What's going on with my body?!
Question: My period is 8 days late. I am usually a couple of days late but I have never been this late. Should I worry? I have had a lot of stress in my life and it has never affected my periods. I am not currently stressed anymore than average. I think it is nearly impossible that I could be pregnant (although I wouldn't mind it.) My boyfriend had a vasectomy 3-4 years ago. We have only had sex twice since my last period and only once that could have been close to ovulation time (10 days into cycle) which I think is too soon to have even been able to conceive. I feel like since my period is off then something must be wrong. The point is should I worry and could there be something going on with my body ... potentially bad? For those of you that suggest going to the doctor I just moved so I can't get into a gyno anytime soon. Thanks.
Answers: My period is 8 days late. I am usually a couple of days late but I have never been this late. Should I worry? I have had a lot of stress in my life and it has never affected my periods. I am not currently stressed anymore than average. I think it is nearly impossible that I could be pregnant (although I wouldn't mind it.) My boyfriend had a vasectomy 3-4 years ago. We have only had sex twice since my last period and only once that could have been close to ovulation time (10 days into cycle) which I think is too soon to have even been able to conceive. I feel like since my period is off then something must be wrong. The point is should I worry and could there be something going on with my body ... potentially bad? For those of you that suggest going to the doctor I just moved so I can't get into a gyno anytime soon. Thanks.
Hi there,
In short, I would not worry just yet. You have to have a missed period 3 times in a row for the medical community to consider it an issue.
If you aren't pregnant (and you're not if your BF had a vasectomy, a missed menstrual period may be due to a wide variety of both physical and emotional conditions that range from lifestyle stress to rare and serious diseases. EVen if you have the same level of stress, your body might be responding to it differently. Many women's cycles can change over time and with age. Many of the conditions that underlie missed menstrual periods interfere with the body's hormonal balance, particularly regarding levels of the sex hormones.
Causes Include:
Disorders/infections of the pelvic organs
Extreme dieting/malnutrition
Habitual strenuous exercise
Heavy tobacco smoking
Hormonal imbalances
Medications (for example, oral contraceptives, Depo-Provera, Norplant)
Pituitary tumors
Premature ovarian failure
Rapid weight loss or gain
Perimenopause
But again, I think it's pretty normal to have a hormonal imbalance every once in a while, and nothing to worry about. If you have any other symptoms going on, I might note it and see if I could map it to any of the main causes listed above.
I know it can feel like something is wrong, especially if you've always been regular. I am like clockwork, and last cycle I was late by 2 days, and kind of freaked out - thinking, "what's wrong with me". The inevidable answer is, of course, nothing! :) But I know how it feels so I don't want to dismiss your experience.
Hope this helps.
any bit of stress can affect your periods. have you recently lost or gained a lot of weight? this can also affect things. good luck.