# Period on pill - when should I start worrying about it not coming? I'm a worrying mess. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534 "2016-04-30T20:19:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alicefrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@alicefrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alicefrost)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/1 "2016-04-30T20:19:16Z")
Before I start, I know this may be very eyeroll worthy but I worry myself sick and need some reassurance and advice! im on the pill - when I’m on my off week when I take no pills at all I stop on the Thursday and usually get my period mid Saturday. It’s late Saturday now and it still hasn’t came, I know it might be a silly stage to worry but its so unusual! I’ve only had sex one time since my last period, I use a condom also - every time. I take my pill everyday but the times can vary a few hours (I’m on a combination pill though so a few hours is usually ok) Earlier in the month I went through a break up and ive been a bit stressed because of due assignments - could this have an affect on my period? What day should I start to worry? Thanks all who take the time to answer me!! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/2 "2016-04-30T20:46:17Z")
4:19pm isn’t what I’d call all that late, and yes, stress can affect your cycle. I wouldn’t worry until it’s at least 24 hours overdue. IANAD. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/3 "2016-04-30T20:53:56Z")
If it is really bothering you, go spend $10 on a couple pregnancy tests. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/4 "2016-04-30T21:00:12Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/5 "2016-04-30T22:36:28Z")
You are just experiencing anxiety. Breathe. Periods aren’t always regular, even on the Pill. Mine’s different all the time. I’m on continuous BC (never have a placebo week, never supposed to have a period) and I still bleed at weird times or have PMS symptoms and cramps and stuff. I’ve also gone months off the pill without having a single period, was never pregnant during those times. Almost anything could impact you having your period late – stress, slight difference in your timing of taking the pills, your eating and sleeping patterns. On top of this, you use a condom every time? You are fine. Breathe. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/6 "2016-04-30T23:14:54Z")
Stress can cause serious timing issues with your cycle. During high stress times I’ve had periods come a week late a few times and up to \*\*two weeks \*\*early on other occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/7 "2016-05-01T01:25:11Z")
Sounds like you’re probably pregnant. Possibly twins. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/8 "2016-05-01T01:34:33Z")
I skipped periods entirely occasionally while on the pill, a drugstore pregnancy test always reassured me. Go take one! PS they are all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/9 "2016-05-01T01:56:28Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > You are just experiencing anxiety. Breathe. ^ Best Advice Possible. Read…repeat…say out loud…repeat… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/10 "2016-05-01T17:05:28Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Stress can cause serious timing issues with your cycle. During high stress times I’ve had periods come a week late a few times and up to \*\*two weeks \*\*early on other occasions. Quoted for truth. When my now ex-husband and I split up my next period was almost a week late. I was flipping out even though I knew there was no earthly way I was pregnant. I had been on the pill the whole time and there had been no sex for a while since I found out he was cheating. But I was still freaking out. So yeah, stress can mess up your cycle. Relax… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/11 "2016-05-02T04:09:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Periods aren’t always regular, even on the Pill. Mine’s different all the time. I’m on continuous BC (never have a placebo week, never supposed to have a period) and I still bleed at weird times or have PMS symptoms and cramps and stuff. I’ve also gone months off the pill without having a single period, was never pregnant during those times. ditto. I always laugh at TV shows where the female character somehow knows when she’s supposed to have a period and gets worried if it’s a day late. Real life isn’t like that. And to throw you for another loop, some women have what appear to be periods after they get pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/12 "2016-05-03T17:41:24Z")
Update? You are most likely fine, just stressed and so forth, but I am badly in need of a life of my own (sex life or otherwise) and want to live vicariously through others. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/14 "2016-05-03T19:35:51Z")
> [@Stella\_Blue](#): > > What do you mean, “somehow knows”? Do you not know when you’re supposed to expect your period? > > While I totally agree that stress and other factors can impact regularity and the OP should definitely not be worried at this point, you do know that even if “real life” doesn’t work that way _for you_, lots of women (me and the OP included, apparently) really do have cycles that are reliable enough that a day (or even a few hours) is uncomfortably surprising? You can really predict within HOURS? That’s impressive. I’m not a woman, but none that I’ve been with could do that. Of course - they may not have tried. I’ve been with some that could within a day or two, but sometimes they were off by one time I think 10 days. But even if you can - which I can totally believe some women can - I would think that the difference of a couple hours on taking the pill wouldn’t make much of a difference. Food and other things make a difference in absorption - so if a few hours mattered I’d think women were getting pregnant much more often. I wonder if women that can predict that closely also have more regular sleep schedules and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/16 "2016-05-03T20:26:33Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > You can really predict within HOURS? > > That’s impressive. I’m not a woman, but none that I’ve been with could do that. Of course - they may not have tried. I’ve been with some that could within a day or two, but sometimes they were off by one time I think 10 days. > > … > > I wonder if women that can predict that closely also have more regular sleep schedules and stuff. Between the ages of 13 and 36, my period lasted 32d and 6h, except in September (when it moved ahead by 14 days) and the one closest to the March full moon (when it moved back by 14 days); yes, I had summer and winter patterns. There were a few irregular months caused by stress (things such as getting a job working 12h shifts, alternating days and nights). At age 36, I changed patterns to a more irregular one (still, “more irregular” means going to plus minus one day). Right now (48) I’m irregular again and have been for several months, but based on family history it’s perimenopause. And yes, when not forced otherwise, my sleep schedule has also been something you could set your clock by. Specially waking: 5am plus minus a few minutes, no matter when had I gone to sleep. One of the things that tell me I’m in perimenopause is that my sleep patterns are also changing. I still wake up at 5am, but now the bed doesn’t kick me out as soon as my eyes open; all my life the ability to stay in bed while awake was something which happened to other people. Notice that even being Ms Sets The Clock, stress still did cause irregularities. It’s an uterus, not a swiss machine. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/period-on-pill-when-should-i-start-worrying-about-it-not-coming-im-a-worrying-mess/753534/17 "2016-05-03T22:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > You can really predict within HOURS? > > That’s impressive. I’m not a woman, but none that I’ve been with could do that. I don’t even keep up with mine at all. I always have to make note a month or two before my yearly exam. But I do know someone who, when on the pill, would always get her period within the same half-hour time period (I think 10:00-10:30 am) and she always knew which day. I know some women are more regular than others, but I have no real grasp of exactly how precise women not taking birth control can predict theirs.