7 common reasons behind late period (besides pregnancy)

Being late on your period can be alarming, especially if you're sexually active, but not prepared to have a family anytime soon.

But a missed period is not always a sign of pregnancy, like we almost always assume. There could be several other possible reasons behind it. Your health, your lifestyle and your stress levels could have a lot to do with your irregular periods and it is important to investigate all potential causes thoroughly.

Having said that, here are some of the common reasons behind why you may be experiencing a late or a missed period, besides pregnancy.

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Regular exercise is a great way to maintain your overall wellness. It helps tremendously in keeping chronic illnesses at bay and also boosts our mental well-being. However, sudden increased exercise may lead to lower estrogen levels, which can impact your ovulation and menstruation. But note that just an hour or two of exercising does not cause such hormonal changes. It takes long exhaustive workout hours to bring in the changes in hormones.

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Stress is human. But if you have chronic stress, then it can affect your menstrual cycle. When you are under excessive stress, your body produces a hormone called cortisol, which can lead to delayed, missed or light periods.

Any changes in your weight can alter your monthly menstrual cycle. Whether you're overweight, underweight or experience sudden ups and downs in your weight, it can lead to late periods. Additionally, common illnesses and disorders associated with weight such as obesity, anorexia, bulimia, or uncontrolled diabetes can also impact your menstrual cycle. This is when you must contact your healthcare provider.

Just after pregnancy, while you're breastfeeding, you are likely to have light, infrequent periods or amenorrhea, which is no period at all. That said, it is completely normal to have no period during your breastfeeding phase. However, this does not mean you cannot get pregnant again. Many women have this misconception that breastfeeding is a natural form of birth control. Well, it is not. Therefore, you should still take caution if you're not planning for another baby.

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Hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders may lead to missed or late periods. In addition, diseases of the adrenal gland, pituitary tumors, ovarian cysts, liver dysfunction and diabetes can also cause your menstrual cycle to go out of balance.

In such circumstances, contact your doctor and schedule a consultation.

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, certain medications including antidepressants, antipsychotics, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, and some chemotherapy medications can lead to delayed, missed or absent periods.

Additionally, birth control pills IUD, implant or shot may also impact your menstrual cycle.

Women who're entering perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause, may experience infrequent or late periods. This is due to the decrease in the level of estrogen hormone. During this stage you may have lighter, heavier, more frequent, or less frequent periods.