control pills, anxiety, stress, polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid, etc. if you are having this health condition visit a good fertility doctor.
3. Body Weight
If your body weight change drastically, it means you might have gained too much or lost too much in a very short period of time. Also, being underweight or overweight can cause a missed period when you are not pregnant.
A sudden change in weight is the most common reason for a late period or missed period. Body fat is directly responsible for a hormone known as estrogen. This female hormone helps to regulate the menstrual cycle.
When you have a low level of body fat then estrogen level comes down and ovulation gets stopped or delayed which results in a missed period.
On the other hand, when you have too much body fat it starts acting like birth control pills and reduces estrogen levels in the body. Again it leads to no ovulation and causes a delay in the menstrual cycle.
4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome this health condition affects the working function of ovaries. In this condition, ovaries don’t work properly and stop producing eggs which mean no ovulation. To get a menstrual cycle on time, ovulation should occur otherwise you will miss a period.
5. Contraceptive or Birth Control
Another very common reason for having a late period is too much use of birth control. If you are taking contraceptives and you missed your period then first you can do a homemade pregnancy test. The use of birth control changes your hormone level and stops ovulation.
When there is no ovulation, you will have a delayed period for 2 to 5 days or in some cases, it could be more. You can use the natural birth control method which is effective and there are no side effects.
6. Breastfeeding Reason
It is very normal to have a late or missed period when you are breastfeeding. A hormone known as prolactin which is responsible for breast milk disturbs the ovulation cycle. You can have one month delay in the period while breastfeeding.
7. Perimenopause or Early Menopause Reason
It is well known that 51 is the average age of menopause. You will start missing or having a late period 2-3 years before or after 51 because your body produces less amount of estrogen.
When menopause occurs that means your reproductive life is ended. You cannot get pregnant after you attain menopause because you stop ovulating.
Menopause doesn’t occur overnight, menopause is a gradual process that takes years. Normally it takes 4 years but this duration can vary from woman to woman. You will start having fewer periods or missed periods during the perimenopause period.
There are many other symptoms like painful periods, heavy bleeding or very little bleeding, the period can be very short or long, etc.
8. Hormonal Imbalance
Hormone balance plays a very important part in regulating your period. Imbalance hormones can lead to a missed period when not pregnant.
Hormone-like luteinizing hormone (LH) and the follicle-stimulating (FSH) are very important for ovaries to produce estrogen.
As you know estrogen is responsible for ovulation. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and the follicle-stimulating (FSH) are produced by the pituitary glands. All these hormones work together and maintain your menstrual cycle.
9. Anemia or Low Hb Level
Another very common reason for missed or late periods is the low Hb level in blood. When you have a low level of Hb in the blood is called anemia.
The main symptoms of this problem are tiredness and weakness. This problem may lead to a missed period or a late period. You can increase your hemoglobin level with natural remedies and feed.
Is it possible to miss a period for a month and not be pregnant?
Yes, it is possible to miss or have a period late for a month and not be pregnant at the same time. An athlete, gymnast, or woman who works out too much can miss a period for a month due to the low level of estrogen production. Also, missing a period for a month is not strange for a breastfeeding woman.
Irregular Periods after Marriage
Irregular periods after marriage are a very common problem. It happens because after marriage a woman has to go through many emotional and hormonal changes. This is not a serious problem and you can regulate your menstrual cycle by making some dietary and lifecycle changes.
After marriage, you should avoid taking contraceptives or birth control because it may lead to an irregular period. Other reasons for irregular periods after marriage are stress, anxiety, alcohol, smoking, eating disorders, etc. if you missed a period for more than 15 days then you can perform a pregnancy test or visit your doctor to know the reason behind the late period.
When to See a Doctor for Missed or Delayed Period
An irregular period is a very common problem these days, but for a sexually active woman it can be a cause of stress as the missing period is the first sign of pregnancy. But pregnancy is not the only reason for a missed period. If you missed a period for a week then do a necessary pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant.
If you are not an athlete, gymnast, or gymholic and missed your period for more than 15 days or a month then visit a doctor to see the underlying problem.
Closing Thoughts
If you are experiencing a late period, then that cannot be neglected. But in the first place if you are having hesitation to go and see a doctor, then no worries. We have listed the 9 most probable reasons for the late period in this article.
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