So you were expecting your period, but it hasn’t yet arrived.   Now this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are pregnant. There are plenty of reasons why your period might be delayed that do not include pregnancy.

Though you might be one of those a-typical, typical women with a 28 day cycle that works like clockwork, an irregular period can still happen.  Have you been under an unusual amount of stress? Unusual overwhelming stress can delay ovulation and thus, your period. Have you been sick lately?  If you are ill around the time of your usual ovulation this can also make your period late.

Have you been skipping a lot of meals lately? Or maybe you have become seriously underweight? When a woman doesn't have enough body fat, her body has a hard time making the necessary estrogen to support ovulation. If you aren't ovulating, you won't have a period. When a woman has low body fat she doesn't produce enough estrogen, but when she is overweight she may produce too much estrogen. Estrogen and progesterone work together to maintain a healthy menstrual cycle. If you aren't ovulating regularly, your cycles can become sporadic and unpredictable.

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is a disorder that is caused by having more male hormones than usual. This can cause the ovaries to ovulate less or even stop ovulating. Untreated, it can lead to fertility issues and even diabetes.

A late period could also be a result of other health problems. The key is to pay attention to your body. It might be trying to send you a message.  If you are on some type of birth control, you might be missing the symptoms.  The chemicals are keeping you from ovulating so you might be missing the subtle hints from your body.

There are several methods of Natural Family Planning that you might want to consider- these methods have been over 99% effective in controlling birth, chemical-free, and gives you indicators of other problems, including cysts. If you are married and would like to learn more about Natural Family Planning or if you are concerned about a late period, please call Free Women’s Clinic and our staff would be happy to help you.