My period is late: what to do next

Your period should have started by now, and it hasn't. Perhaps you have already taken a test, or perhaps you are too nervous to. A late period can bring a rush of hope, fear and confusion all at once. Here are calm, practical steps to help you know what to do next.

Step 1: Take a pregnancy test

If your period is late, a home pregnancy test is a sensible first step. Most tests are reliable from the first day of a missed period. Use first morning urine if you can, follow the instructions carefully and read the result within the stated time.

Step 2: If it is positive

• Contact your doctor, midwife or antenatal clinic to let them know and to arrange your first appointment.
• Continue any folic acid supplement you have been advised to take.
• Tell your pharmacist or doctor you are pregnant before taking any medicine.
• Seek urgent medical help if you have severe pain, especially on one side, shoulder-tip pain, bleeding, dizziness or fainting. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which needs prompt care.

If you have experienced loss before, it is natural to feel anxious as well as happy. Tell your doctor or midwife about your history. You are allowed to feel both.

Step 3: If it is negative

A negative test with a late period is very common, and it does not always mean you are not pregnant. You may have ovulated later than usual, which would mean your period is not really late yet and hCG levels are still too low to detect.

Wait a few days, then test again. Many women retest after three to five days if their period still hasn't arrived.

Common reasons a period may be late

Cycles can shift for many reasons besides pregnancy, including:

• Ovulating later than usual this cycle.
• Stress or emotional upheaval.
• Illness, even a bad cold or infection.
• Travel, especially across time zones.
• Changes in weight, diet or exercise.
• Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid problems.
• Recently stopping hormonal contraception.
• Breastfeeding.

A one-off late period is usually not a cause for concern.

Step 4: When to see your doctor

Book an appointment with your doctor if:

• You have had several negative tests and your period still hasn't come after a week or two.
• You miss periods regularly or your cycles are very irregular.
• Your periods have stopped for several months.
• You have any symptoms that worry you, such as unusual pain, discharge or bleeding.

Seek urgent care for severe tummy pain, shoulder-tip pain, heavy bleeding or feeling faint.

Looking after yourself while you wait

The days of a late period can be some of the most emotionally intense of the whole cycle. You might find yourself swinging between excitement and dread several times an hour. Some ways to cope:

• Set a retest date and try not to test before it.
• Tell one trusted person so you are not holding it alone.
• Stay busy with work, friends or absorbing tasks.
• Sleep and eat well. Your body and emotions both benefit.
• Avoid alcohol while you might be pregnant, as many health bodies advise.

A refuge in the uncertainty

When you don't know what is happening in your own body, it can feel like the ground has shifted. The psalmist found something solid to stand on:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, KJV)

A very present help. Not distant, not delayed, but present right now, in the bathroom with the test in your hand, in the hours of not knowing, and in whatever comes next. You can run to Him with your hope and your fear at the same time.

If your period does arrive

If, after all this, your period comes late, the disappointment can feel even sharper because hope had longer to grow. Please be extra gentle with yourself. Rest, grieve and let people care for you. And if you had a positive test before the bleeding started, contact your doctor for advice and support.

A prayer for the not-knowing

God, You are my refuge and strength, present with me in this uncertainty. Calm my racing heart as I wait for answers. Whatever the next days bring, help me to rest in Your care and to know I am never alone. Amen.