Every woman has experienced at least one episode where her period was late. It's natural for thoughts of concern to arise, including the idea of pregnancy, which is the most common cause of menstrual irregularities. However, the body’s hormonal balance can be affected by other factors you might not have considered, such as intense physical activity, sudden weight loss, or stress. All these elements can contribute to a delay in menstruation.

Typically, a menstrual cycle occurs monthly, lasting between 3 to 7 days. A woman may have between 11 and 13 periods per year, depending on the length of her menstrual cycle. But these calculations may change when menstrual irregularities occur.

In this article, you'll find information about delayed or absent menstruation—medically known as amenorrhea—how to calculate your menstrual cycle, and what steps to take if you're facing these issues.

The Main Causes of a Delayed Period

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most common reason for a late period. For sexually active individuals, the menstrual cycle often stops suddenly when the egg is fertilized. If you're otherwise healthy, the easiest way to unravel the mystery is to take a pregnancy test.

Breastfeeding

Women who are breastfeeding may experience menstrual irregularities for quite some time. Although the menstrual cycle will gradually return, there is still a possibility of delayed periods while breastfeeding.

Sudden Weight Loss or Gain

Rapid changes in weight can affect your body’s proper functioning, which often shows up as menstrual irregularities. Significant weight loss in a short period can lead to delayed periods, and the same goes for rapid weight gain. Both extremes—being underweight or having excess weight—disrupt hormone levels, potentially causing irregularities in your cycle.

Intense Sports or High-Intensity Physical Activity

Women who participate in high-performance sports often experience delayed periods. If you've been hitting the gym more than usual, overexerting yourself physically, and notice your period is late, this could be the cause. The reason is simple: the body tries to prevent ovulation and estrogen secretion to conserve energy during intense physical exertion.

Stress

We live in an era where stress is omnipresent, often even when we don't realize it. High levels of stress have an aggressive impact on the body and can lead to irregularities in the menstrual cycle, as stress acts on the hypothalamus—the part of the brain responsible for hormone activity.

Contraceptives or Other Medications

If you've been on birth control pills and recently stopped taking them, your periods may be delayed. Over time, your cycle will regulate itself as the body resumes its natural ovulation process. Hormonal disturbances can also occur due to other medication treatments.

Menopause and Perimenopause

Ever wondered why women can become irritable during their periods? The answer lies in premenstrual syndrome (PMS)—a range of symptoms that can occur before menstruation. When approaching menopause, during the premenopausal stage, the body undergoes changes as estrogen levels decrease, causing ovulation to become increasingly irregular. Menstrual symptoms may start to fade, replaced by menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and constant fatigue. During this transition, your period may become quite delayed and irregular.

How to Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle

It's important to know the date of your last period so you can calculate your menstrual cycle. The cycle length is the number of days between the start of one period and the start of the next. On average, this duration is 28 days, though it can range from 21 to 35 days. A period is considered late if it has not appeared 5-7 days after the expected date.

What to Do If You Notice Irregularities

Regardless of whether you identify with any of the common causes mentioned above, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional—your general physician, gynecologist, or endocrinologist—if you notice any menstrual irregularities. They will be able to provide guidance on the next steps.