My Last Period Was 30 Days Ago

"I'm worried because it is day 30 and I'm still awaiting my period. It's frightening because I'm usually on a 26-28 day cycle. I rushed and took a couple of tests to confirm pregnancy, but both came negative. I still have no period even though I am experiencing back pains and cramping for the last few days that I usually experience a couple of days before my period starts. It's frightening because my cycles were well established prior to this one instance, but I'm already a week late this month. Is there a chance my HCG hormones are currently too low to be detectable?"

Pregnancy is always a possibility with late periods. If you say, "My last period was 30 days ago", it could be due to pregnancy. It's mainly because you get pregnant when you ovulate, which is usually about 14 days before the start of your period. If that's the case, you're not going to have a period until you give birth to a baby. It is important not to jump to any conclusion yet. There are several other reasons why your period is delayed this month.

A False Negative

Pregnancy tests work to detect the hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG in your urine. Your body releases this hormone after the fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of your womb. The hormone level usually doubles with each passing day until the end of your first trimester. Still, you may get false negative result because you're using an outdated or less sensitive pregnancy test or you have ovulated a bit later than expected. Taking a test after drinking a lot of water may also produce a false negative result.

Irregular Periods

You should not worry about some variation in the length of your menstrual cycle. Sometimes, you ovulate later than you may expect, which usually means the HCG levels are still low enough to not show on your pregnancy test.

Stress

You may experience delayed period due to prolonged anxiety and stress. It is important to exercise regular, get enough sleep, and eat balanced diet to keep stress levels low to bring your menstrual cycle back to normal.

Exercise

Be sure to exercise regularly to maintain balance in your hormonal level. This will also help boost fertility, but you need to know that strenuous exercise may sometimes lead to temporary cessation of your period.

Weight

Being overweight or underweight will again have an impact on your natural hormonal balance, which in turn will affect your menstrual cycle. Depending on your condition, losing or gaining weight will help resolve the issue.

Jet Lag

Have you been traveling and are now dealing with a jetlag? This could be a reason behind your late period. When you travel a lot over different time zones, this affects your body's natural rhythms, which in turn affect your menstrual cycle.

Certain Medications

Certain medications may also make you scream, "My last period was 30 days ago, what's wrong with me?" You should discuss it with your doctor because birth control pills, shots, and implants can all lead to late periods. You should also use thyroid medication, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and chemotherapy drugs under the close supervision of your doctor to avoid menstrual irregularity.

Other Causes

• Hormonal imbalance: Sometimes you experience late periods when you're entering a stage called "the menopausal transition". You may also experience the same due to polycystic ovarian syndrome.

• Thyroid disease: Thyroid problems can lead to menstrual abnormalities. You may experience late periods due to overactive thyroid, but you may notice frequent periods with heavy bleeding due to underactive thyroid.

• Bad eating habits: Being on a poor diet that's high in carbohydrates may lead to irregular menstrual cycles. You need to eat enough vitamins to maintain a hormonal balance. Drinking excessive alcohol or caffeine are other common reasons why you're not having a period on time.

• Uterine issues: Several uterine abnormalities can be the underlying cause of late period. This is usually common in women suffering from polyps, fibroids, endometriosis, and cysts.

• Breastfeeding: You may not have a period if you're breastfeeding your newborn. This happens due to the high levels of a hormone called prolactin that encourages breast milk production.

It is important to bear in mind that menstrual cycles are quite different for different women – you may get it only four times a year, while others may have periods twice a month. Sometimes, you will notice heavy vaginal bleeding, and it may not be that heavy in some months. You may need to consult with your doctor if you're worried about your late period because it could be due to ovulation problems or hormonal imbalance. Once they know the underlying cause, they usually manage to fix it with ease.