If you aren’t pregnant, your menstrual cycle could be delayed because of a lot of stress or low weight. Certain diseases, like polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as well as diabetes and many others, may alter your menstrual cycle.
Are you worried about a missed or late period but aren’t pregnant? Late or missed periods can occur for a variety of reasons that are not related to pregnancy. The most common causes vary from hormonal imbalances to serious medical issues.
The findings of the research show that the rate of menstrual irregularities is 5-35.6%Trusted Source is based upon your gender, age work, and where you live.
There are two occasions when it’s normal for your cycle to be irregular. This is when it’s first beginning and when the menopausal transition begins. As your body undergoes the menopausal transition, your cycles may become irregular.
What is the normal time for an unplanned period to last?
The majority of women who aren’t yet in menopausal age usually have a cycle of about every 28 days. However, a normal menstrual cycle could last from 21 to 40 days.
If your Period Pain does not fall within the ranges listed above this could be due to one of the following causes.
Is it possible for a woman to have a late period and still not mean that you are pregnant?
Stress
Stressful times can disrupt your hormones, alter your routine and even impact your Trusted Source the portion of your brain that is responsible for controlling your period which is your hypothalamus. In time, stress may cause illnesses or sudden weight loss or gain and can affect your cycle.
If you suspect that stress could disrupt your cycle You can try relaxing methods and implementing changes in your lifestyle.
Chronic stress may also impact the health issues you’re dealing with, which is why addressing it by yourself or with the assistance of medical professionals is essential to taking charge of your overall well-being.
Body weight is low
Individuals with eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, might experience irregularities in their cycles. Being overweight could cause irregular menstrual cycles or even cause your cycle to stop completely. This is because insufficient body fat can cause ovulation to cease.
The treatment you receive to treat your disorder of eating and gaining to a point where your body fat is at its optimal is a great way to bring your cycle to its initial length.
Participants who engage in intense training, such as marathons, might also experience irregularities in their cycle.
Obesity
In the same way that having a body that isn’t at its best weight could trigger hormonal changes, having an excessive body weight could also lead to irregularities.
Obesity can cause your body to create an excess of estrogen, an important hormone for reproduction. The excess estrogen could cause irregularities in your cycle, and might even stop your menstrual cycle completely.
When your physician has concluded that obesity may be a contributing factor in your missed or late periods, they could recommend losing weight by making lifestyle adjustments like looking for foods that are rich in nutrients and working out.
PCOS is a form of polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS is an illness that causes your body to create more of the testosterone male hormone. The ovaries develop cysts due to the imbalance in hormones. It can cause irregular ovulation or cease completely.
Other hormones, for instance, insulin, can be affected by imbalances in other hormones, such as insulin. This can happen because of insulin resistance which is commonly linked to PCOS.
Treatment for PCOS concentrates on alleviating symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe birth control pills or other medications to regulate your cycle.
Birth control
There could be a shift in your cycle if you switch off or on birth control. Birth control pills contain hormones estrogen and progestin which stop your ovaries from releasing eggs.
It could take as long as 3 months before your period begins to be consistent following the time you stopped taking the medication.
Other contraceptives that are injected or implanted may cause missed periods too.
Chronic illnesses
Chronic illnesses, like celiac disease and diabetes, may also impact the menstrual cycle. The changes in blood sugar levels can be correlated to hormonal changes. Therefore, although it’s uncommon that diabetes is not properly controlled, it can cause your menstrual cycle to become irregular.
Celiac disease can cause inflammation, which can cause damage to the small intestine of your body that can stop your body from taking in essential nutrients. This can lead to Trusted Source irregular periods or missed ones.
Some other chronic illnesses that could cause irregularities in the cycle include:
- Cushing syndrome
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Asherman’s syndrome
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Menopausal symptoms are common among vagina-lovers between the ages of 45 and 55. People who experience symptoms at 40 years old or older may be suffering from primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopausal natural.
About 1% of women who are younger than 40 are affected by POI. The condition may arise due to the removal surgically of ovaries, other causes include genetic diseases and immune-mediated conditions.
If you’re experiencing missed menstrual cycles and you’re aged 40 or younger, call your physician to discuss POI tests and treatments.
Thyroid problems
The thyroid gland might be a reason for irregular or missed menstrual cycles.
The thyroid controls your body’s metabolism, and therefore hormone levels can also be affected. The thyroid issues are usually addressed with medication. Following treatment, your cycle is likely to resume your normal cycle.
Are I pregnant or is it just a little late?
If your cycle isn’t as regular and you believe you may be pregnant, conduct the pregnancy test. A majority of home tests are precise, however, if you suspect that your results are wrong, consult your doctor to have an examination of your urine or blood.
Certain signs of pregnancy during the initial six weeks following conception could also indicate that you may be expecting. If you’ve still not received your period in the past six weeks, it’s unlikely to be due to your natural fluctuations in the menstrual cycle.
When should you see your doctor?
If your cycles are irregular or you’ve missed your period but know that you’re not pregnant it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor immediately, since some numerous causes and factors may be causing the problem.
Your doctor will be able to determine the cause of your irregular or missed period, and also examine your options for treatment. If you’re able to keep track of your cycles’ changes along with other health-related changes. This will allow them to make an accurate diagnosis.
If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor right away or dial 911:
- unusually high-volume bleeding
- The fever
- extreme pain
- nausea and vomiting
- bleeding that lasts more than 7 days
- bleeding after you’ve entered menopausal and not had menstrual bleeding for at least one year
Takeaway
As each person is unique, each menstrual cycle is unique to each. Although 28 days is the standard duration of the cycle, cycles can last from 28 to 40 days.
Periodic irregularities in the cycle can occur due to a variety of causes such as stress, chronic weight, weight-stopping, or beginning birth control.
If you’ve noticed your cycle isn’t as regular lately, or if you’ve missed your period but can confirm that you’re not pregnant it’s a good idea to consult your doctor as soon as you notice. The sooner they can make an accurate diagnosis, the sooner you’ll be able to begin working on regulating your cycle once more.
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