Can stress delay your period?

A late period can cause concern, as the most common cause for a late or missed period is pregnancy. However, there are a number of other factors that can contribute including stress.

Key Takeaways

Stress Can Delay Your Period:

Stress is a common cause for a late period because it triggers the release of cortisol, which can interfere with your hormone balance. This can delay, advance, or cause breakthrough bleeding in your menstrual cycle.

Delaying Your Period:

If you need to delay your period for an important event, you can use the prescription medication Norethisterone. This hormone tablet should be taken once a day starting three days before your period is due and can delay your period for up to 17 days.

Regulating Your Periods:

The contraceptive pill can help regulate your periods, making them lighter, less painful, and more regular. There are two types of contraceptive pills: the combined pill (containing both oestrogen and progestogen) and the progestogen-only pill, also known as the mini pill.

Can stress delay your period?

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but this can vary between 23 and 35 days (NHS, 2023). It can differ a little from one period to another so it’s generally not considered a late period until after 3 days (Flo Health, 2024).

If you’ve had a late period then you may be wondering why, and stress is a very common cause (Nagma et al, 2015). Stress triggers the release of cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”), which can interfere with your hormone balance.

Given that hormones play a vital role in ovulation and menstruation, it’s unsurprising that a spike in stress can have an impact on your period. Stress can not only delay your period, but it can also bring it forward or cause breakthrough bleeding (Tampax, 2021).

Occasional stress is to be expected - as is the occasional late period. But if you’re consistently experiencing stress then you may wish to look for an over the counter treatment, such as Passionflower, which is a traditional herbal remedy used to alleviate stress and its symptoms. Similarly, if your late periods are happening often, you may wish to speak to your doctor.

Can I delay my period?

Often late periods can spark worry but sometimes, an on-time period can be even more inconvenient. If you have an important event coming up such as a holiday, work presentation or wedding then it’s likely you’ll want to delay your period yourself.

If you’re not on regular contraception then the prescription medication, Norethisterone, can delay your period for up to 17 days. This hormone tablet is designed to be taken once a day, starting 3 days before your period is due, and then continuing for however long you want to delay by (up to a maximum of 20 days of tablets in total). 

Your period will usually start 2 or 3 days after you stop taking Norethisterone. You can buy Norethisterone from UK Meds without an existing prescription and have it delivered to your door.

Please note, all requests for supply of prescription medications are subject to an online clinical consultation and the decision to prescribe will be made by a GMC registered doctor.

How can I regulate my periods?

If you are trying to regulate your periods, then you may benefit from the contraceptive pill. Contraceptive pills not only provide effective protection against pregnancy, but they can also make periods lighter, less painful and more regular. Your doctor can advise which contraceptive pill is the safest and more effective treatment for your individual needs.

There are two different kinds of contraceptive pill; the combined pill and the progestogen-only pill (or “mini pill”). The combined pill contains both oestrogen and progestogen, while the mini pill works without oestrogen and is suitable for those who are breastfeeding or who can’t tolerate oestrogen.

Again, you can purchase the contraceptive pill from UK Meds by completing an online consultation, which will be reviewed and denied or approved by a GMC registered doctor.