How Late Can a Period Be Before You Know You’re Pregnant? (2024)

How many days late is your period if you’re pregnant?

While alate periodmay be indicative of pregnancy, it can also be caused by other internal and external factors such as stress, illness, and taking certain medications. For some women, the regularity of their menstrual cycle fluctuates which means that the arrival of their period may vary from month to month. It’s important to keep in mind that your period is considered regular as long as it comes every 24-38 days.

However, if your menstrual cycle typically runs like clockwork every month and you’ve noticed you are over a week late, then it’s time to take a pregnancy test or book in with your doctor. And if your period has fallen outside of the normal 24-38 day range, then you should follow the same advice.

Keep in mind that it’s common to get a false negative within the first few days of a missed period if you’re taking a home pregnancy test. Therefore, it’s recommended that you take a test one week before the expected start date of your period for the most accurate results.

How do I know if I’m pregnant or if my period is just late?

The only way to accurately diagnose whether you’re pregnant or not is to take a pregnancy test orbook in with your doctor for a clinical blood test. However, there are some early signs of pregnancy that you should be aware of if you don’t have immediate access to testing. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, many women experience the following:

• Fatigue
• Food cravings and/or aversions
• Frequent urination
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Sore or tender breasts
• Spotting

If there is a possibility that you may be pregnant, it’s always best to book in for testing to get an accurate result. Whether you’re pregnant or not, you should book in to see your general physician or gynecologist if your period is over a week late.

What are the causes of a late period?

There are many different reasons why your period may be late outside of beingpregnant. Other causes of a delayed cycle include:

• Breastfeeding.
• Certain medical conditions (such as PCOS).
• Changes in your sleep schedule.
• Drug use.
• Extreme weight fluctuations.
• High levels of stress.
• Illness.
• Rigorous exercise.
• Taking certain medications.
• The type of birth control you’re on.

Keep in mind that your period may fluctuate from month to month, even if it came regular for the months leading up to the missed cycle. A menstrual cycle is still considered normal as long as it occurs within 24-38 days of your last period.

How long after missing your period can you test positive for pregnancy?

When you’re pregnant, your body will start producing a hormone known as called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone that both at-home pregnancy andclinical blood testscheck for to indicate pregnancy.

While many home pregnancy tests can detect hCG around the day of your expected period, it’s common to get a false negative within the first few days of a missed period. For the most accurate result, it’s best to take an at-home test one week following a missed period.

Clinical blood testing can provide you with an accurate result within a day or two of your missed period (6-8 days after ovulation) so this may be the preferred option for those wanting or needing an answer sooner rather than later.

If your period is late and you’re looking for an accurate way to determine if you may be pregnant, contact the experienced medical team atCobb Women’s Health. We provide safe, professional, and confidentialpregnancy testingand can help you navigate the next steps in your healthcare journey.Reach out for more informationorbook in onlineif you’re ready to see one of our talented specialists. Weserve patients from Austell GA, Lithia Springs GA, Mableton GA, Powder Springs GA, Douglasville GA, Fair Oaks GA, Hiram GA, Clarkdale GA, Smyrna GA, Marietta GA, and nearby areas!

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