Missing a period can be an exciting or anxiety-inducing experience, depending on whether you’re trying to conceive or not. For many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy, but it’s important to remember that there can be several reasons why your period might be late or skipped. If you’ve missed your last period and are wondering, "Am I pregnant?" this article will help you understand what might be happening, how to confirm pregnancy, and other potential reasons for a missed period.
What Happens During a Normal Menstrual Cycle?
A typical menstrual cycle lasts around 28 days, although cycles can range from 21 to 35 days in healthy women. During this time, hormones control the growth and release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation), and the lining of the uterus thickens to prepare for a potential pregnancy.
If the egg is not fertilized by sperm, hormone levels drop, and the uterine lining is shed during your period. If you become pregnant, your body starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that prevents menstruation and helps support the early stages of pregnancy.
Could You Be Pregnant?
The most common cause of a missed period is pregnancy. If you’ve missed your period and have been sexually active, pregnancy is a possibility. Other early pregnancy symptoms that may accompany a missed period include breast tenderness, nausea, fatigue, and food aversions. If you’ve missed a period and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s possible that you could be pregnant.
How to Confirm If You're Pregnant
The only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Here’s what you need to know about testing. When you come to our clinic, we will provide a free pregnancy test for you. Your nurse or Nurse Practitioner will conduct a medical assessment to determine what next steps are best for you, including when we can offer a free ultrasound.
Other Reasons for a Missed Period
If you’ve missed your period but aren’t pregnant, there could be other factors affecting your menstrual cycle. Some common reasons for a missed or delayed period include: stress, weight changes, excessive exercise, hormonal imbalances, birth control or other medications, thyroid issues and perimenopause. If you have missed your period but have tested negative on your pregnancy tests, contact your doctor. It’s especially important to call your doctor if you’ve missed more than one period, you’re experiencing unusual symptoms such as pain or discharge, or you have a history of medical conditions that might affect your menstrual cycle.
A missed period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy, but pregnancy is not the only reason your cycle might be delayed. If you’ve missed your last period and think you might be pregnant, the best course of action is reach out to us at CORE Healthcare for Women of Central Georgia. If you are pregnant, we can talk to you about your options. Schedule a free appointment with us today.