Having Delayed Periods. Had Less Sleep And Had Alcohol. Related?

Posted on Wed, 28 Aug 2013

Question: I'm 42 years old and my period is 12 days late. My cycle is reasonably regular (27-29 days) with the occasional blip (1 week early or late once a year or so). I don't recall being this late before. The only factors I can think of are that it has been very hot for the last few weeks and therefore sleep has been harder to come by, and it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I've drunk more alcohol than usual. I haven't been sexually active so pregnancy is not an option.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (8 minutes later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

At 42, you just might be peri menopausal, and these changes could be part and parcel of that transitional period, which could extend to a couple of years, as you ease off into menopause gradually.
Other main causes are stress, anxiety, hectic travelling, unaccustomed exercise, lack of sleep, rapid and massive weight changes, ingestion of concurrent medications.

Thyroid hormone fluctuations and PCOS are two major causes of the occasional delay in your period.
Along with PCOS, frequently there is a condition called endometrial hyperplasia - thickening of the lining of the uterus, so that the lining builds up, and fails to get shed on time due to hormonal imbalance ( age could also be a reason, apart from PCOS ), leading to delayed period, which is then heavy.

If pregnancy is definitely ruled out, you can consult your gynecologist to rule out the other causes, and consider withdrawal treatment ( generally progesterone tablets are given to induce a withdrawal bleed ).

Take care.

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T