Did you know that a healthy regular period in women is considered 21-35 days long, however, some women experience a 21 days menstrual flow while most women experience 28 days menstrual flow, if you have a menstrual cycle that falls within these days (28,29,30 or even 35 days) it’s still regular.
Experiencing distress that comes with late or missed periods can be emotionally draining, more especially after having an unprotected intercourse with your partner.
Over time, discovery has shown various reasons for delayed or late periods other than pregnancy. The absence of menstrual flow is called amenorrhea. Young women or girls who haven’t started their periods by the age of 15 and women who have missed three or more periods in a row is likely to suffer from amenorrhea.
You may miss a period for one or two months, or you may experience complete amenorrhea that is, no period for three or more months in a row.
Although, pregnancy is one of the most common cause of a missed period, but, there are also some other medical and lifestyle factors that can affect your menstrual cycle. Extreme weight loss, hormonal irregularities, and menopause are among the most common causes if you’re not pregnant.
There are various possible causes of delayed or missing periods:
- change of diet
- stress
- hormonal contraceptives
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- change in body weight
- hormonal imbalance
- pregnancy
- menopause
8 Possible Reasons for a Delayed Periods
1. Stress
Unarguably, stress is one most common factor of delayed or missed periods. I remember one certain event preparation of my cousin’s wedding ceremony, yeah, I kinda was the event planner, but it was stressful and enjoyable at the same time; going with the bride to try her dress, cake testing and we had to visit the market frequently, speak to different vendors and all. I missed my period that month and also fell ill.
Both physical and psychological stress can cause a delayed period. You might be experiencing some mental stress or emotional stress, these could lead to delayed or missed periods
Research has shown that intense stress interrupts the production of gonadotropin (GnRH); a hormone that regulates ovulation and the menstrual cycle.
Additionally, missing one period while going through a very stressful situation is unarguably very common. However, if you’re under prolonged stress and miss more than one period, consider scheduling a visit with your healthcare provider.
2. Sickness
Did you know that illnesses could be associated with delayed periods, chronic issues that can affect the menstrual cycle such as;
- Thyroid disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Pituitary tumors (which may or may not be cancer)
- Diseases of the adrenal gland
- Ovarian cysts
- Liver dysfunction
- Diabetes
Also, severe illness, such as pneumonia, a heart attack, kidney failure, or meningitis, can result in rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or hormone dysfunction. These conditions can also result in a missed period.
However, illnesses and disorders can interfere with your menstrual cycle until they have been cured. Once the existing issue is resolved, it could few months before your period returns again.
3. Drugs/ Medications
Definitely, various kind of drugs or medications can cause delayed or missed periods, in-fact, there are medications women uses to induce their periods ( you could talk to your physician about this).
Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, and some chemotherapy medications, can cause your period delayed or missed.
4. Weight Change
Trying a new meal plan weight loss or gain, or engaging in a daily workout can cause weight change of the body and this can affect your menstrual cycle.
Being overweight, underweight, or experiencing drastic changes in weight all impact your cycle. Obesity influences estrogen and progesterone regulation and may even lead to issues with fertility.
A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with missed periods, and weight loss can help regulate the menstrual cycle for women who are obese.
Being severely underweight interferes with regular menstrual cycles as well. When the body lacks fat and other nutrients, it cannot produce hormones the way it should.
5. Contraceptives
Most ladies who use the morning after pills or post pills usually experience delayed period, often times, the periods may come earlier than usual or may not be seen at all.
Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. It can take up to six months for your cycle to become consistent again after stopping the pill. Other types of contraceptives that are implanted or injected can cause missed periods as well.
6. Over Exercising
Exercise can cause changes in pituitary hormones and thyroid hormones, which has impact on ovulation and menstruation. Working out for one or two hours per day shouldn’t affect your menstrual cycle. But engaging in hours upon hours of exercise every day can cause hormonal changes to occur.
If you are considering on exercising that much, you should consult with a sports medicine healthcare provider. Their job is to help your body support all of the physical demands that you are putting on it. This may include:
- Optimizing your diet with nutritious foods that boost your energy
- Teaching you stretching techniques to reduce physical stress
- Performing blood tests to check for iron or vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, dehydration, and more
7. New Periods
A healthy regular period in women is considered 21-35 days long, however, some women experience a 21 days menstrual flow while most women experience 28 days menstrual flow. This is especially true for young women who are just starting to get their periods, or for women who have not had periods for several years and are starting again.
A young woman who has only had a few cycles may go months without another one until a regular pattern begins.
And women who have not had a period due to contraceptive use, hormonal therapy, or illness may not resume regular, monthly periods right away.
8. Breastfeeding
You may have light periods, infrequent periods, or amenorrhea when breastfeeding,12particularly if breastfeeding provides your baby with all or almost all of their calories.
Many women believe that breastfeeding is a form of birth control, but it’s not. Even if you don’t have periods when you are breastfeeding, you can get pregnant. If you are not ready for another child, you should still use a contraceptive.
Disclaimer: The information published in this article is purely for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not intend to diagnose, treat or cure any disease and should not be treated as medical advice.
