Since we only have our own period to compare to, it can be hard to know whether what we experience is ‘normal’.
Let’s run through some normal cycle parameters so that you can determine where you fall:
The length of your period refers to the number of days from the first day of your bleed to the last day before your next bleed.
A healthy range for your cycle length is anywhere between 21 and 35 days, with the average being around 29 days.
Many of my clients tell me their period is always “late” because it comes on day 30 (or 32). This is a huge misconception: that if your period isn’t 28 days, you aren’t normal. If your period consistently arrives around the same day of your cycle, and it falls within the healthy range of 21 to 35 days, this is your normal, healthy cycle length.
Whether or not you fit this textbook 28 day cycle (which only 14% of the population actually have - think about that for a minute), the most important factor to consider is whether your ‘normal’ has changed or not.
Our menstrual cycles are very responsive to stress in our lives and demonstrate this most clearly in the length of our cycles.
Stress is not always psychological (like being under the pump at work), but may be physical (e.g. under-eating, over-exercising, not sleeping enough or being low in certain nutrients).
When we are more stressed, our body does not deem our environment to be a safe place to bring a baby in to the world, and can shut down ovulation all together, or delay it until it deems we are safe.
The end result of this change in ovulation is a missing period altogether, or longer cycles than your normal.
Think this might explain your menstrual cycle problems?
Read on for how to address the impact of stress on your cycle.
32 comments
Losing weight felt like an uphill battle until I found this incredible product. From 85kg to a lean 60kg, I’m now living life to the fullest. Take charge of your weight – click here to order and embrace a healthier you!
Hello! I have top of the normal range testosterone – but no PCOS. And after ovulation to period I have horrible acid reflux. What hormone is responsible for this and how can I combat it?
TY!
Hi Hannah, it’s very common to experience delayed periods once you’ve come off birth control. This is because when you were on birth control, the synthetic hormones in this medication suppresses your body’s ability to produce its own natural hormones. So the periods you get on birth control is not real periods but fake ones caused by the synthetic hormones. So when you do come off of birth control, there will be a time where your body needs to clear out these synthetic hormones and for your body to learn/remember how to produce its own hormones again. So it is common for women to have a delayed return of a period for 2-3 months or so once off birth control.
It’s also worth mentioning that period trackers are not accurate. They work by predicting ovulation and the arrival of your next period by using a calculated algorithm. It doesn’t take into account when you actually ovulate (when you are cycling naturally) and it has no idea if you are on birth control or not. So I always recommend to ignore (or turn off if you can) any predictions if you are using period tracking apps.
You might find this article helpful – https://nourishednaturalhealth.com/nutrition-guides/the-ultimate-guide-to-coming-off-the-pill-without-a-face-full-of-acne-or-irregular-periods
Hi, I’m eighteen year old and I just stopped birth control about a month ago. My period tracker said i was supposed to have my period but it’s been late. I also want to regulate my period without taking anymore pills. How long do you’ll think it’ll take for it to regulate?
Hi Lisa,
Unfortunately I am unable to provide advice on this.
It may be worth seeing a natural health practitioner one-on-one and discussing your options with them, particularly in regards to more natural options.
Good luck!