Period a Week Late: Am I Pregnant? 7 Reasons To Worry

Question: Why is my period a week late?

Yes, it’s normal that you will panic what’s wrong with your body if seven days have passed and you are yet to notice pre-period signs.

Your behavior, appearance, and vaginal discharge typically change before the start of period, and if you are late and there is no sign of period approaching, it’s normal you will be concerned.

While you will be quick to think something serious is wrong with you, it may just be due to a consequence of unprotected sexual intercourse you had 2 or 3 weeks ago.

After an unprotected sexual intercourse (that is, without a condom or birth control), you are at risk of getting pregnant.

Here’s an e-mail I received from one of my readers

Hi Dr. Dunn

It has been very stressful weeks for me as I work in a construction firm. I’m quite worried why my period has been delayed for 1 week now. I had sex about 3 to 4 weeks ago, and I’m yet to see my period. Is it possible my late period is due to pregnancy?

It’s normal that after an unprotected sexual intercourse, you will worry about getting pregnant, especially if you miss your period for a week.

While this is true, there are still other reasons that may affect your body hormones and subsequently stop your period from coming when due.

Severe stress, weight loss, anxiety, Anorexia Nervosa, excessive weight loss or weight gain, perimenopause (if you are older than 40 years), diabetes, unstable thyroid hormones and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause your period to be delayed or stop temporarily (doctors call this secondary amenorrhea).

This guide explains reasons for 1 week late period, signs that mean you are pregnant, when it’s right to take a pregnancy test and when to worry.

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Why is my period a week late?

One common mistake a lot of young women make is not charting your menstrual cycle and learning whats normal for them.

It true that most women will have a 28-day menstrual cycle, but you could have a longer or shorter menstrual cycle length, and it’s not abnormal. Normal menstrual cycle length can vary and may last for 21 to 35 days.

Simply put, your menstrual cycle length is the number of days between two of your menstrual periods.

For instance, if you last saw your menstrual period on the 4th of January, and then, your next menstruation started on the 30th of January, it means you have a 26-day menstrual cycle.

If you do not get your timing right, it could cause you to unnecessarily panic about a late period (when its actually not time).

If you are sure period 1 week late, Here are possible causes

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1. You are pregnant

Getting the timing right for sexual intercourse is very important if you want to either prevent or get pregnant easily.

If you are trying to prevent pregnancy, it’s important to avoid sex during your ovulation period or use reliable contraception. Natural timing methods alone are less effective than condoms, pills, implants or IUDs at preventing pregnancy.

During this time, your body expels an egg into your fallopian tube and makes it easy for you to conceive.

The truth is, if you’ve missed your period for about a week now after an unprotected sexual intercourse, it could be pregnancy and this is the first thing to check.

After getting pregnant, your body secretes different hormones that ensure your baby is safe and also stops your period from coming.

Apart from a delayed period, here are symptoms you will experience if pregnant:

Breast pain

Sore breast is common during early pregnancy as your boobs get bigger and painful. If your breast hurts and you are one week late, it’s likely you are pregnant.

Fatigue

Body weakness is not uncommon before the start of period. However, if period is late for days to weeks and you feel very weak, it’s possible you’re pregnant.

During early pregnancy, body fatigue is common and occurs mainly because of hormonal changes (especially higher progesterone) and your body working harder to support the pregnancy.

Other signs of pregnancy if your period is one week late are nausea, vomiting, a heavy breast that is easily noticeable, spotting before your missed period (due to implantation), lower belly cramps, food aversion, constipation, frequent urination and mood changes.

What steps to take?

If you’ve not had sexual intercourse, there is no reason to worry about being pregnant. Alternatively, if you had intercourse and your period is absent for a week, the above symptoms may suggest pregnancy, but they are not proof.

It’s important you take a pregnancy test now (a urine test at home or blood test); if you are positive, tell your doctor immediately. If your test is negative and your period still does not come, repeat the test in about one week or talk to your doctor.

(Helpful patient pages: MedlinePlus on missed periods and Mayo Clinic on amenorrhea.)

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2. Young girls after menarche

Menarche is first-time a woman will experience cyclical vaginal bleeding called menstruation. After your first period, your body begins to adjust to your hormones.

The normal menstrual cycle for older women is 21 to 35 days. For young girls that just started menstruating, period could be delayed for a longer time.

If your period is fluctuating months after the menarche, you don’t need to worry. Usually, within a few years (often about 2 to 3 years), your body and hormones will normalize and your periods become more regular.

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3. Stress, weight loss, and exercise

Stress, weight loss, and strenuous exercise may be the reason your period is 1 weeks late.

Your body organs and reproductive system are controlled by different hormones produced in other parts of your body.

Most notably, is gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), produced by the hypothalamus, that controls the release of estrogen, progesterone, and follicle stimulating hormones.

During stressful conditions, acute illness, severe exercise, and weight loss, your body stops or reduces the frequency and volume of GnRH.

This causes unstable levels of hormones needed for normal function of your reproductive system, hence, a delayed period. Doctors sometimes call this hypothalamic amenorrhea (you can read more on the Cleveland Clinic page on hypothalamic amenorrhea).

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4. Birth control implant, pills, patches and IUDs

Birth control is well known around the world, and it’s commonly used to prevent pregnancy, reduce severe pain during menstruation, lighten a very heavy period, and treatment of acne.

Hormonal birth control such as implants, injections, some intrauterine devices (IUDs) and extended-cycle pills can make your periods much lighter or stop them completely while you are using them. For example, extended-cycle pills like Seasonale are designed so that you only bleed every 3 months, and some women may take pills like Yaz continuously under medical supervision to delay or stop bleeding.

If you’ve missed your period for a week now while on any birth control methods, DONT PANIC, but if you have missed pills, had vomiting or diarrhea after taking pills, or had unprotected sex, you should also do a pregnancy test.

Birth control intrauterine device can stop your period from coming altogether, especially hormonal types. Non-hormonal (copper) IUDs usually do not stop your period, and can even make it slightly heavier.

It important you talk to your doctor for evaluation and advice. (Also see MedlinePlus on absent periods.)

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5. Perimenopause

It’s natural that every woman grows old and experience some changes to their body. In women, one of those changes involves cessation of menstruation.

On average, at 51 years, a lot of women will stop having menses.

Between 40 years and when period eventually stops, women will experience irregular period as estrogen levels fall.

Other symptoms of perimenopause are hot flashes, breast tenderness, lower sex drive, and tiredness. (See MedlinePlus page on menopause for more details.)

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6. Hyperthyroidism (Excessive thyroid hormones)

Both too much and too little thyroid hormone can disturb your menstrual cycle and make your period late or absent. Women may also notice weight changes, heat or cold intolerance, palpitations or hair loss. Your doctor may order thyroid blood tests if this is suspected.

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7. Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone condition where the ovaries do not release eggs regularly. Women may have irregular or absent periods, acne, extra hair growth and weight gain. PCOS can make your period one week late, several weeks late, or even stop for months.

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8. Emergency contraception with “Plan B” or Postinor Pills

Emergency contraception pills containing levonorgestrel (such as Plan B or Postinor) can affect the timing of your next period. Your next menstrual period may come up to a week earlier or later than expected, and the flow can be lighter or heavier than usual.

If your next menstrual period is delayed for longer than 1 week after the expected date after taking emergency contraception, you should take a pregnancy test and call your doctor.
(You can check the MedlinePlus levonorgestrel patient information and Mayo Clinic page on the morning-after pill for more details.)

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9. Medical or surgical abortion

After a medical or surgical abortion, it usually takes about 4–8 weeks for your normal period to return. The first period may be slightly heavier or lighter than your usual flow.

Light bleeding or spotting for up to 2 weeks after the procedure can be normal, but if you have very heavy bleeding (soaking pads every hour), fever, or severe abdominal pain, you should see a doctor or go to the hospital urgently.