Updated : January 26, 2023 12:15 AM IST
Not all periods are the same and their absence doesn’t always suggest pregnancy. Missed or late periods can happen due to many reasons such as certain medical conditions, medications and other causes. A normal menstrual cycle can range between 21 and 40 days.
Chronic stress can be an important factor behind delayed periods. Stress often brings changes to one’s routine, might disrupt sleep-wake sleep, and can affect the hypothalamus that regulates your periods.
Weight changes can also affect your periods. People living with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia are prone to irregular periods. Too much weight loss and low body weight can cause delayed periods or stop them totally as there might not be enough fat for ovulation.
PCOS is another condition associated with delayed or irregular periods. People affected by it might have more male hormones androgen and might develop cysts on ovaries. The condition causes hormonal imbalance that can affect ovulation or stop it in some cases.
Being on birth control can also affect periods. These pills contain oestrogen or progestin that prevent ovaries from releasing eggs, delaying ovulation. Chronic health conditions like diabetes and thyroid problems (overactive or underactive) can also affect your periods.