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Published on: 3/17/2025

What Could Cause a Late Period If a Pregnancy Test Is Negative?

If your pregnancy test is negative but your period is late, it could be due to stress, hormonal changes, or other health issues that affect your cycle.

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Explanation

There are several reasons why your period might be late even with a negative pregnancy test. Sometimes, early pregnancy tests might give a false-negative result if they are taken too soon, but if you have waited long enough and it is still negative, then other reasons should be considered. One common reason is stress. When you feel stressed or anxious, your normal hormones can be affected, and your cycle can be thrown off. Changes in your weight, diet, or exercise habits may also contribute. Conditions like thyroid problems can affect your hormones and lead to a delayed period. In addition, sometimes natural fluctuations in your menstrual cycle can cause delays, especially if you have irregular cycles. If this happens often or you are worried about your health, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider who can help figure out what might be causing these changes.

(References)

  • Westerståhl A, Björkelund C, Marklund B, Bengtsson C, Hagen D, Höglund D, Lindström M. Focusing on the pregnancy test. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1998 Mar;77(3):322-6. doi: 10.1080/j.1600-0412.1998.770313.x. PMID: 9539280.

  • Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G. False-Negative Urine Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Testing in the Clinical Laboratory. Lab Med. 2020 Jan 2;51(1):86-93. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmz039. PMID: 31245816.

  • Barsom SH, Mansfield PK, Koch PB, Gierach G, West SG. Association between psychological stress and menstrual cycle characteristics in perimenopausal women. Womens Health Issues. 2004 Nov-Dec;14(6):235-41. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2004.07.006. PMID: 15589774.

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