While 28 days is often quoted as the average woman's menstrual cycle, the majority of women do not have a 28 day cycle. Your menstrual cycle may be any length from 16 to 40 days and still be perfectly healthy. While a missed period is one of the first signs of pregnancy, there are many other reasons why your period may be late. If you have had a negative pregnancy test, one of the following may be possible.
You Have Current Health Problems
A late period can be caused by recent stress on your body or mind. If you have gained or lost a lot of weight over the past month or if you have been ill recently, this may be the cause. Stressful situations like exams or a relationship breakup may also cause your period to be late. A late period may be a sign that you need to slow down, relax and take care of your health a little better.
Medication Changes
Starting or changing a number of medications may cause your period to be late. The contraceptive pill or the contraceptive injection are particularly likely to cause your menstrual cycle to change slightly. If you are concerned that this may be the cause of your late period, consult your medical professional.
Natural Hormonal Changes
At the beginning of a woman's menstruating years, her hormonal levels are likely to fluctuate. It can take a few years for a regular menstrual cycle to be established.
If you are older, you may be menopausal or peri-menopausal if your period is late. Peri-menopause is the period of time when a woman's hormonal levels change as she approaches menopause. Peri-menopause can last for up to ten years. During peri-menopause, periods can be heavier, lighter, more or less frequent and generally unpredictable. In very rare cases, menopause may begin in a woman's twenties. Consult your doctor if you think this may be the reason for your irregular periods.
Unnatural Hormonal Changes
Occasionally, consistently late or otherwise abnormal periods may be a symptom of breast, cervical or another gynecological form of cancer. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a more common cause of late periods; other symptoms include weight gain and overgrowth of body hair. Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus or womb, and they may also cause irregular periods. If you have irregular periods for a number of months, your doctor can perform tests to eliminate these possibilities.
