I am 40 years old. My period is delayed 5 days. I did a pregnancy test and it was negative. Any advice?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER and thank you for seeking our advice on a reason why your period is late.

As long as you tested properly, you can trust the negative result that you are not pregnant.

A late period could indicate that you have entered perimenopause, which is the time in a woman's reproductive years when her body makes the natural transition to permanent infertility.

You can notice the early signs sometimes in your 40's, but some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s.

The level of estrogen rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. Your menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and you may begin having menstrual cycles in which your ovaries don't release an egg. You may also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems and vaginal dryness.

Regards,
Maryann