Menstruation

I am sure that I am not pregnant, however, my period hasn't started yet and I am 5 days late.

Periods can be late for many other reasons besides pregnancy. If you are still going through puberty, or you are starting to go through menopause, then your menstrual cycle is very likely to be irregular as your hormones are unbalanced. Sometimes, however, an irregular cycle can be indicative of other health problems, such as stress and extreme body weight changes. Exercising a lot can also affect your menstrual cycle, so if you are training, this could be the reason for a late or missed period. Your method of birth control can also be the culprit for your late or missed period, as starting and stopping birth control pills can both cause your periods to change. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can also cause cysts to form on the ovaries that prevent ovulation from occurring and also affect your insulin levels. While much rarer, poorly managed diabetes can lead to changes in blood sugar that affect your hormone levels and cause an irregular period. An over or underactive thyroid can also affect your hormone levels and cause your periods to become irregular. It's suggested that you consult with your doctor on what could be causing these period issues and, if you notice extremely heavy bleeding or bleeding lasting over 7 days, then you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.