Does this describe your symptoms?

Definition

• Late Menstrual Period: 5 or more days overdue compared to usual menstrual cycle

• Missed Menstrual Period: no menstrual flow for more than 6 weeks

General Information

• The first day of menstrual bleeding is considered the first day of a new menstrual cycle.

• Menstrual bleeding typically lasts 3-7 days.

• Ovulation generally occurs around day 14 of the cycle.

• The length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. The range is from 24 to 35 days. The average is 28 days.

Causes

• Pregnancy is the most important cause. This possibility needs to be considered in any woman who has a missed or late period.

• Stress

• Dieting, exercise and weight loss

• Menopause

• Polycystic ovarian disease

• Birth control pills

• Depoprovera injection

• Pituitary and other endocrine disorders

Home Urine Pregnancy Tests

• Home urine pregnancy tests are inexpensive, accurate, and easy to use. Most drug stores sell these tests over-the-counter.

• Urine pregnancy tests can often diagnose pregnancy during the week after the first missed period (2 weeks after ovulation).

• Use of a first-morning urine specimen is recommended because the urine HCG concentration is highest in the morning.

• When a home pregnancy test is negative, but there is still a high suspicion of pregnancy, the woman should either repeat the test in 3-5 days or go to her doctor's office for testing.

• The urine pregnancy test can sometimes be falsely negative if the urine specimen is very bloody. A small amount of blood (e.g., blood-tinged urine) should not interfere with the accuracy of the test.

• More information is available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/pregnancy-tests.cfm.

If not, see these topics

• ABDOMINAL PAIN, FEMALE

• Questions about EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

• VAGINAL BLEEDING, ABNORMAL

When to Call Your Doctor

Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If

• Passed out (fainted)

• Severe abdominal pain

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• You feel weak or very sick

• Abdominal pain and you are pregnant

• Abdominal pain and you might be pregnant

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns

• You are pregnant

• You want a pregnancy test done in the office

• Recent weight loss

• Age greater than 45 years

• Missed 2 or more periods in a row

• Missed period has occurred 2 or more times in the last year

Self Care at Home If

• Missed or late period and you don't think you need to be seen

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MISSED OR LATE MENSTRUAL PERIOD