Why Is My Period Late? 10 Reasons For Delayed Periods

So, your period is delayed, but you’re not pregnant. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Experiencing delays and irregularities in the menstrual cycle is quite common. While often harmless, it is important to understand the reasons for delayed periods so you can identify serious conditions in time and receive proper treatment for the same.

Understanding the Scientific Causes of a Late Period

Most women immediately suspect pregnancy when their period is late. However, there are many other reasons why your periods may be delayed. It can be related to age, stress, weight, medication, and many other factors.

Most of the time, irregular periods are not indicative of a serious health concern. It is possible to naturally miss your period too: Irregular periods are normal during adolescence and when your body begins transitioning to menopause.

A late period can occasionally be a symptom of menstrual disorders like oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea.

Oligomenorrhea

Oligomenorrhea is a menstrual disorder characterized by infrequent or irregular menstrual periods. Women with oligomenorrhea have a menstrual cycle that is greater than 35 days, which means that they experience less than 9 periods in a year.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of periods in a woman who has reached reproductive age. Women may experience primary amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea.

Primary amenorrhea

In primary amenorrhea, a woman reaches reproductive age but does not start her period. The main cause of primary amenorrhea is structural issues or underdevelopment of the ovaries or other reproductive organs.

Secondary amenorrhea

In secondary amenorrhea, a woman who has previously menstruated regularly stops getting her period. More specifically, it is marked by the absence of periods for three months, or six months for women who have had oligomenorrhea in the past.

Secondary amenorrhea is caused by hormonal imbalances or dysfunction of the thyroid or pituitary gland.

The Top 10 Reasons For Delayed Periods

The average menstrual cycle is about 28 days long. Each woman is different, and cycle lengths vary from 21 to 35 days. The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and ends on the last day of the luteal phase, or right before you start your next period.

Yes, it is possible for your period to start slightly early or late each month. But if you are getting your period seven to nine days early or late every month, it can be considered an irregular menstrual cycle.

1. Body Weight

Being underweight or rapidly losing a lot of weight can disrupt the body’s hormone production and cause your periods to become irregular. In some cases, you could stop getting your period altogether. Adopting a healthy diet and gaining weight can restore your period.

The eating disorder anorexia nervosa is one of the most common reasons for delayed periods, but bulimia nervosa is also associated with menstrual irregularities.

On the other hand, obesity increases estrogen production in the body, which can throw off your body’s normal hormone balance and delay or stop your period. If obesity is what’s making your periods irregular, your doctor may recommend making lifestyle changes that will help you lose weight.

2. Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but too much of it can affect your body and your menstrual cycles. This occurs because stress disrupts the normal functioning of the hypothalamus and inhibits gonadotropin production.

Such changes can impact your ovulation and menstruation and can also cause illnesses and fluctuations in weight.

If you have a stressful job or are going through a stressful situation, missing a period can be normal. Speak to a therapist or your doctor for ways in which you can reduce stress and make your cycle regular again.

3. Extreme Exercise

Extreme, demanding exercise can disrupt the balance of your thyroid and pituitary hormones, which in turn impacts your ovulation and menstrual cycles.

A few hours at the gym won’t hurt you, but pushing yourself without listening to your body and working out for a long time each day can cause hormonal changes that lead to irregular periods. Generally, it is common for athletes such as marathon runners, swimmers, and ballet dancers to lose their period.

If you feel like extreme exercise is one of the reasons for delayed periods, speak to your doctor and make conscious changes to your exercise regime, like improving your diet, taking on lower-intensity workouts, and testing for vitamin deficiencies.

4. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Primary ovarian insufficiency occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop functioning normally before 40 or the age of menopause. It is also called premature ovarian failure (POF). POI is an extremely rare condition that can cause irregular or missed periods. Only 1% of women before 40 experience POI.

The symptoms of POI include missed or late periods, low libido, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. Consult a specialist if you are experiencing POI symptoms.

5. Early Perimenopause

Although often confused with primary ovarian insufficiency, early perimenopause is not the same as POI. Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause occurs and is characterized by changing hormone levels. Most women experience it in their mid-40s.

Some women can begin perimenopause early, in their mid-30s. Unlike POI, women who experience perimenopause and subsequently menopause will not be able to menstruate or ovulate after. Women with POI can still get their period and ovulate.

Early perimenopause causes a decrease in estrogen levels in the body, which can affect your hormonal balance and may cause changes in the timing, flow, or frequency of your periods.

6. Birth Control

Starting or stopping any method of birth control can alter your menstrual cycle. This is because birth control affects your hormone levels. After starting or stopping it, your body requires some time to adjust to new hormone levels, which is why you find yourself bleeding irregularly.

Birth control can also affect how you menstruate: for example, using a copper-based IUD can make your periods heavier and make them longer or shorter.

Certain birth control methods regulate hormones for only 21 days. During the week that your hormones aren’t regulated, you may experience period-like bleeding, which is called withdrawal bleeding. Withdrawal bleeding is lighter and shorter than a regular period.

7. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It is caused by the progression of an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Common symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include irregular periods, fever, abdominal pain, and pain while having sex. Consult your doctor if you suspect that you have PID.

8. Chronic Conditions

Chronic diseases like diabetes and celiac disease are reasons for delayed periods, as changes in blood sugar can impact your menstrual cycle. Other chronic conditions that can affect your menstrual cycle include:

• Pituitary tumors
• Cushing syndrome
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• Adrenal gland diseases
• Ovarian cysts
• Asherman’s syndrome
• Liver dysfunction

Conditions that cause insulin resistance or androgen insensitivity can cause menstrual issues like amenorrhea.

9. PCOS

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, increases the number of androgens that the body produces. This causes cysts to form on the ovaries and interrupts the regular process of ovulation. As ovulation is affected, your menstrual cycle is too.

PCOS treatment deals with treating the symptoms and regulating your menstrual cycle so that you can ovulate regularly. Learn more about how Corion Fertility Clinic helps treat PCOS-related infertility by speaking to our fertility specialists.

10. Thyroid Disease

Having hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) is one of the main reasons for delayed periods. Imbalanced thyroid hormone levels can disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause periods that are too light or too heavy, too frequent or too infrequent, and can occasionally result in amenorrhea.

Generally, women with hypothyroidism can have heavier and more frequent periods, while women with hyperthyroidism have lighter or infrequent periods.

Other Causes of Delayed Periods

There are certain other conditions or reasons for delayed periods that can help you understand the irregularities in your menstrual cycle.

1. Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most common and well-known reasons for delayed periods. A missed period is often the first sign of pregnancy that many women notice. If your period is more than seven days late and you are sexually active, there’s a chance that you could be pregnant.

If you think you’re pregnant, you can use a home pregnancy test to check if you are. These tests measure the amount of hCG in your urine and are generally very accurate. If you are pregnant, consult a fertility specialist at Corion Fertility Clinic to discuss your options.

2. Breastfeeding

If you are exclusively breastfeeding after pregnancy, your body will stop your periods temporarily. Your period will return after you stop breastfeeding and introduce your baby to formula or solid food.

3. Natural Hormonal Changes

The female body produces hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). These hormones help regulate processes like ovulation, menstruation, and pregnancy, among others.

When the balance of these hormones is disrupted, it can delay menstruation and cause irregular periods in women.

4. Medication

Just like birth control, other medications you take can also alter your regular menstrual cycle. Notably, antidepressants have been observed to cause late or missing periods. Carefully check any medication you’re taking and consult your doctor if you have any doubts or concerns.

5. Thin Endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus, also called the uterine lining or the endometrium, sheds during menstruation. When the lining is thinner than it should be, it doesn’t shed properly and results in light or irregular periods. A thin endometrial lining is often a result of hormonal imbalances.

When Should I See a Doctor?

Consult a gynecologist if you are over 15 and haven’t started your period, or if you have regular periods but have been experiencing delayed or missed periods recently. Missing three consecutive periods may be a sign of perimenopause and the onset of menopause.

If you experience unusual or worrying symptoms such as nausea, fever, pain, or heavy bleeding, or your periods are extremely irregular, seek medical attention immediately.

Final Thoughts

Delayed periods may sometimes come with symptoms like cramps, pain, changes in bleeding, nausea, and spotting. In most cases, a missed or delayed period is not a serious cause for concern. But occasionally, it could be a sign of a serious underlying condition.

Period irregularities can also be inconvenient for women who are trying to get pregnant. If irregular periods are getting in the way of your fertility, consider speaking to a healthcare professional at Corion Fertility Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Is it possible to get pregnant if I have secondary amenorrhea?
A. Yes, women with secondary amenorrhea can still get pregnant, even if they aren’t menstruating.

Q. Can stress delay periods?
A. Yes, stress can delay periods by disrupting the hormonal balance of the body. High stress affects hormone regulation via the hypothalamus and delays ovulation and menstruation.

Q. Why is my period late?
A. Some reasons for delayed periods include pregnancy, weight fluctuation, PCOS, stress, extreme exercise, birth control, chronic conditions, etc.

Q. Can thyroid hormone imbalances cause delayed periods?
A. Yes, an overactive or underactive thyroid can change your period flow and duration and impact your menstrual cycle.