It can be difficult to know what’s going on if your period is late. The first thought that many women go through when they miss or have a late period is that they might be pregnant. They frantically run out to the store and purchase a pregnancy test. Yet, when they take the pregnancy test, it winds up with a negative result. This leaves the woman at a loss. It is important to know, then, what is going on when you have a late period and a negative pregnancy test.

There are several other things, besides pregnancy, that can cause you to have a late or a missed period. Stress, for example, can affect the balance of hormones in a woman’s body. This can cause a period to be late. When you have major life changes, such as moving, changing jobs, or getting married, you can also experience a late period due to hormone changes. This is similar to the way that stress can cause a late period.

Dietary changes are another possible cause of a late period. This is especially true if the dietary changes are drastic. Exercise, as well, has been known to affect a woman’s monthly cycle and make her have a late period or a missed period. Gaining or losing a large amount of weight in a relatively short time can also cause a late period.

There are even medical conditions that can cause a late period. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS, can affect your cycle. So can mumps, Turner’s Syndrome, and problems with the thyroid or the pituitary gland. Even the flu can cause you to have a late period.

If you have a late period and a negative pregnancy test, but none of the other above explanations can seem to account for what is going on, you should consult your health care provider. Your health care provider may be able to help you to be able to pinpoint exactly what is going on.