You have a fairly regular cycle, but this month, your period is late. You took a pregnancy test and it is negative. Don't panic! This situation is often harmless and a spontaneous return to normal appears after a few days of patience... Do you want to know more and understand the reasons for this disruption? This article is for you! Discover all the causes of menstrual disorders and avoid unnecessary stress.

What is a late period?

Did you know? The expected dates of periods are not an exact science, quite the contrary. It differs from one woman to another, which is why, for people who usually have regular cycles, you have to wait 3 to 5 days of amenorrhea before talking about a late period. For women with more irregular cycles, you have to wait 7 days before saying that your period has returned.

Want to understand why? In fact, in this specific case, ovulation can occur a little later, at a shifted date. And this is even more common as menopause approaches.

Late period and pregnancy test false negatives

As you know, a positive pregnancy test indicates the presence of a specific hormone: HCG. Thanks to this marker, the woman is sure of her condition. However, a negative test done at home can be misleading… In some cases, the person is pregnant despite the result.

As you will have understood, in case of doubt, it is better to contact a doctor or a gynecologist to carry out a health check. It is also necessary to do a blood test to check the presence or absence of a pregnancy.

Periods and pregnancy the important points

In principle, pregnancy causes amenorrhea. That is to say, a cessation of menstruation. These will return after the baby arrives, approximately 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth. This is called the return of menstruation.

If your menstrual cycle is interrupted during breastfeeding, you should not ignore contraception. Breastfeeding is not a reliable method of contraception and some women become pregnant soon after giving birth.

The different causes of a late period

Are you not pregnant or are you a new mother and wondering what is causing your period to be late? There are several causes for this phenomenon. Let's look at these points in detail.

Other physiological causes

In some cases, a late period is due to a physiological cause. This can happen at any age in life. For example, young girls, just after puberty, have rather irregular menstrual cycles. Some months, ovulation is late in appearing and the expected date of the period is completely disrupted. This is even more true in the case of late puberty. The young women concerned can then have irregular cycles until the age of 16, or more.

Contraceptives​

You ask what are the other reasons that can cause a late period? There are several. Of course, there is pregnancy and breastfeeding. But that's not all! Some forms of contraception are responsible for amenorrhea. For example, the pill can cause a certain laziness of the ovaries, even after stopping contraception.

In the case of a progestin-only pill or wearing a hormonal intrauterine device, the absence of periods is sometimes expected. In fact, it all depends on the nature of the treatment put in place. Do you have any questions or doubts? Talk to your doctor or gynecologist.

Medicinal reasons

It's a fact! Some drug treatments can be responsible for amenorrhea. This is the case, for example, with antidepressants, anticancer drugs, corticosteroids and many others. And that's not all! There are pathologies that can cause this condition. Among these, we will remember hyperactivity of the thyroid, diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome.

Poor lifestyle

You know it! A healthy lifestyle is important when you want to be healthy. Are you late for your period? This could be due to bad habits. Are you wondering what situations can cause amenorrhea? There are several. Examples include intense stress or emotional shock, weight gain, rapid weight loss , obesity, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, intensive sports, etc.

All these reasons cause hormonal imbalances that disrupt the functioning of the body. Do you think you are in one of these cases? Make an appointment with your general practitioner or gynecologist to discuss it and find a suitable solution.

You have just discovered all the reasons that can cause a late period, despite a negative pregnancy test. First, be patient and wait for things to return to normal , especially if you have been under significant stress. Also try to change your lifestyle and get enough sleep. Do your problems persist? Make an appointment with a healthcare professional for an assessment. Don't worry! In most cases, amenorrhea is completely benign. Take care of yourself and trust your body.