How late is my period? Check in seconds
Your period is 2 days late
A few days either way is normal: cycles vary. If you could be pregnant, a test is accurate from now.
🔒 Calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored. Estimates only: cycles vary.
Add your usual cycle length to the first day of your last period: any day past that is a day late. The checker above counts it for you. A few days late is common because ovulation shifts. If you could be pregnant, a test is reliable from the day your period was due. More than a week late with a negative test? It's worth looking at why.
How the late period checker works
Enter the first day of your last period and your usual cycle length. The checker works out when your period was due and compares it with today. It tells you whether your period is due in a few days, due today, or how many days late it is, with what that usually means.
| How late | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 days | Very common; cycles vary | If you could be pregnant, a test is accurate now |
| 4 to 7 days | Still within normal variation for many | Test if there's any chance of pregnancy |
| 8 days or more | Late ovulation, pregnancy or another cause | Test; if negative, retest in a few days and think about causes below |
| 3 months or more | Called amenorrhea; needs checking | See a doctor |
The checker runs in your browser and stores nothing. If your cycles vary a lot, 'late' compared with your average may still be normal for you.
Why is my period late?
Your period comes about 12 to 14 days after you ovulate. If ovulation is late, your period is late by the same amount. So the real question is usually what delayed ovulation this cycle?
- Pregnancy: the most important to rule out if you've had sex since your last period.
- Stress: emotional stress can delay ovulation by days or even weeks. See can stress delay your period.
- Illness, travel and sleep changes: a fever or a long-haul trip around mid-cycle can push ovulation back.
- Exercise, eating and weight: training hard, eating much less or losing weight quickly can pause the cycle.
- Hormonal contraception or coming off it: periods can take a few months to settle.
- PCOS (now also called PMOS), thyroid problems, breastfeeding and perimenopause are common longer-term causes.
Late period, negative test
If you tested on the day your period was due and got a negative, you may have ovulated later than usual, which means your test was early. Wait two or three days and test again with first morning urine. If it's still negative and your period hasn't come after a week or two, pregnancy is unlikely, and one of the other causes is more likely. More in late period, negative test.
Worrying about a late period can feel consuming, and some people notice their PMS mood hanging on longer when it's late, which makes sense: progesterone stays up until your period starts.
Lulu learns your usual range, so it can tell the difference between a period that's late for you and one that's just at the long end of normal, and shows how your mood tends to run in those last days.
When to talk to a doctor
See a doctor if you've missed three periods in a row, if your period is late with severe belly pain or heavy bleeding, if you have a positive test with one-sided pain, or if late periods keep happening alongside acne, extra hair growth, weight changes or hot flushes.
Frequently asked questions
How many days late can a period be?
A few days to a week is common. Cycles that vary by up to 7 days are still considered regular. See how late can a period be.
When should I take a pregnancy test if my period is late?
Any time from the day it was due. Retest a few days later if it's negative and your period still hasn't come.
Can stress make my period late?
Yes. Stress can delay ovulation, which delays your period.
Is a missed period always pregnancy?
No. Stress, illness, weight changes, contraception, PCOS, thyroid problems and perimenopause can all cause it.
Sources
This page is for information only and isn’t medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
Why is my period late? 10 common reasonsWhy is my period late if you're not pregnant? Stress, late ovulation, weight change, PCOS, perimenopause and more, plus when a late period needs a doctor.
When to take a pregnancy test: find your most accurate dayWhen to take a pregnancy test: enter your last period and cycle length to see the earliest testing day and the day a result is most reliable.
When is my next period? Work out the date in 10 secondsWhen is my next period? Count it by hand in one step, or let the calculator do it. Plus why the date can move and how many days late is still normal.
Late period: the common reasons and what to do nextLate period and not sure why? Pregnancy, stress, illness, weight, exercise, PCOS, thyroid and perimenopause explained, plus a clear plan for what to do.
PCOS (now also called PMOS) and your cyclePCOS, now also called PMOS, explained: the common signs, how doctors diagnose it, what it does to your cycle and mood, and what helps day to day.