Periods are regulated by the hormones in the body. Ideally, they should show up on the dot, however, that is not always the case.
There are many reasons for the hormones to go haywire, which then leads to problems with periods. They might run late, or you might not have them altogether.
Since having regular periods is important, unless of course you are pregnant or post-menopausal, therefore, whenever your periods run late, it is best to confer with the best gynecologist in Islamabad.
Reasons for late periods
There are various reasons why you might be facing period problems. Some common culprits include:
Ailments
When your body is undergoing certain ailments like cold and flu, it is not unusual for your periods to go haywire. This is because the body is under stress. Often, the problem resolves as your body recuperates from the ailment.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding causes hormonal changes that can put periods on the hold for a while. However, in some women, even after weaning the baby, periods might not make an appearance, therefore requiring the intervention of a doctor.
Exercise, but in excess
Exercise is extremely beneficial for your physical and mental health. It helps in preventing obesity, minimizes the risk of chronic ailments like heart disease and diabetes, keeps your muscles and bones healthy, and ensure better immunity.
Similarly, exercise also improves mental health by regulating the stress hormone, cortisol and producing endorphins, which aid in improving mood.
However, there is also too much of exercise, which then has negative implications for your health, including, missed periods, as not enough estrogen is produced by the body. Hence, much like everything else, also moderate the time spent exercising.
Life change
If your life gets revamped, either by a drastic change in schedule, travelling to another time zone, or change in work-shift, you are more likely to experience period problems. This is because your hormones are thrown-off by the change in the internal clock of the body, as circadian rhythm determines the secretion of hormones.
Medicines
Certain medications like antipsychotics, chemotherapy drugs, corticosteroids can also cause the period cycle to be upset. Talk to your doctor about this issue.
PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition marked by excess androgenous hormone production alongside haywire hormones. Its symptoms include weight gain, acne, hirsutism, irregular periods etc.
PCOS can be managed with dietary and lifestyle interventions. You need to confer with a good gynecologist for to manage this condition.
Stress
Stress wreaks havoc on all facets of your health, and periods are no exception. Since it causes problems with hormones, it also then leads to issues with periods as well.
The stress may be physical or emotional in nature. You might not realize just how grave the impact of stress is until you start to experience these issues. Usually, the period problems persist for as long as stressful episode lasts.
Weight
Weight has a vital role to play in your regulation of hormones. Being overweight and underweight, both are not good for your reproductive health. Women who are overweight have too much production of estrogen, that then leads to issues with ovulation. Women who are obese often then complain of irregular and heavy periods.
Similarly, underweight women are also likely to experience period problems. Their body does not produce enough of estrogen, that then also results in missed periods.
Pregnancy
If you are sexually active, then a late period might signal pregnancy. It is possible that some women have spotting even when pregnant, so it doesn’t occur to them that they are pregnant.
Other early signs of pregnancy include cramps, tenderness in the breasts, nausea, bloating, fatigue, strong sense of smell or aversion to foods etc. If you experience these signs alongside late periods, it is best to get a test done. You can visit your gynecologist doctor in Rawalpindi or get at-home pregnancy test kit as well.
