Why is your period late?

You probably know the scenario. You look at your calendar and suddenly realize that something is missing. Your period hasn't come as it usually does. For some, your period works like clockwork . You know exactly when it's coming and can set the clock accordingly. For others, there are irregularities. And the arrival of your period can vary from month to month.

No matter where you are on the menstrual regularity spectrum, you may find that your period is late (or actually, a little spoiler - it's not your period that's late - but your ovulation that is).

But how and why can this happen? There can be several reasons for this, and we will go over them in this article. If you are currently Googling your life away because you are nervous? Rest assured, my friend, it can be completely normal for your period to be late.

What are the reasons for delayed menstruation?

There can be many very different reasons why your period is late. Or rather, ovulation is. So let's get this straight first: It's never your period that's late - even though it's the physiological part of your cycle that you're waiting for. It's actually your ovulation that's late.

The number of days from your first day of bleeding to your ovulation can vary. But the number of days from your ovulation to your period is always the same number of days for you specifically. It is unique to you.

That is, if your ovulation is a little late compared to your normal - then your period will be too. It all shifts based on your ovulation. Does that make sense? For me, it was a pretty big new learning experience about my own body, because we are so used to hearing “my period is late”. That is at best half the truth, because it is of course delayed when your ovulation is. That is what shifts the whole thing.

But how do you find out how many days pass between your ovulation and your period? Only by tracking your cycle and body symptoms closely; i.e. temperature, discharge pattern and possibly cervix.
But now to the question: Why can it all shift? In short, it can be pregnancy, changes in your lifestyle and hormones, stressful periods or the use of medication. Below we describe the typical reasons.

Your period may be late because you are pregnant.

The most obvious, and for some a fear scenario and for others a dream scenario, is that you are pregnant. If you are pregnant , your egg has been fertilized, and instead of your body shedding the egg and the lining of your uterus, which results in menstruation, your egg will continue to develop and become a fetus. Therefore, your period will not occur.

If your period has not yet come and you are considering that you may be pregnant, it may be a good idea to confirm or deny that you are pregnant. You can buy pregnancy tests in most supermarkets, pharmacies and some kiosks that can quickly give you an answer to your condition. Some of these tests can even give you an answer to whether you are pregnant, 4 days before your period is due.

If you are nervous about pregnancy, a pregnancy test can give you peace of mind, and if it is negative, you can investigate further what the reason behind your delayed period is once you have ruled out pregnancy as a possibility.

Your period is late because you've been stressed.

Stress is the body's healthy and natural reaction to a prolonged stress that you have been under. But once the body is stressed, the body is affected on many levels. High levels of stress can affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates hormones. It is the hormones that control the menstrual cycle . If stress affects your hormone balance, it can delay or stop your period temporarily.

In addition, the body can postpone your ovulation (and therefore menstruation) as a defense mechanism for the body. It is simply a way for the body to protect itself, and where it goes into a form of emergency. Instead of focusing on reproducing itself, it must instead prioritize survival. It requires an insane amount of energy from the body to maintain the reproductive processes and make a human being. and therefore menstruation is delayed or absent. Actually quite smart and incredibly wise of the body.

Your weight has changed

Have you experienced major fluctuations in your weight? Lost or gained weight very quickly? Weight can disrupt the body's hormonal balance and lead to irregular menstrual cycles.

You have been exercising a lot.

If you've started exercising intensely (and perhaps haven't been eating enough), it can affect your menstrual cycle and cause your period to be late or absent altogether. It's a bit like what happens when you're stressed. If you exercise extremely hard, your body goes into emergency mode and tells you that now is not the right time to have a baby. It's focused on survival.

It is not uncommon for top athletes to experience a missed period - it's actually a bit crazy to think that the body can be under so much pressure that it cannot allocate resources to have a period.

You have undergone lifestyle changes

Overall, lifestyle changes can be the reason why your period is different and delayed. It could be that you have gained weight, lost weight, changed your exercise routine, had difficulty sleeping, traveled a lot through different time zones, experienced stress or been under pressure.

Most of us know it; heartbreak, despair over life choices or great pressure from school or work. Cold water in the blood, because the body can withstand short periods of pressure or stress, so don't let a delayed period be another stress factor. A missed period is a symptom that you should be aware of, but which you can also keep an eye on over a few weeks/months. Does it improve? Otherwise, you should talk to your doctor.

Your body is in hormonal imbalance

The cycle is controlled by hormones, and there can be many reasons why your hormones are out of balance, as described above. However, you could also be suffering from a condition called PCOS, which can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to delayed or missed periods. Keep track of your period and see your doctor if you suspect you have a hormone-disrupting condition.

For example, if you have been on birth control pills for many years, your hormonal imbalance may have been dormant due to the artificial hormones. You may not even have discovered that you have a hormonal imbalance yet if you have been taking hormonal contraception for many years.

You have changed your contraceptive or medication

Have you stopped taking birth control pills? Have you had an IUD inserted? Have you started taking a new type of medication? All of these can affect your menstrual cycle and be the reason your period is late.

You are entering menopause.

At some point, you will experience your very last period . You don't know exactly when it will happen, but all good things come to an end. But in the years leading up to your last period, you will experience more and more irregular periods. This happens as your body begins to produce less estrogen and progesterone. This is completely normal, although it can also be a bit frustrating.

You have been sick.

Completely normal illnesses such as the flu and fever or other more serious illnesses can affect your menstrual cycle because the body focuses on fighting the illness rather than prioritizing the reproductive processes. A bit like stress. It's actually crazy to think about, isn't it? Month after month, our body uses enormous resources during our cycle - but when the body is under pressure in other areas, it can't always "prioritize" maintaining your natural cycle.

In short,

There are many reasons why your period may be late, and in some situations it can be difficult to find out exactly what the reason behind the delayed period is. As mentioned, it does not have to be anything serious, and therefore you can largely take it easy if it is not clear to you what the reason is.

Consider it a symptom, your body is signaling something - but sometimes you need time to observe and learn what it is saying and see the connection. Other times it will go away on its own and your body will return to its usual cycle length and menstruation.

However, it is important that you keep an eye on your body, your symptoms and ask yourself how you are feeling. And as a general rule - if your period has not come for three months and you have ruled out the possibility of pregnancy, you should see a doctor. Remember that <3

What if menstruation doesn't come at all?

If your period completely fails to arrive, it's a good idea to ask yourself a number of questions. Are you pregnant? Have you experienced increased stress lately? Have you been eating differently than usual? Have you been exercising more than usual? Have you been or felt sick? Has something been bothering you? These questions can help you get a better idea of ​​what could be behind your missed period.

According to Sundhed.dk, 8% of women aged 16-24 experience that their period does not appear within a year. Therefore, they also recommend that you keep an eye on your health and your body. And if your period does not appear for more than three months, you should call your doctor and make an appointment. This is a sign that it is a good idea to examine your body and the reason for the missing periods.

Learn more about your period with Flow

At Flow, we deal with menstruation all day long. And our most important goal is to make menstruation comfortable through our menstrual panties, and also to make ourselves wise about everything that has to do with menstruation. We share all the knowledge we collect with you in our Flow Journal. Here you can read short and long about menstruation and get answers to a lot of questions, such as whether it is a good idea to exercise when you are on your period and how mood and menstruation are actually connected. Read along here .