A missed period is a painful (and potentially scary) reminder that you're pregnant. Maybe it's been three to four days since the date you ticked on your calendar, yet no signs. Don’t fret - you might not be pregnant. It is possible to experience symptoms of early pregnancy even without a pregnancy.

Sometimes the body changes because of several reasons like stress or even our change in routines, and this disrupts our bodily activities. It might be your sleeping schedule, the soap you use, your food capacity - and it might be your menstrual period. Besides that, the body is a complex system - so is your cycle, making it unpredictable. 

Just as a headache can be a symptom of many ailments, a late period can occur as a result of various reasons. Well, let’s look at other possible reasons why your period did not come early.

If you have missed your period for several months, chances are you are experiencing amenorrhea. This medical complication occurs when your uterus does not release an egg for 3 consecutive months. Amenorrhea affects about 1 in 100 women or 2.6% of reproductive-age females.

There are, however, several major causes. One comes from the uterus. The lining of the womb can thicken. Eventually, the body cannot shed the lining as quickly, so it becomes "menstrually stagnant."

If not pregnancy, why late periods? 

1. Stress

Stress may be a factor in late periods as it can cause hormonal imbalances - it causes the body to release more hormones that signal the ovaries. For example, the ovaries and the adrenal glands produce the hormone estrogen, which can reduce the regulation of periods. Stress can also affect levels of the hormone progesterone, which helps to regulate periods. 

If you have alot on your hands, you will understand how stress often changes your routines - but there’s more to it. It can also change bodily routines and alter some actions. Stress can affect the hypothalamus - a part of the brain which regulates ovulation.

2. Hormonal imbalances

For women, the hormonal imbalance can come in the form of “anovulation” - when the ovaries do not release the egg each month. When a woman has anovulation, she experiences irregular or late periods. Other hormonal imbalances that can cause a woman to experience irregular or late periods include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid problems.

3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovulatory dysfunction - difficulty getting or staying pregnant with no medical cause for infertility - is the main symptom. Other symptoms include weight gain, irregular menstrual periods, and excess androgen production. 

4. Weight gain

Ovulation occurs in the ovary, and so does the production of the hormone estrogen. The fat cells in the body aid the production of estrogen. So, when there is excess fat in the body, you can guess what happens - excess estrogen! 

When this natural estrogen is too much in the body, it causes the body to react as though you are taking hormonal birth control pills. With the body reacting this way, your body may skip a period or two. 

Unfortunately, extra fat blocks the tubes that carry blood to and from your ovaries, delaying the periods by about two weeks, which can result in missing periods.

5. Weight loss

Healthy weight and regular periods are signs of good health. Losing too much weight can cause periods to be less regular or stop completely. This can happen if your body fat drops so low that you stop ovulating, or releasing an egg from an ovary each month. This is especially true if you are losing weight because you are not eating enough or because you are exercising too much, which may be signs of an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa. Weight gain is associated with irregular periods. Weight gain can cause your period to start later and your periods may be longer. But other factors can interfere with a regular period.

6. Certain medications

Some medications, such as antidepressants, can cause irregular bleeding patterns. Some birth control pills, for example, will delay your period. Even if you are taking birth control, it’s not uncommon for your period to still come later or come in lighter. Sometimes, however, your period will just stop. This is typically due to the hormones in birth control pills.

If you are concerned about your late or irregular periods, it is best to speak to a doctor to rule out any potential underlying causes.

Bottom Line.

Late periods can be due to alot of reasons, and it does not necessarily mean you might be having a baby. There is no cause to panic and no reason to make assumptions. So do well to run a test and see a doctor, and you will be fine! 

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/why-is-my-period-late#obesity

https://www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-weight/weight-fertility-and-pregnancy

www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-weight/underweight

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