Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 28 July 2025
Having periods can be exhausting.
Having them delayed can be even more exhausting, particularly if pregnancy isn’t the reason. At that time, numerous questions may run through your mind: “Should I take the pregnancy test?”, “What if the results are negative?”, “Would it be the right time to take the test”, or “Should I wait for a few more days?”.
This blog has come up to help you understand what causes delayed periods, what is the normal maximum delay in periods if not pregnant, when to seek medical help and the most common questions about the missed or delayed periods.
Menstrual cycle is the interval between your first day of menstrual periods and the first day of the following month’s menstrual periods. This interval may generally differ in every woman, ranging anywhere between 27 and 35 days. Women with a menstrual cycle in below 24 days is considered shorter. On the other hand, a menstrual cycle lasting more than 35 days is considered longer. Experts state that both of these lengths are healthy. However, the average menstrual length of women during their reproductive years is typically about 28 days. A recent study has found that only 16% of women have this average length.
Furthermore, it’s normal for women to experience the menstrual period ranging anywhere between 3 and 7 days. While it’s also normal to experience slight changes in the length and flow sometimes. However, if the periods last for more than seven days, then it calls for medical attention.
Note: Menstrual period is the menstrual bleeding (3-7 days). The menstrual cycle is the interval between periods (27 -35 days).
Any potential deviations from the normal menstrual cycle are considered abnormal. The menstrual cycle that is late for a maximum of seven days may not denote the requirement for concern. However, if it frequently happens or you see sudden changes in the flow, or develop severe symptoms like pain, then it is considered abnormal. It is advised to visit the healthcare provider regarding the concern.
In addition, women with menstrual periods either ranging below 21 days or longer than 37 days are considered abnormal. This may generally indicate an underlying medical condition.
| Normal Menstrual Cycle | Abnormal Menstrual Cycle |
|---|---|
| Cycle Length 21 to 35 days |
Cycle Length Shorter than 21 days Longer than 37 days |
| Flow Duration 4 to 7 days |
Flow Duration Shorter than 2 days Longer than 7 days |
| Flow Amount Around 30-50 ml |
Flow Amount Less than 30 ml More than 80 ml |
| Symptoms Mild cramping Sensitive breasts Mood swings |
Symptoms Severe pain Unusual vaginal discharge Sudden worsening of acne Significant mood swings |
Many women have a misunderstanding that pregnancy alone can be the reason for delayed periods. The truth is, it can happen due to various reasons like stress, sudden changes in your body weight, hormonal imbalances and more.
Listed below is the detailed breakdown of the reasons for having late periods without being pregnant.
Stress can be a significant reason for women experiencing missed periods. Stress can largely affect the hormones necessary for regulating the menstrual cycle and the ovulation process. It can also stimulate the release of cortisol hormone, which may potentially disrupt the menstrual cycle. Stress in women may happen due to work pressure, physical illness, relationship issues, or money problems. Proper management of stress through meditation and yoga can help alleviate stress levels, which in turn regulates the cycle.
Both sudden weight loss and weight gain can affect the menstrual cycles, leading to irregular or missed periods. The significant weight fluctuations can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate essential hormones like estrogen. This may ultimately result in menstrual irregularities and ovulation disruption.
Likewise, extreme physical activities can also prevent women from having their menstrual cycles regularly. This is because extreme workouts can impact the body’s metabolism. This can again result in menstrual irregularities and ovulation disruption.
Hormone imbalance can certainly impact both the menstrual cycle and the ovulation process. Conditions like thyroid and endometriosis are the primary causes of hormonal imbalances. The production of too little or too much of specific hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, can develop such uterine conditions. This can also disrupt the reproductive processes. All of these factors can impact the menstrual cycle and potentially cause irregularities.
Certain medications can potentially impact the menstrual cycle by suppressing reproductive hormones. These medications may include hormonal contraceptives, blood thinners like warfarin and aspirin, hormone therapy, antipsychotics, antidepressants, opioids, and some chemotherapy drugs. Furthermore, medications for conditions like thyroid, various autoimmune diseases, and epilepsy can also impact the menstrual cycle and the ovulation process. These medications may begin to exhibit their impact, ranging from slight changes in the length and flow of the periods to significant disruptions in the cycle.
Perimenopause can be a significant cause of missed or delayed periods. Perimenopause is the phase women experience before attaining menopause. The occurrence may usually take place in their 40s. During perimenopause, women may notice changes in their cycles. The changes may differ from lighter to heavier, shorter to longer, and sometimes even the absence of periods for a month or more. Shifts in hormonal levels during perimenopause can be the predominant cause of such changes. The changes may become more evident as a woman’s ovaries decline to produce eggs and reproductive hormones.
However, some women may notice these changes in their bodies even early, typically in their 30s. This is referred to as early perimenopause. Once you have stopped having menstrual periods for a series of 12 months, it signifies that the menopause has begun.
Besides all these factors, of course, pregnancy is the frequent cause of missed periods. If you had frequent unprotected intercourse in the last menstrual cycle, and your period is delayed for more than seven days, there is a significant possibility that you might be pregnant. This is indeed possible if you usually have regular periods. You may check for pregnancy at home using home pregnancy kits typically between the third and fifth day of your missed periods. Home pregnancy tests can determine pregnancy by detecting the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the woman’s urine. After having the positive results, it is highly suggested to visit the healthcare provider for prenatal care.
It is important to seek medical help in the following conditions:
Visiting the healthcare provider regarding the concern can certainly help with identifying the cause of abnormalities and treating them in a timely manner.
Seeing differences in the changes of menstrual length and flow is normal. However, how long and frequently it exceeds plays a role. The normal maximum delay in periods if not pregnant can be up to two weeks. Sometimes it can also be two months. However, the persistent delays beyond that need medical attention. This can denote an underlying disorder. Diagnosing the cause early and managing it through effective treatments can be a game-changer in your reproductive health.
1. Does travelling affect my menstrual cycle?
The answer to the question is yes. Travel can certainly affect your menstrual cycle if it’s associated with disrupted sleeping patterns and stress.
2. Does drinking alcohol delay my periods?
While occasional drinking does not have any impact on periods, frequent drinking can disrupt the delicate production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This can lead to potential menstrual irregularities.
3. Is it normal to have sweet cravings during periods?
The answer to the question is yes. It is quite normal to experience increased sweet cravings and appetite during the luteal phase. Luteal phase is the days that denote the approaching days to the menstrual cycle, typically after ovulation. This may happen due to the fluctuations in serotonin and estrogen levels.
4. What are the foods that can help regulate my irregular periods?
To help regulate your irregular periods, you should focus on consuming foods that are rich in magnesium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium. Certain specific foods like aloe vera, papaya, pineapple, cinnamon, carom seeds, and fennel seeds can help with period irregularities.
5. Does sleeping late impact my menstrual cycle?
The answer to the question is yes. Disrupted or irregular sleeping patterns can significantly impact your menstrual cycle. Even though the amount of impact may vary from woman to woman, it can still affect the menstrual cycle and contribute to irregularities.
