Every woman’s who’s ever had a period worried about late periods, at one point in their lives. The feeling women experience when their period is late is a unique blend of horror and terror mixt with cold sweat and tears. If you’re not planning to have baby, that is… But did you know that there are so many other reasons, aside from pregnancy, why your period could be late? A while back we shared with you some food remedies that reduce PMS symptoms and today we’ll take a look at some reasons your period is late. Don’t worry, pregnancy is just one of them!
10. Miscalculation
Before you start freaking out that your period is late, sit down, grab a calendar and calculate again. The average menstrual cycle is indeed 28 days long, but that can vary from woman to woman. Get an app that will calculate for you and track your menstrual cycle. They are incredibly helpful and some are even free.
9. Your Weight
Did you know that being overweight or obese can shift and even stop your cycles? The same can happen if you are underweight. Having too little body fat can result in irregular periods or no periods at all. Try to maintain a healthy weight and have a BMI in between 18.5 to 24.9. This will not only regulate your period, but it will also keep you away from developing a heart disease and diabetes.
8. Change in Routine
Changes in your daily routine can really throw off your body and your menstrual cycles. Have you changed your workplace? Are your nights more active than they used to be? Are you traveling more? Have you introduced new routines in your life? If you have, then it can be the cause behind your period being late.
7. Peri-Menopause
Peri-menopause is the period of time when women are transitioning into menopause. Going into menopause doesn’t just happen in a matter of days. It can take years for it to completely take place. During peri-menopause your periods can be lighter and less frequent. If you are in your late forties, then most likely you are going through the change. Check with your doctor to see if everything is alright.
6. Illness
Illness can really take a toll on your body and menstrual cycle. And it doesn’t even have to be something serious, because in some cases, even a common cold or flu can cause your period to be late. It should all return to normal when you’re healthy again, but if it doesn’t then maybe you should go see a doctor.
5. Medication
One of the most common reasons your period is late is medication. Are you taking medicine for a condition that you might have? If the answer is yes and your period is late, then maybe those pills have something to do with it. Always read the instructions and side-effects list when taking medication, so that you know how they can impact your body.
4. Excessive Workout
If you’ve been hitting the gym hard lately and your period is late, the two might be linked. Training for a marathon? Have you introduced an intense exercise routine? Your period is most likely thrown off track by all that intense working out and will be delayed for some days, even up to a week!
3. Menopause
Whether you like to admit it or not, menopause can be a reason why your period is late. No longer ovulating means that you no longer have to shed the lining of your uterus every month, which adds up to no menstruation. As we’ve mentioned before, this is a long and quite arduous process and the average American woman enters menopause at the age of 50.
2. Stress
Stress is a silent killer. It can cause several diseases and health issues, from hair loss to diabetes. If you’ve been stressed lately and you’re missing your period, then stress is very likely to be the culprit. When our bodies are stressed, the amount of GnRH hormone decreases and this translates into not ovulating or menstruating. It can take a while for your body to relax and begin menstruate after intense stress.
1. Pregnancy
Well, this had to be on our list! The number one reason your period might be late is pregnancy. If you’ve had unprotected sex during the last month, there is a chance you might be pregnant. Set your mind at ease and take a home pregnancy test. It should tell you in a matter of seconds if you should start buying baby clothes or making an appointment to your local abortion clinic.
Would you like to add any more reasons your period is late? If you would like to share your story below, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comment section below and we’ll spark up a conversation.
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