Can you really have a missed period and NOT be pregnant?

Well, quite simply, YES. You can miss your menstual cycle or simply have it delayed and not be pg. The reason may be different for you, then for someone else, but the most common reasons include:

1.) Stress -If you are too anxious about whether or not you are pregnant, or have a lot of stress going on in your life, you can actually delay your cycle.

2.) Hormone imbalance -Although the reasons vary for women, hormone imbalances can certainly mess with your cycles. Reasons like PCOS, pre-menopause, endometriosis, etc.

3.) You ovulated later then expected -Sometimes our bodies throw us a curve ball when TTC. Maybe you normally ovulate on cycle day 16, but this cycle you didn't ovulate until CD20. It happens...so don't rule it out. Especially if you were TTC and you have a missed period.

4.) Breastfeeding - when breastfeeding, expect the unexpected with your cycles. You may have a regular cycle one month, and totally miss your cycle the next. The reason is hormones.

5.) Medication - such as birth control can certainly cause an irregular cycle.

The main thing to keep in mind is that, if your period is late, but you have a negative pregnancy test, YOU COULD STILL BE PREGNANT. So don't go out drinking with your girl friends, or pop any "questionable" medication until either a.) your period returns, or b.) you get word from your doctor that you aren't pregnant. The best thing to do is to act pregnant until you know for sure.

Also, remember that having your period be a few days longer or shorter then "normal" is not "abnormal". So just try to relax and enjoy the ride. You will know soon enough. That negative pregnancy test may be the last negative you see for the next 9 months! Don't give up hope.

If you want to find out even sooner then the store bought home pregnancy tests, you can get good, cheap, extrememly sensitive tests in bulk by vising Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com.