Late Periods: Common Reasons and Home Remedies

Most women and young girls confront the issue of late periods. There are numerous reasons for late periods or missed periods. We often consider pregnancy as the reason for having a delayed menstrual cycle. However, stress, eating disorders, menopause, weight loss, or weight gain are other causes. For more information on the difference between implantation bleeding and pregnancy, visit this page.

Common Reasons for late periods

Stress, anxiety, & other mental health-related issues

Most of us are unaware that our mental health has a direct connection with our reproductive health. When we face stress at our home, work, or college, it results in hormonal imbalances. Anxiety, depression, and sadness can also cause the same problem.

Women menstruate because our hypothalamus sends signals, resulting in the secretion of GnRH hormones. They cause menstruation. When we have an overactive or underactive thyroid, it can result in late periods.

We can overcome the issue by practicing yoga, meditation, therapy, and deep breathing exercises.

Eating disorders

There has been a drastic change in our eating habits. Most of us skip meals and often rely on fast food items. When we starve ourselves, it could result in weight loss. When our Body Mass Index or BMI goes below 19, it could result in hormonal changes. Due to this, our body produces less Oestrogen, which results in delaying our menstrual cycle.

Anorexia is another condition resulting in late periods or Amenorrhea (a medical state where our periods are absent for three menstrual cycles). Here, the person would have an obsession with her body weight. It can result in weight loss and could result in late periods.

Apart from weight loss, weight gain is also an issue we can have because of eating in a disordered way. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS can also result in weight gain. It can hinder our menstrual cycle. Binge eating due to stress or other issues is yet another cause for weight gain. When our body weight increases, it can delay our periods.

Regulating our body weight with proper exercise and having a balanced diet can help us overcome missed period issues.

Pregnancy and usage of birth control measures

Most of us consider pregnancy as the first reason for late periods. However, it could be valid in the case of sexually active women. You can always take a pregnancy test from home to clarify your doubts. You can consult a gynecologist as well. 

Certain contraceptives like Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) and birth control pills can, at times, cause delayed periods. Other medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and chemotherapy can also result in late periods.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common reason that results in late periods in women. PCOS occurs due to the excessive production of the male hormone called Androgen in our bodies. It can cause hormonal imbalances and result in the formation of cysts in our ovaries. 

Instead of releasing eggs, our ovaries would develop a fluid called Follicles. It can result in delayed or abnormally heavy periods. Women with PCOS could be having less than nine periods a year.

PCOS can result in several other health conditions if we fail to take the needed precautions and care. It can result in obesity, male pattern baldness, acne, and even infertility. Consider consulting a doctor to avoid complications.

Excessive exercising

Intensive workouts that can result in the sudden loss of body weight is a reason for late periods. It happens mostly with athletes, dancers, and others who participate in excessive exercises. It could result in exercise-induced Amenorrhea. 

Low-calorie intake and excessive workouts can result in hormonal imbalances, which could result in missed periods. Though exercise is beneficial in reducing period pain, it is essential to rely upon practices that would not cause hormonal imbalances. There are a plethora of other reasons for late periods, such as menopause and breastfeeding as well.

Home remedies to overcome late periods

You can include these remedial measures to overcome late periods. However, you can always seek medical assistance to know the reason for your late period. Here are some of the home remedies you can include in your lifestyle.

1. Yoga is an excellent way to stay healthy and also aids in weight management. There are different asanas that you can practice. Let us know if you would like for us to give you a helpful guide/list.
2. It is essential to have a properly balanced diet. You can reduce a high fiber diet as well.
3. Sleep is crucial. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep daily. 
4. You can have fruits like Pineapple and Papaya. You can also include Turmeric, Ginger, and Cinamon in your diet. They have medicinal properties and can overcome delays in periods.

There can be several reasons for late periods. However, it is essential to reduce stress, anxiety, and other conditions as well. By including these home remedies, you can, to an extent, overcome issues of missed periods. 

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