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My Period is Late. What Do I Do?

It can be alarming when your period is late. Whether the delay is only a few days or a week, it's natural to feel a mix of emotions.

A missed period is often the first sign of a potential pregnancy. However, if your menstrual cycle is irregular, it is not the most accurate way to determine a pregnancy. Here’s how to proceed if your period is late.

Review Your Lifestyle

Begin by examining any recent lifestyle changes. Increased stress, significant weight fluctuations, alterations in your diet or exercise routine, and changes in sleep patterns or travel can all affect your menstrual cycle.

If you've recently started or stopped using hormonal birth control, this could also play a role, as your body may need time to adjust to the hormonal changes.

A period is considered late if it is seven days past the expected date. It is generally regarded as missed if you have gone six weeks without a period.

Uncover Potential Pregnancy Signs

If you haven’t found any significant changes that would affect your period, now is the time to check for pregnancy signs and symptoms, such as:

• Nausea (with or without vomiting)

• Tender, swollen breasts

• Moodiness

• Fatigue

• Frequent urination

• Cramping

• Bloating

• Food aversions

It’s important to note that many of these symptoms are not unique only to pregnancy and could indicate another condition.

Take A Pregnancy Test

Your next step, and a way to get the most accurate picture of why you missed your period, is to take a pregnancy test. Most at-home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate if taken on the first day of your missed period, so there's no need to wait to test.

The best time to test is in the morning when the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is most concentrated.

If the test is negative, test again in a few days, then consult a healthcare provider to help uncover other potential causes of your late period.

If the test is positive, confirm your results with no-cost pregnancy testing at Metro Women’s Care.

Get Answers

At Metro Women’s Care, we’re here to provide you with no-cost pregnancy services to help you get the answers you seek.

Our licensed medical staff can also arrange an ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy and equip you with the key information you need to explore your options.

Contact us today to make an appointment.