Njeri, 21, noticed something odd about her cycle. Her period arrived five days late, just as she had started spending more time with her new boyfriend. Naturally, she wondered whether the two were connected.
It’s a question many young women ask, and the answer is simple: no. Kissing, hugging, cuddling, or simply being in a relationship does not delay or stop your period. Neither does it make your period come earlier. Your cycle is regulated by hormones from the brain and ovaries, and another person’s presence doesn’t interfere with that process.
So why was Njeri’s period late?
When she looked back at her routine, Njeri realized she had been more stressed than usual and sleeping less. After speaking to a healthcare worker, she discovered that stress can disrupt the hormones that trigger ovulation. If ovulation happens later than normal, your next period will arrive later too. Sometimes ovulation doesn’t happen at all, and the period is missed completely.
Other common causes of late or missed periods include sudden weight changes, excessive exercise, starting or stopping hormonal contraception, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid problems, and normal cycle variation.
What about sex?
Sex itself does not normally delay menstruation. However, if you’ve had unprotected sex, pregnancy should be considered, as a missed period can be an early sign. You can take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period or 21 days after unprotected sex if you’re unsure when your period was due.
What Njeri did
She began tracking her cycle, prioritized sleep, and spoke with a healthcare worker. Her periods soon returned to their usual pattern.
An occasional late period is common and usually nothing to worry about. But if you have repeated missed periods, severe pain, unusually heavy bleeding, or a possible pregnancy, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
