youUnless you are trying to get pregnant, your period may be late. well, It's pretty stressful (or at least uncomfortable). But pregnancy is just one of many reasons why your monthly flow may be behind schedule. Sometimes things that seem completely unrelated to your menstrual cycle can mess with it.
For example, imagine being sick. You might think one thing (such as the flu) has nothing to do with another (your period), but the body's systems are closely intertwined. Therefore, a weakened immune system can also affect the reproductive system.
Here Sherry A. Ross, MD, OB/GYN and author She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. periodWe'll explain why your period may be delayed when you're sick (along with other possible causes of late periods) and how to get your cycle back to normal.
Can my period be late if I'm sick?
“Menstrual periods are often an indicator of overall health and well-being,” says Dr. Ross. This means that if you are sick, you will see this reflected in your menstrual cycle. Here's why: When you are sick, your body can become out of balance. And this can affect your hormones.
“Severe physical and mental stress can have a negative impact on hormonal balance,” says Dr. Ross. This imbalance can ultimately interfere with ovulation (i.e. when an egg is released from the ovaries) and affect your period (and duration), she adds.
A mild cold is unlikely to delay your period, but more serious illnesses can ruin your period. For example, “a prolonged bout of flu accompanied by nausea, vomiting, chills, and high fever can delay your period,” says Dr. Ross. And so far how long Can the flu cause my period to be late? This will vary from person to person, but most will take a few days.
“Your physiology is often an indicator of your overall health and well-being.” —Sherry A. Ross, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Can my period be delayed if I get sick while taking birth control pills?
The reason many people take hormonal contraceptives is because it takes the guesswork out of their menstrual cycle. It can literally help you predict your period leading up to the day. But bad weather can take a toll on your regular periods (at least temporarily), regardless of whether you use birth control or not.
“Using combined estrogen and progesterone contraceptives during a physically stressful illness may add an extra layer of protection for regulating your periods, but there are no guarantees,” Dr. Ross says.
Again, this has to do with hormones. Being sick puts stress on your body and can upset its delicate hormonal balance. This is also why the condition can cause delayed menstruation or irregular bleeding when using other hormonal (or non-hormonal) birth control methods, Dr. Ross adds.
Also keep in mind that this type of hormonal disruption may make birth control pills less effective. So if you're not planning on getting pregnant, play it safe and use back-up birth control, says Dr. Ross.
Other causes of delayed periods
Illness is just one of many factors that can affect your monthly flow. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common causes of delayed periods include:
- pregnancy and nursing: When you become pregnant, your body forms the uterine lining to support and nourish the developing fetus (instead of shedding it during menstruation). Likewise, breastfeeding or breast feeding may temporarily stop your period. That's because the hormones responsible for producing breast milk suppress the hormones that regulate menstruation, according to the National Health Service.
- Extreme weight loss, dieting and/or exercise: Training too hard, losing too much weight too quickly, or not eating enough calories can cause your periods to stop, at least temporarily. This is called secondary amenorrhea. Essentially, this pause during your period is your body's way of communicating that it doesn't have what it needs to sustain the pregnancy.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that prevents ovulation. If you don't ovulate, your periods may be irregular, late, or missed.
- stress: It may be accompanied by stress and menstrual changes. Major stressors (such as work stress, major life events, or grief) can affect your hormonal balance, which can ultimately lead to late or missed periods.
- hormonal contraception: Most birth control pills contain hormones such as progestin or a combination of progestin and estrogen to prevent pregnancy. If you skip the hormone-free week and continue taking the pills, you may miss your period (or simply experience some spotting). Not having a period is common and safe for people using a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD).
- thyroid disease: Problems with the thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck) can affect hormones, causing irregular, delayed, or missed periods. This can happen if your thyroid gland produces too much. or Too little hormones.
- before and after menopause: Perimenopause, the transition from childbearing to menopause, can cause irregular or late menstruation (along with other symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, mood changes, cramps, night sweats, and vaginal dryness).
- youth: In the preteens and teens, the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, the hormonal system that regulates ovulation and the menstrual cycle, does not develop. If the HPO axis does not fully mature, periods of unpredictability can occur (at least until the 20s when the system settles into a more regular rhythm).
Other possible reasons why your period may be irregular or delayed, according to Dr. Ross:
- persistent ovarian cyst
- premature ovarian failure
- Cushing's disease
- uncontrolled diabetes
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Certain medications, such as thyroid medications, steroids, and antipsychotics
- Overseas travel/Beyond time differences
- Chronic and excessive drinking
How to prevent delayed menstruation due to illness
Although it's not entirely possible to prevent a late period when you're sick, you can put your health first and take some steps to get your body back on track. Here are Dr. Ross's tips for supporting your immune system and, in turn, maintaining a healthy hormonal balance:
- Eat a colorful plant-based diet. Eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and lean protein sources.
- Stay hydrated: Aim to consume 11 to 15 cups of water per day by drinking and eating water-rich foods, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Limit your alcohol intake: If you drink alcohol, think about how many drinks you drink per day/week. Then find out where you can scale back on cocktails or switch to mocktails instead.
- Manage stress through mindfulness, yoga, and meditation. Find what makes you comfortable and incorporate it into your weekly routine.
When to see a doctor if your period is late
Occasional delays due to stress or the flu are usually not a big deal. However, if your periods are late or regular, it may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
If your delayed period continues for more than two to three months, it's time to talk to your doctor, Dr. Ross says. She also recommends using a period tracker app or calendar to track your period. Keeping an eye on your monthly cycle will help you know immediately if something seems off. This information may also be useful to share with your doctor.
frequently asked questions
How long is it normal for your period to be delayed?
Some people have fairly regular periods, while others experience slight changes when Aunt Flo visits. This is completely normal. That said, if your period is a day or two late, it's usually nothing to worry about, especially if it hurts, says Dr. Ross.
But if it's been more than 35 days since your last period, or if your period is more than three days late (if your period usually starts like clockwork), this delay could be a sign that something's wrong, the Cleveland Clinic says. Again, it is best to see a doctor to determine if there is a problem and rule out possible medical problems.
Can my period be delayed if I get COVID-19?
Dr. Ross says it depends on the severity of the infection. For some people, COVID-19 is just a mild, uncomfortable cold, while for others it can cause more serious symptoms. People in the latter group are more likely to have interrupted or delayed menstrual cycles due to increased stress on the body.
Can the period be prolonged due to illness?
Illness and menstrual irregularities can also go the other way and make your periods longer. It varies from person to person, but most people who menstruate typically bleed for four to five days and only lose a small amount of menstrual blood (2 to 3 tablespoons), according to the CDC.
However, if your period lasts longer than 7 days or there is bleeding. many (Imagine having to change a pad or tampon every hour.) You may be experiencing menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding.
This type of bleeding can be a sign that something is going on in your body. Prolonged periods are typically caused by certain health conditions, according to the CDC and Mount Sinai, including:
- Benign tumors or tumors of the uterus (such as uterine fibroids or polyps)
- Uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer
- Pregnancy-related problems, such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (when the fetus begins to grow outside the uterus)
- hormonal imbalance
- Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
- uterine or cervical infection
- Bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease (VWD)—a blood disorder in which blood does not clot properly
- Diseases related to epistaxis such as liver, kidney, thyroid disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, lupus, diabetes, cirrhosis, cancer, etc.
- Certain medications (including anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin) and birth control pills (such as birth control pills and IUDs)
If you are experiencing excessive bleeding or your period lasts longer than 7 days, it is important to consult a doctor who can determine whether an underlying disorder may be the cause.
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