A late period can be caused by hormonal changes due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or contraception, as well as diet and exercise. Medical conditions such as thyroid disease, a pituitary tumor, or polycystic ovary syndrome can also cause irregular periods. Women should take a pregnancy test if they have had sex recently, and those who have recently had a baby and are breastfeeding should not be concerned about a delayed period. Women who have changed their diet or exercise routine may also experience a delayed period. Medical conditions should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
Many women worry when their period is late, but it could be due to a variety of reasons, most of which aren’t considered particularly harmful. One of the most common reasons for a period delay is a hormonal change, which can be due to pregnancy, breastfeeding or some types of contraception. Diet and exercise can also delay your period, as too much exercise and too little food can cause your body to temporarily stop menstruating. There are also some conditions that can cause irregular periods, such as thyroid disease, a pituitary tumor or polycystic ovary syndrome.
One of the most common reasons for a period delay is pregnancy, which is why women who had sex in the months leading up to their period delay should have a pregnancy test. If it’s negative and they’ve recently started a new type of hormonal birth control, it should be noted that this can cause a delay in your period. Affected women can read the packaging of their birth control or ask a doctor to make sure this is the problem. Women who have recently had a baby and are breastfeeding should know that they probably won’t get their period until the baby is weaned, so a delayed period isn’t typically a cause for concern in these cases.
If a period is delayed at about the same time a woman changes her diet or exercise routine, this can be a strong indicator of the probable cause. This is especially true in women trying to lose weight, as insufficient nutrients and excessive physical activity are some of the possible causes of a late period. Even women who are done losing weight may notice this problem if their weight is too low for their height, as a good amount of body fat is usually needed for menstruation. If the body has trouble surviving on its current amount of fat, it will begin shutting down systems to conserve energy, and menstruation is often one of the first events the body will stop. This is because it is not considered necessary for the body to survive, which is why gaining weight and getting enough nutrients should bring menstruation back.
There are also some medical conditions that are considered reasons for a late period, with polycystic ovary syndrome being common. This is also usually referred to as PCOS and is a hormonal imbalance that can cause infertility, thinning hair and irregular periods. On the other hand, some women develop a tumor on the pituitary gland that stimulates the body to produce prolactin, resulting in a delay in menstruation. Also, a problem with the thyroid gland is one of the possible reasons for a late period. Seeing a doctor can lead to the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions.
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