Why Is My Period Late? 8 Reasons Besides Pregnancy

Normal Menstrual Cycle Length

The menstrual cycle is the time starting from the day you get your period to the first day of your forthcoming period. A normal menstrual cycle length is typically 28 days. For some, this cycle length could even be up to 40 days.

What is a Late Period?

If you don’t get your period on the due date and it is delayed by several weeks or even months, it can be assumed that you are experiencing the issue of a late period or late menstruation. The various late period symptoms include:

• Period not coming for over a month

• Unexplained weight gain or loss

• Unexplained hair growth

• Sudden onset of acne

• Lengthy periods lasting for more than 7 days

• Excessive cramps during periods

• Bleeding or spotting between two periods

Reasons For Late Period

Pregnancy is one of the most obvious reasons for your periods not coming. But what if you are not pregnant< and still have not got your periods on the due date, then you could be experiencing the issue of late periods. Here are some reasons for a late period other than pregnancy:

1. The Woman’s Age

Age is one of the prominent factors leading to irregularities in your menstrual cycle. Missing periods or having late periods is common for young girls who have just started menstruating. This kind of roller coaster continues for about five to six years from the time menstruation starts for the first time. Once your body becomes accustomed to the hormonal changes occurring during menstruation, you start having a smoother and more consistent menstrual pattern. Disturbances start again as you near menopause. The perimenopausal stage is the transitional phase before actual menopause. During this time, a woman may experience late period symptoms.

2. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

This is a hormonal condition that can lead to late periods. PCOS affects a woman’s capacity to ovulate, and without ovulation, getting a period is impossible. Women with PCOS also have additional follicles, which affect the length of menstrual cycle, causing late menstruation.

3. Excessive Stress

If you are experiencing high stress levels, you may experience the problem of late periods. Too much stress can affect the part of brain that controls the pituitary gland. We all know that the pituitary gland plays a pivotal role in controlling the hormones of your body. If there is a malfunction of your pituitary gland, the hormonal cycles are disrupted, affecting your menstrual cycle, too. In other words, stress may lead to late periods.

4. Obesity

Excessive body weight or obesity may affect your menstrual cycle. Obesity leads to an overproduction of oestrogen, which in turn produces late period symptoms. Therefore, maintaining a healthy body weight is important if you wish to regularise your menstrual cycle

5. Excessively Underweight

People who are excessively underweight are likely to have the problem of delayed periods. Individuals with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa are often excessively underweight and frequently experience late periods. The primary reason behind this is that without sufficient body fat, ovulation does not occur, and without ovulation, periods do not occur.

6. Hormonal Birth Control/Contraceptive Pills

Hormonal birth control or contraceptive pills contain oestrogen and progestin, and they function by suppressing ovulation. This is why such pills affect your menstrual cycle, producing late period symptoms.

7. Irregular Sleep Patterns

Women with irregular sleep patterns or sleep insufficiency are likely to experience irregular or late periods. When you are sleep-deprived, your melatonin levels are badly affected. The hormone melatonin plays a vital function in regulating the start and length of your menstrual cycle. Therefore, changes in melatonin levels can definitely be one of the reasons for a late period other than pregnancy.

8. Thyroid Gland Malfunction

This butterfly-shaped gland in the neck secretes certain hormones that regulate metabolism and vital bodily functions. If you are suffering from thyroid gland issues, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, you are likely to experience symptoms of late periods.