Delayed Period: Causes, Symptoms & What to Expect

There are many reasons why a period can be late or why your menstrual cycle can be delayed. Although aggravating, a missed period is fairly common and does not pose any real health risks. Here are the most common symptoms why your period may be late:

Overweight

• If you have a weight problem, this may cause your menstrual cycle to become irregular and may cause a delayed period.

Underweight

• Conversely, if you are underweight you can experience delayed or missed periods due to undernourishment.

Pregnancy

• Obviously, pregnancy can be the reason you are having a late period. Taking a home pregnancy test can tell you if this is the reason for your delayed period.

Peri-Menopause

• If you are over the age of 40, your late or missed period can be due to peri-menopausal reasons, or the onset of menopause.

Sickness

• If you have recently been sick, or are recovering from an illness, your period may happen later than usual.