#AskHauterfly: Why Is My Period Late?

#AskHauterfly: Why Is My Period Late?

Have you ever visited the bathroom with anticipation? Thinking you’ve got your period, you you grab a tampon, and pull your panties down and… NOTHING! Now you’re stressed ’cause it’s already a week too late. You know for a fact that you’re not pregnant, so what could it be?

Turns out there are a whole bunch of reasons for a late period. So, don’t panic yet. Here’s why your period might be delayed.

Delayed Period Weight Gain

1. Extreme Weight Loss Or Weight Gain

If you’ve gained or lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, you could experience delayed or missed periods. In case of extreme weight loss, your body won’t release the oestrogen, which is needed to build the lining of the uterus, for you to have a period. On the other hand, gaining a lot of weight can cause your body to produce too much oestrogen.

If you are overweight, a balanced diet and regular exercise will help fix the problem, and put your period cycle back on track. If you are underweight, however, just ensure that you are getting enough nutrition.

Delayed Period Unhealthy Diet

2. An Unhealthy Diet

Even if your weight is fairly average, a really bad diet that looks like this – Breakfast: Donuts, Lunch: Skipped, Dinner: McDonalds, Midnight snack: Doritos and Ben and Jerry’s – could be the cause of your late or skipped period.

A healthy meal plan is required for a regular cycle. So make sure to include fruits and veggies, protein, fibre and healthy fats in your daily diet.

Delayed Period Excessive Exercise

3. Excessive Exercise

Extreme exercise can lead to menstrual cycle irregularities. If you’re forcing yourself to train through injuries/ sickness, or you’re training too hard and not getting enough calories, your body won’t produce enough oestrogen and you might not get your period on time. Avoid over-exercising, and try not to diet excessively.

Delayed Period Stress

4. Stress

Emotional stress as well physical stress to the body, is the second most common cause of late or missed periods. Any life event like a break-up, a move, a new job, a death of a loved one could cause your period to come late or not come at all.

The only way to cure this is to try stress management techniques, such as doing meditation or yoga, maintaining a gratitude journal, doing some regular exercise – a walk in the park or anything that helps you break out of your daily chores and routine. It is all about taking some time out for yourself, and zoning out of your usual day to day thoughts and routine.

Delayed Period Birth Control

5. Birth Control

Birth control pills cause an imbalance in your hormones, which often makes your period irregular or lighter. It could even lead to a skipped period or no period at all. Various contraceptives can mess up your flow, and even when you stop using them, it could take a while for your period to come back to normal.

Delayed Period PCOD

6. Medical Conditions Like PCOD

Any medication, illness, or sickness can impact the menstrual cycle and cause it to be late or not to show up at all. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition that causes tiny cysts to form on the ovaries, and is one of the most common causes for late periods these days. A thyroid irregularity such as an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also cause changes to your period. Other health conditions that may cause an irregular cycle include sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, fibroids, eating disorders, and endometriosis.

It’s imperative that you visit your doctor and get these treated at the earliest. Many of them can just be fixed with the right diet and exercise.

7. Change in Schedule

Our bodies don’t really like change. Any change to your regular routine like the time you wake up/sleep, your shifts at work, starting a new job, or turning vegan abruptly can impact your cycle and throw it off until your routine returns to normal or your body gets used to the change. Even jet lag can throw off your menstrual cycle, so if you’ve been travelling recently, that could be the reason your period is late.

These lifestyle factors impact on your menstrual cycle, creating hormonal imbalance. However, once your body adjusts to the new pattern, everything should be back to normal.

Kreena Desai

Hauterfly's Content Writer and Video Producer, Kreena is a sucker for all things DIY. In love with nail art, beauty, fashion, textiles, and all things creative under the sun, she follows the mantra: Why buy, when you can DIY?!

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