[Alicia2008]

Hi, my period is late by 6 days. It hasn't been late since I had my son and it has always come between the 20-22 of the month and leaving between the 23-25 of the month like clock work. I have had sex right before my last period on dec 19 and then I got my cycle on the 22, it was rather light and I didn't get bad cramps the day before like usual. I didn't think anything of it because it at least showed up. Now I've been waiting for my period for 6 days and nothing yet. No spotting no cramping no headaches. I have taken a home test and both were negative. I haven't changed my diet drastically and I haven't been stressed out at all. I also have not started any new medication or vitamins. It's been 5 years since my period has been this late or irregular, what could this mean besides pregnancy? Could it be pregnancy?

[ScottGem]

Yes it could, but its too soon to be sure. Wait until you are late about 2 weeks, then you can take an HPT.

[Fr_Chuck]

There are dozens if not hundreds of reasons it can be late. Some times it is late, just because, no one knows why. Some women even miss a period sometimes.

It is too early to test actually, but if you do test, are you testing with first urine of morning as soon as you wake up ? It is best to wait till you are 14 days late to test

[DoulaLC]

As was said, it could be due to being pregnant, but it could simply be that your cycle is off. It can happen, even if it hasn't before, and sometimes it may be for no apparent reason. Most often it is due to hormone fluctuations.

Many home pregnancy tests these days will pick up a pregnancy soon after a missed period, about 2 weeks after conception, as most woman will have well over the lowest amount of hcg needed by that time to register a pregnancy. Companies have come a long way in bettering their product and working to make them more and more sensitive so it will depend on the sensitivity of the test, as they will vary in the required amount to show a positive result, and as to when you happened to ovulate. For a few women it can take several weeks before it shows up on a urine test.

Since you already took one test, give it several more days and then try another if still no period. If that one is negative, see what happens when you would expect your period next month... could just be a cycle that gets skipped, or you could see your doctor and they will do a urine test in the office and perhaps a blood test.

[smoothy]

Please take a HPT and find out for sure! If your period is late, you should be able to test at this point. That could be a sign of pregnancy, however it could be a sign of period.. actually, it could be anything! So please just take a test and save yourself the worry! Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon!

Sure she CAN test at only 6 days, but if she wants a test result she can have confidence in she will wait until shes 14 days late.... because this early a negative test result will likely not mean anything. Because they won't be their most accurate until at least 14 days after a missed period. You will get false negatives at higher and higher rates the earlier a test is run before that 14 day point.

Even then some women will still test negative even when they are for well into the first trimester.

[J_9]

Since this thread was started January 27, the OP probably know by now if she is pregnant or not by now. ;)

[smoothy]

Good catch... I didn't notice the post date just three posts earlier than mine.