Late Period on Birth Control

Birth control, as the name suggests is the way of preventing unwanted pregnancy. Today, there are actually a number of birth control methods which one can choose according to one's requirement and convenience. Some of the most common birth control methods include condoms, birth control pills, diaphragm, spermicide, etc. All these methods can help in preventing conception, when used in the right way. However, there are women who do not have their period, even when they are on birth control. This can be a matter of concern because having late period or missing one is often associated with pregnancy. Nevertheless, having late period need not indicate pregnancy alone. Rather, there are several reasons that can cause a person to have missed a period, while using birth control methods. So, let us take a look at some other reasons for late period.

Female Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation
Before, we go into the reasons for late period, it is extremely important to know how exactly the female reproductive system works. Though normally, a woman's menstrual cycle extends for 28 days, this need not be same for everyone. Rather, there are women who follow a 21 or a 35 days menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is divided into two phases which include the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase can be described as the time when the period begins and lasts till the day of ovulation. On the other hand, the luteal phase is when ovulation occurs and lasts till the time of the next period. If the egg which is released is fertilized by the sperm, conception occurs. However, if this does not happen, the egg disintegrates and after two weeks, the thick uterus lining sheds and the woman has her periods. Using birth control helps in controlling the sperm by preventing it from reaching the egg. Due to this, fertilization does not occur and the woman has her periods regularly. Nevertheless, there have been cases when the woman has missed her period, even when she was using one of the birth control options. Let us take a look at the reasons that can cause this problem.

Reasons for Getting a Late Period
If you have a late period while on birth control pills, do not jump to the conclusion that you are pregnant. This is because there are other factors that can cause the periods to delay, even when one is on birth control. Here are some of the reasons that have to be considered when one has missed one's period, even while using birth control options.

Miscalculation: One of the common causes of late period is miscalculation of dates. As I said earlier, not all women follow the 28 days menstrual cycle. In such circumstances, ovulation may not occur exactly 14 days after the first day of the periods. Rather, it is said that the follicular phase during which the egg is prepared to be released does not have a set time. So, if you have a 35 days menstrual cycle, your ovulation date may not be the same as for those who have a 28 days menstrual cycle and this can cause periods to delay.

Lack of Ovulation: Another reason that can cause late or missed period, is lack of ovulation. There can be months when ovulation does not occur and when this happens the hormones which are triggered during the luteal phase are not released, due to which the periods are delayed. Some of the reasons that can cause ovulation to delay, include emotional stress, too much physical activity, medications, sudden changes in weight, etc.

Additional Reasons: Apart from the above given reasons, it has also been observed that women who have been taking birth control pills for a long time can experience late or missed periods, once in a while. Also, women who have stopped taking birth control pills as well as those who have switched into some other type of birth control pills, may also experience the problem of delayed or missed periods. Other than this, women who are near their perimenopause or menopause stage can also experience missed or late periods on birth control.

Though the above given reasons can cause late period on birth control, one thing that women should remember is that no birth control method is 100% effective. Hence, there is still a tiny chance of getting pregnant, even while one is on birth control. So, when you have missed your period while on contraception, it would be a good idea to get a pregnancy test done at home. If you are not able to find the reason for late period, then consult your gynecologist who can find the root cause of the problem.