Wondering if you might be pregnant when your period doesn’t come on time is very common. There are lots of reasons why your period could be late that have nothing to do with pregnancy. But of course, a missed or late period can also be an early sign of pregnancy. So how do you know if it’s just a late period or a sign of something more?
What causes a late period?
There are a number of reasons why your period might be late that have nothing to do with pregnancy:
- Stress – Physical or emotional stress can disrupt your hormone levels and delay ovulation, which causes a late period.
- Illness or sudden weight loss – Being sick, having a fever, or sudden weight loss signals your body that it’s not a good time to get pregnant. This causes hormonal shifts that can make your period late.
- Excessive exercise – Intense exercise sessions can throw off your hormone levels and make periods irregular or skipped altogether.
- Birth control – When you first start taking birth control pills or get an IUD, it’s common for your period to be later than usual as your body adjusts.
- Medications – Some common medications like antidepressants, blood pressure meds, and thyroid medications can make periods late or irregular.
- Perimenopause – As you near menopause, usually in your 40s, hormone levels begin to fluctuate wildly. This leads to late, heavy, light, or skipped periods.
- Breastfeeding – The hormonal changes from breastfeeding usually delay the return of menstruation after giving birth.
So before you start worrying about pregnancy, consider whether any of these factors might be making your period late. The most common reasons are stress, illness, exercise, and birth control.
Could I be pregnant?
Of course, there’s also a chance you could be pregnant if your period is late. Here are some signs that pregnancy, rather than something else, might be delaying your period:
- You had unprotected sex around the time you would have ovulated based on your cycle. Ovulation happens about 14 days before your period is due to start.
- You’re experiencing classic early pregnancy symptoms like breast soreness, fatigue, nausea, or frequent urination.
- You recently stopped taking birth control pills or got a device like an IUD removed.
- You’re trying to get pregnant and carefully tracking your cycle.
If one or more of these applies to you, there’s a greater chance you could be pregnant. But the only way to know for sure is with a pregnancy test.
When to take a pregnancy test
Wondering when is the right time to take a pregnancy test if you’re late? Here are some guidelines:
- Wait at least one week after your missed period. Pregnancy tests work by detecting the pregnancy hormone hCG. You need to wait until it’s been long enough that hCG levels are high enough to show up on the test.
- Take the test first thing in the morning. Your urine is most concentrated early in the day, so using your morning urine gives the most accurate results.
- Use a sensitive test. Look for a test advertised to work 5-7 days before your missed period. These detect lower hCG levels.
- Follow test instructions. Read the packaging so you know how long to hold the test stick in your urine stream and how long to wait before reading results.
If you take the test according to the directions and get a negative result but still don’t get your period, wait a few more days and test again. False negatives happen if you take the test too early before enough hCG has built up.
Understanding pregnancy test results
When checking a pregnancy test, a positive result is usually indicated by lines in the results window. Here’s how to interpret what you see:
- One line – Only the control line appears, and no line shows up in the test area. This means the test is negative, and you are likely not pregnant.
- Two lines – The control line is accompanied by a second line in the test window, even if it is faint. Two lines indicate the test is positive and you are likely pregnant.
- Faint line – If you see a faint second line, even if it’s barely visible, the test is positive. Any second colored line means the test detected hCG.
- Evaporation lines – Sometimes a faint line can appear after the timeframe for reading results has passed. This is usually an evaporation line and does not count as a positive result.
Digital pregnancy tests will clearly state “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” Be sure to read at the correct time stated in the directions rather than looking at it later to avoid an incorrect result.
Potential Results if You Are Pregnant
| HCG Level | Results |
|---|---|
| 5-50 mIU/ml | Pregnancy test may be negative |
| 50-500 mIU/ml | Pregnancy test usually positive |
| 1,000-100,000 mIU/ml | Pregnancy test positive |
This table illustrates how hCG levels rise in the early stages of pregnancy and relate to when pregnancy tests become positive:
– 5-50 mIU/ml – Too low for the test to detect. You may get a negative result even if you are pregnant.
– 50-500 mIU/ml – High enough for pregnancy tests to usually show positive. Levels are high enough but not guaranteed.
– 1,000-100,000 mIU/ml – hCG levels are now high enough for the test to clearly show positive.
Next steps after a positive test
If you get a positive pregnancy test result, here are some next steps:
See your doctor
Schedule an appointment with your gynecologist or primary care physician right away. They can use a blood test to definitively confirm you are pregnant and refer you for prenatal care.
Date your pregnancy
Talk to your doctor about estimating your stage of pregnancy based on the date of your last period and when you got a positive test. This will determine your estimated due date.
Start prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins provide essential nutrients like folic acid and iron that are crucial in the early stages of pregnancy. Ask your doctor if you need a prescription strength dose.
Stop risky behaviors
Stop behaviors that could endanger your pregnancy like drinking alcohol, smoking, or using certain medications. Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions or over-the-counter meds you take.
Stay hydrated and active
Make sure to drink plenty of water and get light exercise like walking regularly. This keeps you and the baby healthy during your first trimester.
Learn about pregnancy care
Read up on what to expect during prenatal visits, recommended tests, and how to handle common first trimester symptoms like morning sickness. Education helps you feel empowered.
When to see a doctor
In some cases, a late or missed period combined with a negative pregnancy test can be a sign of an underlying health condition. See your doctor if:
– Your period is over a week late with several negative pregnancy tests
– You have a history of irregular periods but this time is significantly different
– You experience severe cramping, pain, or bleeding
– You’ve missed 3 or more consecutive periods
– You’ve recently stopped taking birth control but haven’t gotten a period
– You are under extreme physical or emotional stress
– You have a condition like PCOS or endometriosis
Your doctor can help determine if your delayed period is due to stress, perimenopause, a medical condition, or an undiagnosed pregnancy. Getting to the root cause is important for your health.
Conclusion
When your period is late, it’s normal to wonder am I pregnant? But lots of things besides pregnancy can throw off your cycle. If your period is over a week late, take a home pregnancy test first thing in the morning using concentrated urine. Wait to read results until the directed time. A positive result means you’re likely pregnant but should be confirmed by your doctor. A negative test could mean you tested too early and should try again in a few days if your period doesn’t come. While frustrating, a late period usually isn’t cause for concern. But if you’re pregnant, your doctor can make sure you get the care you need for a healthy pregnancy.