Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we knew exactly when our “time of the month” is arriving? It would save us the constant trouble of carrying around tampons, just in case it arrives sooner. And the debilitating stress when it doesn’t arrive on time. Scientifically, it takes roughly 28 days for our cycles to complete from the day we get our periods. But, it is absolutely natural if we get our periods anywhere between the 24th day and the 31st day of the cycle. But, if your body delays your period regularly then you might need to seek some medical advice. It is also important to remember that ‘normal’ differs with different individuals and their bodies. But, there are some scientifically backed reasons which can delay or hinder the natural cycle of your body. Some of those reasons have been listed below.
1. Engaging In Rigorous Physical Activity
Women who work out rigorously and have very little body fat can miss out on their periods. The combination of these two things can put our bodies greatly in stress. And this stress can trigger our brains to stop producing sex hormones and abruptly hinder the cycle. The myth that marathon runners miss their periods is not exactly a myth. This is the scientific reason behind it.
2. Overweight Woes
Being overweight is not always a problem for everyone. But, for some women it can hamper their periods. Excess amount of fat cells in the body can result in the elevation of estrogen levels. This contributes to the thickening of the endometrial layer and stunted production of eggs from the ovaries. Hence, obese women often end up getting heavy periods. Excessive thickening of the endometrial lining can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. So, it is important for you to seek medical advice in this matter. Birth control pills can hep in thinning out the endometrial lining.
3. Underweight Woes
Everything in excess is bad for us. That’s why packing too little weight is also bad for us. Women who are underweight can have trouble with their periods due to their low levels of estrogen. This is not a problem for women who have always been underweight. But women who have lost a lot of weight in a short span of time can face this problem.
4. Steer Clear Of Pesticides
Pesticides can greatly hinder our periods as these chemicals can mimic our hormones. Excessive exposure to pesticides can stop our endocrine systems from working properly. Researches have discovered that women who lived in farms with high pesticide usage had more troubles with their periods like missed periods, spotting etc. Women who lived in pesticide-free organic farms were discovered to have more regular cycles. So, pesticides can have a negative effect on our bodies, and steering clear of them can make an even bigger difference.
5. Prescription Drugs
Medications can affect our cycles, especially if these medications are for some other hormones like thyroid. Our endocrine systems and their hormones are more connected than we might like to believe. So, it is pretty plausible for a hormone medication to confuse other inter-related hormones. So, don’t worry a lot if you are on a medication and having delayed periods. But if you are having this problem consistently, then seek medical help.
6. Stress
Stress can be a real bummer for our periods. Our hormones are extremely sensitive to our stress levels. So, if you are under a lot of stress, your body will automatically shut itself down and stop your body from preparing itself to bring a child into this stressful world. Hence, it is important for us to be zen if we want our bodies to be fully functional.
Little delay in our periods is normal, but consistent delays can be a reason for us to seek medical advice. But it is important for us to remember that stress can only aggravate our problems. So, being zen about our situations can help greatly.
