Reasons For Late Period

The first thing that comes to the mind of most women when their period is delayed is 'am I pregnant?' However, what one must understand is that having a delayed period does not necessarily mean that one has conceived. Rather there are several different reasons that can cause delay in one's periods. Amenorrhea is the term used to explain the condition of delayed period. However, before we go into details about delayed periods, let us try to understand the menstrual cycle and how it works.

The Menstrual Cycle

Normally, the length of the menstrual cycle is twenty eight days. However, this need not be the same for all women. There are many women whose menstrual cycle is anywhere between 18 and 35 days. Every month the body gets ready for pregnancy, when ovulation occurs on the fourteenth day from the day of the first period. However, when the egg is not fertilized during that period, it begins to disintegrate and the woman gets her period after fourteen days. This is not similar in the case of every woman. A woman's periods depend on her day of ovulation. Women who have irregular periods may not really ovulate on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, instead it could be somewhere between the 8th and 20th day. Nevertheless, even women who have irregular periods may have some idea of her menstrual cycle and when she is likely to have her periods. So, when the periods get delayed for more than it actually does, it is necessary to get a check up done to know the cause of its delay.

Reasons for Delay in Periods

• One of the main reasons for such delay is pregnancy. Therefore, if you are sexually active, it is really important to get a pregnancy check up done if you have missed your period. Even if you have been using contraceptives to prevent getting pregnant, it is necessary to do a check up, as there are chances that the contraceptives have failed.
• If your pregnancy test result is negative or if there is no chance of your becoming pregnant, the next step will be to look for the real cause of delayed periods. One other reason could be polycystic ovarian disease. This problem is caused due to some kind of hormonal imbalance, where women experience irregular ovulation which causes delay in menstrual periods. Your gynecologist will recommend certain medical tests to check whether you have this problem. If you are diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease, with proper treatment this can be cured and your periods will be back to normal.
• Certain types of contraception can also be one of the reasons for a missed period. There have been cases where women taking contraceptives that were implanted, oral or injected, and have experienced delayed periods. Therefore, it is extremely important that you consult your gynecologist before taking any type of contraceptive pills or any other method to avoid pregnancy temporarily. Sometimes, medications taken for other diseases like chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants can also lead to delayed periods.
• Weight can also be the cause of having delayed periods. Overweight women may experience irregular or delayed periods, because too much weight can lead to a significant change in the menstrual cycle. In the same way, women who are underweight also have problems in their menstrual cycle. Women who suffer from eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia usually have very less body fat, which is one of the reason for irregular periods, sometimes even stopping them altogether. Hence, the solution for weight problem is that overweight women should try reducing their weight while those who are under weight should try to gain more body fat to regularize their periods.
• One of the reasons your period can be late is menopause. Women in the age group of 40 - 50 are said to be in their menopausal stage, where they would see an irregularity in their menstrual cycle. Women who are in their peri-menstrual stage, which is a transition period between their reproductive and non-reproductive stage may also experience delayed periods.
• The menstrual cycle takes time to normalize after it starts, and so the initial years after the inception of periods, a young girl will see an irregular pattern in her menstrual cycle. Women who indulge in rigorous exercises can experience irregular periods too. It has been observed that athletes who exercise regularly, and also dancers, suffer from the problem of delayed periods.
• Women suffering from acute or chronic diseases are also said to experience irregular or delayed periods. However, this is only temporary, and once they are cured of the illness, their periods return to normal. Having an undiagnosed thyroid problem can also be the reason for having delayed periods.
• Other reasons for a delayed period include emotional stress or anxiety. Women who have a hectic schedule and lifestyle may sometimes face the problem. When a woman is facing some kind of anxiety or stress, it leads to some hormonal change in her body, directly affecting her menstrual cycle.

So, the next time your period is delayed, do not panic, but consult your gynecologist who will help you in finding the root cause of the problem.