Most women will experience a missed or late period at one time or another throughout their childbearing years. Having a delayed period can cause anxiety and worry, and can also be inconvenient for the woman. Typically, a woman's menstrual cycle is 28 to 35 days long, beginning with the first day of menstrual bleeding, and counted to the first day of the next menstrual period. In some cases, women may have shorter or longer menstrual cycles regularly. If you do not get your period when you expect it, there are multiple reasons why it may be late.
Pregnancy
One obvious reason for a menstrual period being late is that your are pregnant. During pregnancy, most women will not experience a menstrual period. Often, the first symptom that a woman notices is that her period does not arrive as expected. Other early symptoms of pregnancy include nausea, vomiting, tender breasts and fatigue. If you believe you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test or ask your doctor for a blood test. It is important to seek prenatal care early for your health and the health of your baby.
Delayed Ovulation
Each month, a woman's body prepares to ovulate, then releases an egg. Once the egg is released, her hormone levels change as her body prepares for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy did not occur, she gets her period between 10 and 16 days after ovulation.
If a woman ovulates later than what is normal for her, her period will be delayed. There are several reasons that ovulation may be delayed. One is emotional or physical stress. If you come down with the flu or lose your job, your brain may tell your ovaries to hold off on maturing and releasing an egg. Another reason that you may not ovulate is that you may have a temporary hormonal fluctuation.
Perimenopause
Some women, especially those in their late 30s or 40s, may experience missed or late periods often. If this is accompanied by sweating, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms normally associated with menopause, it may be perimenopause. This is a normal condition that begins to affect women several years before they enter menopause. If you are trying to conceive, or if secondary symptoms are bothering you, you should see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you are younger than your mid-30s, as this could indicate a hormonal problem, such as premature ovarian failure.
References
- Book: "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," Toni Weschler, M.D., 2006
- MayoClinic: Perimenopause
