Missed Periods, Late Periods: What Gives?

One of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed period. But if you’re absolutely certain you’re not pregnant, then relax. There are lots of other things that can mess with your cycle. Here are seven of the most common factors that can cause your period to be late.

•Stress or Trauma. We live in a stressful world. Hectic agendas, tense times and nerve-racking events can tip the hormonal balance and throw your scheduled flow off its course. Worrying over your period only adds to the stress levels. Talk to your healthcare provider about a late period and put your mind at ease.

•Intense Exercise. An intense workout regimen can affect hormone production and interfere with monthly cycles. Female athletes and women who train vigorously often have irregular cycles or even stop menstruating altogether.

•Travel. Travel anxieties and jet lag can also cause “period lag.” Travel can take a toll on a woman’s cycle and throw it out of sync. The result is that a once-predictable period may make its departure along with those flight plans, at least temporarily.

•Being Underweight or Overweight. From drastic weight loss to significant weight gain, any major changes in body weight can cause hormonal shifts and sideline your period. Low body weight and eating disorders in particular will effect cycles, as does obesity.

•Illness or Taking Medications. Missed periods can sometimes be the result of a brief illness like the flu or a really bad cold. Or it can be a side effect of a prescription medication. Consult your healthcare professional with any questions.

•The Age Factor. Irregular periods during the first year or two of menstruation are common among young girls. After that, a rhythm typically emerges. Then when women are in their 40s and 50s, they enter another period of irregular periods—perimenopause, the window of time before menopause. If you fall into either of these two age categories, your irregular periods may be just a normal part of womanhood.

•Miscalculation. Most women develop a feel for their flow. They generally know when to expect it, how long it will last and how heavy or light it will be. But unless you’re tracking your period’s arrival with the use of a calendar or an app, it’s easy to be “off” in your calculations (remember that stress we mentioned earlier?). Keeping a record of your menstrual cycle is a more reliable way to predict its arrival. It also provides your doctor with a history of your periods, which can be helpful if you think you’re irregular.

On Your Own Time
Our periods are as different as our personalities so don’t compare your cycle to anyone else’s. The best advice is to chat with your doctor if you’re concerned over any period or pattern of periods that are out of the ordinary for you.