Can Stress Make Your Period Late?

Let’s cut to the chase.

If you’re wondering, Can stress make your period late? the answer is:

Yes, it can.

When it comes to period talk, questioning a late period is bound to come up at some point.

And while this can be surprising (or a bit concerning, depending on where you’re at), it’s actually pretty normal.

One of the most common causes?

Yep, you’ve guessed it—stress.

Oh yes, stress and tension can cause major shifts in your menstrual cycle.

So let’s all take a deep breath, drop those shoulders and explore the links between stress and periods.

In this article: 📝

Can stress make your period late?

Stress is a completely normal part of everyday life.

(And if you’re not stressed, please share your secrets.)

It’s a natural response to dealing with life’s challenges—in any form they take for you (no minimizing here).

But when extreme stress affects your emotional and physical health, it’s time to start paying attention.

High-stress levels cause spikes in our cortisol and adrenaline levels.

These are known as our stress hormones.

And when they get disrupted, so can the reproductive system.

The heavier the stress (and the more stress hormones released), the more likely missed or irregular periods are.

This is your body’s way of protecting itself.

And it may go way back to prehistoric times.

If our ancestors were fighting predators or suffering in famines—well, it might not be the best time to throw a baby in the mix.

It’s like your body hitting pause when things get too intense and bringing reproductive functions back once things are a little calmer.

Can stressing about your period make it come late?

It doesn’t matter what the source of stress is.

Whether it’s work, family, or financial pressures, it can all make your period late.

And the same applies to stressing about not getting your period.

Frustrating, right?

As much as you might want to let your body know everything’s fine, I’m not stressed anymore; you can bring my periods back now! this is a whole lot easier said than done.

To help, make sure you’re taking time for yourself.

Resting, doing things you enjoy, eating well, and exercising gently are some of the best remedies.

How much delay is normal in periods?

The average menstrual cycle is around 28 days, but this won’t be the same for everyone.

Yours could be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days.

It’s also normal for periods to vary a little from month to month (usually between one and four days).

In general, though, if your period is delayed by five days or more, it’s considered late.

So if you have a relatively short cycle, and your period hasn’t arrived in 26 days, this will be late for you.

If your cycle is usually 30 days, and it takes 33, this might just be a “normal” fluctuation.

Can stress delay period for 2 weeks?

So, just how late can stress make your period?

It can certainly delay your period for two weeks and sometimes months at a time.

If you’re extremely stressed, your periods can get longer and shorter too.

You might also get irregular periods, spotting, heavy bleeding, or painful cramping.

Unfortunately, this is all a bit of a recipe for more stress—yep, this can be a pretty vicious circle.

Under stress, your body is in what’s known as “fight or flight” mode.

This can make you temporarily stop ovulating.

Of course, there might be other reasons for periods stopping (including pregnancy, weight change, exercise, contraception, diabetes, or menopause ), so it’s always worth chatting to a doctor if your menstrual cycle changes.

How long can stress delay your period?

Acute stress tends to last only a few days or weeks.

This usually means your period will only be delayed by a week or so.

But if you’re experiencing chronic stress (i.e., for a few months or even years), you can go several months without a period.

Stress doesn’t stop your periods forever, though.

So you can breathe a sigh of relief here.

Once your stress levels even out, your periods should return.

If you’ve gone more than six weeks without a period, though, this is no longer a “delayed” period.

It’s “missed.”

At this point, you’ll probably want to find out why.

If you haven’t already, it’s worth checking in with your doctor to make sure everything’s OK.