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The menstrual cycle occurs in all females from the onset of puberty (average age 11 or 12 years) and continues until the menopause at middle age. Each month, the uterus develops a deep, cushioned wall, ready to receive a fertilized embryo.
If pregnancy doesn’t take place, this cushioned lining is shed via vaginal bleeding.
Menstrual periods last anywhere from two to seven days and the average cycle is once every 28 days, although it can vary. Anywhere between 24 and 35 days is considered a normal cycle.
If you have a delayed menstrual cycle and it is usually regular, it can be a worry.
Causes of late periods are:
• Pregnancy
Sexually active women could be pregnant and it is in fact often the first sign that a woman is pregnant. By two weeks late, all home pregnancy tests should be able to detect HCG, the pregnancy hormone, in your urine.
In fact, most can detect it the day your period was due and some of the newer, early detection tests can test positive a few days before you would have had your period!
• Stress
If you’ve had a busy schedule or a family trauma, it can delay your period. Ironically, if you’ve had unprotected sex and are worrying about the possibility of pregnancy, the stress can stop your period and make you think you’re pregnant when you’re not.
• Just beginning to have periods
If you are a pre-teen or teenager who has just started menstruating, it is normal to have late periods or even to skip a few altogether because it can take your body several months to get into the rhythm of it.
• Weight loss
If you have suddenly lost a lot of weight through dieting, this can delay or stop your period. People with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa often cease to menstruate.
Even if you don’t have a specific eating disorder, a healthy diet is required for a healthy cycle. If you eat a lot of junk food, this could impact on your periods, so make sure you have plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and grains in your diet.
• Other medical conditions
Conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (cysts on the ovaries) can cause light periods that are irregular or stop altogether. Thyroid disorders can also cause it as the thyroid controls hormones and the menstrual cycle is dependent upon hormones.
Structural problems with the uterus and tumors, either benign or cancerous, are other possibilities.
• Iatrogenic complications (doctor caused illnesses)
Illnesses caused by doctors can result in a late or absent period, for instance. If you have had surgery to your uterus, such as dilation and curettage (D and C), this can cause widespread scarring. It can actually block off your cervix, cutting off your menstrual blood’s exit from your body.
The blood then backs up inside you and can cause infection. This is a potentially serious condition that requires medical attention to fix it. If you’ve had a D and C, a termination, removal of fibroids or tumors and you haven’t had a period since, see your doctor.
• Some types of contraception
The contraceptive injection, Depo-Provera, can cause delayed periods or stop them altogether. On the other hand, it can also make you bleed more heavily.
Some women will not have periods for the whole time they are being injected. Each injection provides contraception for three months and its effects and side effects can last 18 months or longer after the injections are stopped.
The pill and other hormonal contraceptives can also interrupt your cycle. There may be a delay in re-starting your period after stopping the pill.
• Being between 45-55 years of age
You may be approaching your menopause. In the initial time before the menopause, periods become more irregular and it is normal to be late with some and miss others as your ovulation gradually shuts down.
Sources:
Periods, Irregular, Causes, NHS Choices. Web. 23rd May 2012. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-irregular/Pages/Causes.aspx
Menstruation, absent, Medline Plus. Web. 23rd May 2012. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003149.htm
The Pill, University Health Services. Web. 23rd May 2012. http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/health-topics/womens-health/the-pill.shtml
Depo-Provera, Net Doctor. Web. 23rd May 2012. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/sex-and-relationships/medicines/depo-provera.html
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/ . She is the mother of five children and practices natural childbirth, delayed cord clamping, full term breastfeeding and organic food diet.
Reviewed May 23, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment25 Comments
My last period was on May 15 I haven't started I have done 10 test and no I'm not pregnant since today is July 6 I haven't started my period I don't know what should I do please help me out...
July 6, 2015 - 7:45pmThis Comment
Hi,
June 22, 2015 - 2:58amMy period is due this week according to my calendar. I am not sexually active but last week I let a guy finger me (not sure if he touched himself before touching me). I have been having heart burns (not frequently tho), no swollen/tender breast, no cramping, been really stressed at work and I don't have a regular sleeping habit.
Please what do you advise?
This Comment
There's only more or less 1% chance of getting pregnant without penetration since sperms can't travel that long. :)
June 27, 2016 - 11:48pmThis Comment
Are you kidding me?
November 17, 2015 - 8:56amThis Comment
You're probably not pregnant, sometimes worrying stresses you out more and may cause more of a delay . If you don't get it in a few days you can always take a pregnancy test , I would wait a week.
June 24, 2015 - 6:57amThis Comment
i had my period on april 4th saturday. i did have intercourse on april 11th(so a week after period) Later on approaching my period which was may 2nd (28 day cycle) my period didn't come. I wasn't worried but there were no signs of my period coming and pretty soon it was a week late. i did not take a pregnancy test bc i was scared. My period the past two cycles has came exactly on time. boom another week goes by( by this point it was may 16th!!) i was 2 weeks late and my period should have came may 2nd! My boobs were super big and was constipated! that day on may 16th i had walked so much on the boardwalk a good 2 hours maybe. Next day, my period showed up! I was so relieved. i don't know if it had anything to do with the walking because i don't do ANY exercise . So if anyones worried about their late period maybe its just one of those cycles! but if you want to know for sure take a test! :)
May 25, 2015 - 12:07pmThis Comment
My cycle started 5 days late in March it didn't show up at all in April but now its been 14 days after my normal date it shows upup tdy and I'm cramping worse than normal idk what this means cause I'm normally pretty regular but i have been sexually active is this sign of pregnancy or something else could someone please help me
May 4, 2015 - 4:31amThis Comment
I have been sexually active the past month and my menses
May 2, 2015 - 11:01pmHas delayed. Am still having cramps but no sore breast . The
Pregnancy strip is positive . I am stressed also . Am I really pregnant
This Comment
to know for sure, go see your Dr!
May 19, 2015 - 10:50pmThis Comment
This is the 3rd day my period is late. It has always came on time. Now I'm getting stressed and worried that something is wrong. I doubt I'm pregnant because I haven't been sexually active in the past few months. However when reading this article I realized that I have been under a lot of stress and also that my work schedule has definitely changed into much longer days which of course takes away from my bedtime schedule. I'm still stressed about it being late overall but I'm hoping and praying my body will get itself back together
March 29, 2015 - 6:54amThis Comment