When your period is late, it can stir up a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. Whether it’s just a slight delay or a longer-than-usual gap in your menstrual cycle, it’s normal to feel a mix of concern and confusion.
A missed period is often one of the first signs of a potential pregnancy. However, if your menstrual cycle is typically irregular, it can be difficult to know if you’re actually pregnant. We’ll guide you through the steps to take if your period is late.
Possible Explanations
Begin by considering any recent changes in your lifestyle. Factors such as increased stress, significant weight changes, alterations in your diet or exercise routine, and even travel or shifts in your sleep patterns can all influence your menstrual cycle.
Additionally, if you’ve recently started or discontinued hormonal birth control, this could play a role as well, as your body may need time to adjust to the changes in hormone levels.
Looking For Signs & Symptoms
While lifestyle changes could explain a missed period, pregnancy could also be the cause.
There are some common pregnancy symptoms you can look for to indicate that you might be pregnant, including:
- Nausea (with or without vomiting)
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Cramping
- Bloating
Even if you recognize these subtle signs, the only way to know for sure is to get pregnancy testing.
Pregnancy Testing
Most at-home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% accurate when taken on the first day of your missed period, so there’s no need to delay testing.
For the best results, take the test in the morning when your body’s concentration of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is at its highest. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
If you get a positive result or have any uncertainties, visit us at Care Net LVNM for further support.
Get Answers
You don’t have to rely on ambiguous signs of pregnancy. You can access no-cost and highly accurate pregnancy testing when you visit Care Net LVNM.
After you get your results, we can discuss your next steps and provide you with a referral for an ultrasound. An ultrasound will help you get critical details about your pregnancy and unlock your options moving forward.
Contact us today to make an appointment.