What should you know about late period and dizzy spells?

Dizziness can mean light-headedness, feeling unsteady, or a spinning sensation. A late period may occur when ovulation changes, during stress or illness, with weight or exercise changes, or after starting or stopping some medicines. Pregnancy is another possibility if there has been sex that could lead to pregnancy; early pregnancy can involve light-headedness, nausea or fatigue.

A missed period commonly presents as delayed or absent bleeding, while dizzy spells are a separate symptom with many possible causes. Perimenopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can be linked with irregular cycles, but dizziness should not automatically be attributed to either condition.

Sit or lie down when a spell starts, rise slowly, drink fluids and avoid driving or climbing until you feel steady. Note when the dizziness occurs, how long it lasts, whether the room spins, and whether you have bleeding, pain, vomiting, palpitations or vision changes. If pregnancy is possible, take a home pregnancy test and record the result.

Book a medical review if spells recur, interfere with normal activity, or occur with a persistently late period. A clinician may check blood pressure, hydration, blood count, medications and pregnancy status, then choose further tests based on your history. Read more about Missed Period, Perimenopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Seek emergency help for fainting, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder-tip pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing, a severe headache, new weakness, confusion or difficulty speaking. If you are pregnant or might be pregnant, dizziness with pain or bleeding needs urgent assessment because an ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening.

Ask whether you need a pregnancy test, blood pressure check or blood tests, and whether any medicine or recent illness could explain the spells. Tell the clinician about your cycle pattern, contraception, fluid intake, bleeding, pain and whether symptoms happen after standing.