There are unforeseen cases when regular female bleeding does not appear for a long time. The first thing that comes to the mind of any representative of the fairer sex is pregnancy. But there are many more different reasons for such a violation. Therefore, in this article we will study from all sides the reasons for delayed periods in the fairer sex.
Delay may be a symptom of a medical condition
Delayed menstruation is an extremely dangerous phenomenon in the body of an adult woman. It is characterized by the cessation of menstrual bleeding for more than a month. Anything can serve as an impetus for its development. These include physiological changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, and disruptions in the functioning of body systems caused by serious pathological conditions.
Suspension of critical days occurs at any period of life. If there is no discharge for a week from the expected date of its onset, then it is worth visiting the clinic on the same day, where the doctor will order tests to identify the causes, establish a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
The menstrual cycle is a mechanism that indicates a woman’s health and her ability to reproduce, so the slightest irregularities should be detected as quickly as possible.
Menstruation in healthy women comes at the same time every month
Menstrual cycle
The female body is designed in such a way that there are some patterns that manifest themselves in the repetition of the same thing every month. Blood discharge is the final stage of this process.
This confirms that the egg was not fertilized, that is, the woman did not become pregnant. Regular periods are confirmation that all body systems are functioning normally. The slightest changes may indicate serious violations.
What delay period should be considered normal?
Each woman keeps a special diary in which she notes the regularity of her periods. If there are no delays, then the reproductive system is working smoothly. At different periods of life, certain time periods are allowed when a delay may occur.
Reputable doctors say that a week's delay is normal. This is true only when there are no other abnormalities in the woman's health. If she feels great and does not experience any changes or discomfort, then we can assume that everything is normal. But each age category has its own normal values for delay.
For the first time, menstruation appears in girls aged 11 to 15 years. During this period, the cycle has not yet been established, which can also cause delays. If after a few years the cycle has not returned to normal, it is better to immediately consult a doctor for advice.
If bleeding does not become established before the age of twenty, this may indicate serious pathological processes: delayed development, hypoplasia or immaturity of the ovaries.
Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis
Typically, for a healthy woman or girl, the dry period averages about thirty days. Therefore, your period should begin within the specified period.
The onset of menopause in most cases occurs around forty-five years, which is evidence of the aging of the reproductive system of the fairer sex.
Under what circumstances is it normal to have a delayed period?
During puberty, when a girl’s reproductive system has not yet formed, disruptions in the cycle are quite a typical phenomenon. This may continue for several years. If the delay increases, it may indicate a serious illness.
When periods do not appear until age 15, you should immediately consult a doctor. If excess weight appears, changes in voice, appearance, or increased hair growth, you should visit a doctor much earlier. This indicates a hormonal imbalance and a serious disorder of the reproductive system.
In a normal case, by the age of 15, a cycle is formed, and in the future menstruation occurs without delay.
If there is a delay of more than three days, then it makes sense to undergo it at home. If the result is negative and your period has not started, then you should contact a gynecologist for testing. When performing an ultrasound and the level of hCG increases several times, there is a possibility of detecting intrauterine pregnancy.
The first thing you can do if you are late is take a pregnancy test.
After the birth of a child, a woman’s cycle does not recover immediately. This is especially pronounced during breastfeeding. The hormone, which affects the production of mother's milk, inhibits the production of progesterone, and therefore affects the menstrual cycle.
Therefore, it usually takes about a year to normalize the entire process and establish a regular cycle. If after this period the reproductive system does not improve, most likely the woman became pregnant again.
By the age of 45, the female body’s ability to reproduce fades away, therefore, irregularities in the menstrual cycle occur. But pregnancy is also possible at this time. Therefore, it is worth contacting a specialist to find out everything for sure.
What are the types of delay?
Usually delays are divided by their duration. If a woman takes contraceptives, her period may be delayed for up to two weeks. The same is true when taking medications containing: the delay can last about a week.
If a woman is pregnant, white discharge is observed. They are usually a defense mechanism against the entry of various microorganisms. If they occur, you should immediately contact a gynecologist, as a miscarriage is possible.
With diseases associated with the genitourinary system, menstruation may be delayed. Usually there is a brownish discharge with a sour odor. All this is accompanied by severe nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
If your periods are delayed for a long time, you should think about diseases of the genital or internal organs. You can distinguish: inflammation, cyst, erosion and many others.
An ovarian cyst can cause delay
If there are no periods for more than two months, inflammatory processes of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, hypothalamus or pancreas are possible. Because of this, female hormones are produced in insufficient quantities, which has a negative impact on the maturation of the ovaries.
Reasons for a delay in menstruation for a period of 1 to 4 days
This may be caused by the following phenomena:
- strong emotional tension, stress, high workload;
- great physical activity;
- sudden change in lifestyle;
- climate change;
- poor nutrition and diets;
- global hormonal changes in the body;
- stopping taking contraceptives;
- taking contraceptive medications that contain large amounts of hormones;
- postpartum period;
- viral diseases.
Should I worry if there is a delay of 5 days or more?
During such a period it is difficult to say about the presence of any negative processes. Therefore, you should not panic ahead of time and start taking active action.
This may be a consequence of excessive workload, chronic lack of sleep or fatigue. If there is no discomfort in the lower abdomen or other pain symptoms, we can say that there is no problem. You just need to have a good rest.
Sometimes you just need to get some sleep to restore your cycle.
What could be the reasons for a delay of 6 to 10 days, excluding pregnancy?
This may be a signal of the presence of pathologies or pregnancy.
If pregnancy is not detected, the second option may be amenorrhea. The most dangerous phenomenon is ectopic pregnancy, which is characterized by the following symptoms:
- sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
- nausea;
- general weakness throughout the body;
- dizziness;
- brown discharge.
If you find such symptoms, you should immediately go to the gynecologist. Untimely treatment can lead to serious diseases of the reproductive system and infertility.
Delay of 10 days: is it worth contacting a gynecologist?
If the delay is not caused by pregnancy, then it is worth conducting a thorough investigation. This will help exclude or confirm the presence of diseases: thrush, tumor, vaginitis.
If no gynecological diseases have been detected, you should consult other doctors. This could be: gastritis, diabetes, anorexia, pancreatitis and a whole list of other pathological conditions.
What to do if the delay is more than two weeks?
If critical days do not follow, it is difficult to believe that there are no problems. Even if you are not bothered by pain and feel excellent, you should immediately consult a doctor for a gynecological examination and examination.
A gynecological examination is mandatory even if there are no problems, at least once every six months
Two months absence of menstruation
If there is such a long delay, you should be tested for ovarian dysfunction. Usually this disease is accompanied by other disorders: viral diseases, pathologies of the genital organs, thyroid gland, kidneys and many others.
If the discharge does not look like menstruation, you should immediately go to the gynecologist.
What to do if you are not pregnant, but have not had your period for 3 months?
This indicates a serious illness - amenorrhea. It requires the mandatory intervention of a specialist, so do not put off going to the clinic.
Pregnancy
The main reason for delayed menstruation in adult women with a normally functioning reproductive system is pregnancy. This may be evidenced by the following symptoms: constant drowsiness, chronic fatigue, severe chest pain and other equally unpleasant symptoms.
If there is a delay, you can determine whether the uterus is fertilized or not using special tests. Their operating principle is the same: the amount of hCG hormone is measured in the urine, which takes effect and begins to be actively produced a week after the fertilization of the egg.
Negative pregnancy test and missed period: what is the relationship?
At the first sign of a missed period, women run to the pharmacy for a test. But what if the test shows a negative result? In this case, you feel discomfort in the lower abdomen.
Sometimes tests can be wrong. This is caused by non-compliance with instructions or low-quality products. Many tests may be incorrect if you have kidney failure or other conditions. The integrity of the packaging and the expiration date of the test may affect the result. Late ovulation can also cause an error. For greater accuracy, use it during morning urination.
Normal delay in menstruation
The delay in regular discharge in a healthy adult woman can last up to a week. In older women, with major changes in the body caused by menopause, this phenomenon can be observed for about half a month. After the first sexual intercourse, a delay of two to four days is considered normal.
When menopause occurs, a delay of up to 14 days is normal.
What other reasons are there for the delay?
In the worst case, the absence of menstruation may be evidence of serious illnesses:
- swelling or inflammation of the reproductive organs, which are accompanied by atypical discharge and sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
- hormonal imbalance, which can cause polycystic ovary syndrome;
- ovarian corpus luteum cyst;
- abortion;
- ectopic or;
- diseases associated with sudden weight loss.
In any case, a delay in menstruation is a condition that should raise certain suspicions, so it is better to immediately see a specialist.
Abortion
It is worth paying special attention to the fact that after a forced termination of pregnancy occurs, almost every woman’s critical days are restored at different times. This is significantly influenced by the individual characteristics of the body of the fairer sex, as well as the timing and method of abortion.
If the operation is successful, your periods should resume after a month.
If for some reason the cycle does not resume, you should immediately visit a gynecologist.
The relationship between breastfeeding and delay
For mothers, the return of their periods depends on how long it takes to produce breast milk. If for some reason the natural process of lactation does not occur, then the cycle should resume a month after birth.
There may be a delay in menstruation when breastfeeding
- type of feeding;
- regularity of feeding.
If feeding occurs regularly, then the process of returning critical days can take almost a whole year. With a mixed type, the reproductive system begins to function normally within a few months after birth.
Why does women's pain persist during delay?
Severe discomfort in the lower abdomen can occur even at a time when there is no bleeding, characteristic of menstruation. This process is completely normal and depends on the individual characteristics of the body.
Gynecological problems can be caused by the appearance of inflammatory processes that cause severe pain. It is not recommended to turn a blind eye to these sensations, as this can cause serious complications in the future.
Why does my chest hurt during a delay?
Before the onset of menstruation, many women notice pain in the chest area. If your period does not come, this may be a signal that you are pregnant. This is observed in almost all cases. Sometimes this is a sign of more serious diseases: a tumor or hormonal imbalance.
Most often, chest pain during a delay indicates pregnancy.
When is the best time to see a doctor?
If your period is not observed within a week, then you should go to the clinic. The gynecologist may conduct a general examination or prescribe additional tests.
If the reasons are not related to the reproductive system, then you should consult other doctors.
Conducting a survey
In addition to the standard examination by a gynecologist, the following studies are carried out:
- measurements;
- blood analysis;
- ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
- MRI of the brain.
What diseases can occur?
Constant delays are the first signs of dangerous pathological diseases in the fairer sex. For example, these could be ovarian diseases or uterine anomalies.
Diseases of the blood, chest, epilepsy or mental disorders have a huge impact on the frequency of discharge during menstrual periods.
Before taking any action, you should undergo a thorough diagnosis from several specialists.
Folk remedies
In order to restore the cycle, you can use tips that have been proven over the years:
- Making settings from rosehip, nettle or oregano. The products can be purchased at any pharmacy. Take a few teaspoons of the herb, pour boiling water over it and leave for a while.
- A decoction of onion peels, which must be boiled for half an hour.
- Ginger decoction.
- To improve the functioning of the nervous system, make a decoction of angelica.
- To improve the functioning of the heart and uterus, take motherwort.
- White peony improves blood circulation.
- Including celery in your diet.
- Bathing in hot water and using heating pads.
- Vitamin C intake.
Celery will help restore your cycle
How to get your period back and is it possible to do it?
In order to stimulate menstruation, you need to be constantly under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs for restoring the menstrual cycle contain high levels of hormones. Therefore, you should take them carefully so as not to cause major complications and deterioration of your health.
Results
Do not forget that no matter what the reasons become the basis for a delay in a woman’s period, she must immediately visit a gynecologist. Only he will be able to conduct an examination, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Independent actions can only aggravate the situation and disrupt the health of the reproductive system, which can lead to infertility and many other diseases.
Long-term absence of menstruation can be caused by natural physiological processes. Then the situation is considered normal, there is no reason to worry. If you haven’t had your period for 2–4 months without any apparent reason, you need to visit a gynecologist.
Changes in hormonal levels are the main reason for delayed periods. All reasons are conventionally divided into several groups.
Whatever the reason for the delay in menstruation, you should treat your body carefully. If alarming symptoms occur, you should seek help from qualified professionals.
Delayed menstruation in a teenager
The first menstruation occurs at the age of 12–13 years. Sex hormones contribute to its appearance. The formation of hormonal levels is evidenced by the physical development of the girl. Secondary sexual characteristics appear - breast enlargement, hair growth in the groin area, armpits, waist formation. In this case, the girl’s weight plays an important role. If your body weight is less than 45 kg, menstruation will not begin. For this reason, periods for overweight teenagers begin earlier. For thin girls, menarche occurs at 14–16 years of age.
The onset of menstruation does not indicate a stable monthly cycle. The hormonal background is far from constant. There will be a delay in menstruation and their character will change. Moreover, a break of two months is considered normal. In general, a girl's menstrual cycle should become similar to her mother's. If everything was different for the mother, you can take the teenager for a consultation with a gynecologist. There may be pathological abnormalities.
Test negative for missed period
To get a true result, you need to choose high-quality products with high sensitivity and carry out the analysis correctly. Pregnancy is considered to have occurred from the moment the egg is implanted in the uterine cavity. Then the level of the pregnancy hormone, hCG, increases every day. In urine, the level of the hormone increases much more slowly than in the blood. In the early stages of pregnancy with a delay of up to 1 week, it is recommended to carry out the analysis with a morning urine sample. Then the hormone level is highest.
The operating principle of all tests is based on the reaction of the reagent. If its sensitivity is from 25 units, it will not be able to demonstrate pregnancy in the early stages. In addition, even a test with 10 sensitivity units can also misfire. When ovulation does not occur in the middle of the cycle, closer to the end, the body does not have time to quickly rebuild itself by the time menstruation begins. Then, if there is a delay of up to 1 week, the result may be false. The second gray stripe does not indicate pregnancy at all. This means that the reaction did not occur. Most likely, the test was kept in the urine for longer than 30 seconds.
If we are talking about a delay of menstruation by 2-4 months, a negative test is a clear confirmation of the absence of pregnancy. Cycle disruption occurs due to menopause, if age allows such conclusions, gynecological diseases, nervous pathologies, diseases of the endocrine system.
Late period but not pregnant – what to do
First of all, it is necessary to analyze the events of past months. If there are no obvious factors influencing the menstrual cycle, it is recommended to undergo an examination. Delayed periods are caused by gynecological diseases:
- uterine fibroids;
- chronic endometritis;
- inflammation of the uterus and appendages.
Thyroid dysfunction is directly related to the production of hormones. You will also have to visit an endocrinologist. A delay in menstruation can occur after taking antibiotics and some other medications. This should be written about in the instructions, and the attending physician must warn you.
It is very difficult to independently determine the cause of a missed period when you haven’t had one for several months. The most harmless cause may be a disorder of the nervous system. Then, after restoring rest, the menstrual cycle also normalizes. In other cases, long-term treatment and hormonal medications will be required.
How to call them
The absence of menstruation in women of reproductive age entails disruption of the functioning of other systems and internal organs. The question arises about their forced summons. In the absence of serious gynecological diseases, the situation is regulated quite quickly. The reason for this phenomenon is an insufficient amount of progesterone, the second phase hormone. It is replenished with synthetic analogues. The most common means for inducing menstruation during a long delay is Norkolut. If menstruation is delayed by several months, start taking pills any day.
The dose of the drug is determined by a specialist. Usually 1 tablet per day for 10 days. Or 2 tablets at a time for 5 days. Menstruation should occur during the treatment process. If the progesterone level was not so low. Or 1–3 days after completion of the course. goes on as usual.
People have several recipes for inducing menstruation. For example, a decoction of parsley, which causes increased contraction of the muscles of the uterus. But in such a long absence of menstruation, folk recipes will be ineffective. It is necessary to induce critical periods with the help of special medications prescribed by a doctor. The wrong dosage may not give the desired result or cause severe bleeding.
Lack of menstruation after 40 years
At this age, the reproductive functions of the body decline. Unstable hormonal levels lead to absence of menstruation for several months. Then the amount of estrogen gradually accumulates, ovulation occurs again, and after a few weeks spotting appears. Menopause lasts about 4 years. Ends with a complete absence of menstruation. However, if the situation is concerning, you should visit a gynecologist. During menopause, the risk of gynecological diseases associated with hormones increases.
Normally, the menstrual cycle lasts from 21 to 35 days. For each woman, its duration is individual, but for most of them, the intervals between menstruation are equal or differ from each other by no more than 5 days. You should always mark the day your menstrual bleeding begins on your calendar so that you can spot cycle irregularities in time.
Often, after stress, illness, intense physical activity, or climate change, a woman experiences a slight delay in menstruation. In other cases, this sign indicates pregnancy or hormonal disorders. We will describe the main reasons for delayed periods and the mechanism of their development, and also talk about what to do in such a situation.
Why is there a delay?
A delay in menstruation can be the result of physiological changes in the body, as well as be a manifestation of functional failures or diseases of both the genital and other organs (“extragenital pathology”).
Normally, menstruation does not occur during pregnancy. After childbirth, the mother’s cycle is also not restored immediately; this largely depends on whether the woman is lactating. In women without pregnancy, an increase in cycle length may be a manifestation of perimenopause (menopause). Irregularity of the cycle in girls after the start of menstruation is also considered normal, if it is not accompanied by other disorders.
Functional disorders that can provoke disruption of the menstrual cycle are stress, intense physical activity, rapid weight loss, previous infection or other acute disease, climate change.
Often, an irregular cycle with a delay in menstruation in patients suffering from gynecological diseases, especially. In addition, such a symptom can accompany inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, occur after termination of pregnancy or diagnostic curettage, after. Ovarian dysfunction may be caused by pathology of the pituitary gland and other organs that regulate a woman’s hormonal levels.
Of the somatic diseases accompanied by possible menstrual irregularities, it is worth noting obesity.
When is a delay in menstruation normal?
Puberty and the ovulatory cycle
The gradual puberty of girls leads to the appearance of their first menstruation - menarche, usually at the age of 12-13 years. However, during adolescence, the reproductive system is not yet fully formed. Therefore, disruptions in the menstrual cycle are possible. Delayed menstruation in adolescents occurs during the first 2 years after menarche; after this period, it can serve as a sign of disease. If your period does not appear before the age of 15, this is a reason to visit a gynecologist. If an irregular cycle is accompanied by obesity, excess body hair growth, voice changes, as well as heavy menstruation, it is necessary to seek medical help earlier in order to begin correcting the disorders in time.
Normally, by the age of 15, the cycle is already regular. Subsequently, menstruation occurs under the influence of cyclical changes in the concentration of hormones in the body. In the first half of the cycle, under the influence of estrogens produced by the ovaries, an egg begins to mature in one of them. Then the vesicle (follicle) in which it developed bursts, and the egg ends up in the abdominal cavity - ovulation occurs. During ovulation, short-term mucous white discharge appears from the genital tract, and there may be a slight pain on the left or right side of the lower abdomen.
The egg is captured by the fallopian tubes and travels through them to the uterus. At this time, the burst follicle is replaced by the so-called corpus luteum - a formation that synthesizes progesterone. Under the influence of this hormone, the layer lining the inside of the uterus - the endometrium - grows and prepares to receive the embryo when pregnancy occurs. If conception does not occur, progesterone production decreases and the endometrium is rejected - menstruation begins.
During fertilization and development of the embryo, the corpus luteum in the ovary continues to actively produce progesterone, under the influence of which the implantation of the egg, the formation of the placenta and the development of pregnancy occur. The endometrium does not undergo degradation and therefore is not rejected. In addition, progesterone suppresses the maturation of new eggs, so there is no ovulation and, accordingly, cyclic processes in the woman’s body stop.
If there is a delay
If menstruation is delayed by 3 days (and often on the first day), you can do a test at home to determine pregnancy. If it is negative, but the woman is still concerned about the delay, she should undergo an ultrasound examination of the uterus using a vaginal probe, as well as a blood test that determines the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
If the second phase of the cycle is determined, then menstruation will come soon; if there are no signs of the second phase, you need to think about ovarian dysfunction (we’ll talk about it below); during pregnancy, a fertilized egg is detected in the uterus, and during pregnancy it is located, for example, in the fallopian tube (). In doubtful cases, the hCG test can be repeated after 2 days. An increase in its concentration by two or more times indicates the progress of intrauterine pregnancy.
Menstruation after childbirth
After childbirth, the menstrual cycle for many women does not immediately return, especially if the mother feeds the baby with her milk. Milk production occurs under the influence of the hormone prolactin, which simultaneously inhibits the synthesis of progesterone and ovulation. As a result, the egg does not mature, and the endometrium does not prepare to receive it, and then is not rejected.
Usually, menstruation is restored within 8-12 months after childbirth while breastfeeding the baby and the gradual introduction of complementary foods. A delay in menstruation during breastfeeding with a restored cycle in the first 2-3 months is usually the norm, and in the future it may indicate a new pregnancy.
Declining reproductive function
Finally, over time, women's reproductive function gradually begins to fade. At the age of 45-50 years, delays in menstruation, irregular cycles, and changes in the duration of discharge are normally possible. However, even at this time, ovulation is quite likely in some cycles, so if menstruation is delayed for more than 3-5 days, a woman needs to think about pregnancy. To exclude this possibility, you should consult a gynecologist in time and select contraceptives.
Intermittent cycle disorders
A delay in menstruation with a negative test is often associated with the effect of unfavorable factors on the body. The most common reasons causing a short-term failure of the cycle duration:
- emotional stress, such as a session or family troubles;
- intense physical activity, including sports competitions;
- rapid loss of body weight while following a diet;
- climate and time zone changes when traveling on vacation or on a business trip.
Under the influence of any of these factors, an imbalance in the processes of excitation, inhibition and mutual influence of nerve cells develops in the brain. As a result, a temporary disruption of the functioning of the cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the main regulatory centers in the body, may occur. Under the influence of substances secreted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland cyclically secretes follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, under the influence of which estrogen and progesterone are synthesized in the ovaries. Therefore, when the functioning of the nervous system changes, the duration of the menstrual cycle may also change.
Many women are interested in whether there can be a delay in menstruation after taking antibiotics? As a rule, antibacterial drugs themselves do not affect the length of the cycle and cannot cause a delay in menstruation. However, it can be caused by the infectious disease for which the patient was prescribed antimicrobial drugs. The infection has a toxic (poisonous) effect on the nervous system, and is also a stress factor that contributes to disruption of hormonal regulation. This is possible, for example, with cystitis.
Normally, the next menstruation after a delay in the listed cases occurs on time. More permanent cycle disorders may occur when using certain medications:
- , especially low-dose;
- long-acting gestagens, used in some cases for the treatment of other diseases;
- prednisolone and other glucocorticoids;
- hormone releasing agonists;
- chemotherapeutic agents and some others.
How to induce menstruation if there is a delay?
This possibility exists, but we need to clearly answer the question – why does a woman need menstrual bleeding as a fact? Most often, representatives of the fair sex answer this question - to restore the normal cycle. In this case, you need to understand that thoughtless self-medication with hormonal drugs can, of course, cause menstruation, but is even more likely to lead to dysfunction of the reproductive system and impaired ability to conceive.
Thus, a woman will receive a much larger set of problems than just a delay in menstruation. Besides, she might be pregnant. Therefore, if menstruation is delayed by more than 5 days, it is recommended to take a home test to determine pregnancy, and then consult a gynecologist.
To normalize the cycle, the patient can only get rid of external factors that contribute to the delay (stress, fasting, excess load) and follow the recommendations of her doctor.
Diseases that cause delayed periods
Regular delays in menstruation are most often a sign of diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary system or ovaries, less often - the uterus or appendages. This sign can also be observed in extragenital pathology that is not directly related to diseases of the female reproductive system.
Damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland can occur due to a tumor of neighboring parts of the brain or these formations themselves, or hemorrhage into this part (in particular, as a result of childbirth). Common reasons other than pregnancy for which the regularity of the cycle is disrupted are ovarian diseases:
Emergency hormonal contraception. If irregularity persists during the next cycle after intrauterine manipulation, you need to contact a gynecologist.
Finally, a delay in menstruation occurs with some extragenital diseases:
- epilepsy;
- neuroses and other mental disorders;
- diseases of the biliary tract and liver;
- blood diseases;
- breast tumor;
- adrenal diseases and other conditions accompanied by hormonal imbalance.
The variety of reasons why menstruation may be delayed requires careful diagnosis and different approaches to treatment. It is clear that only a competent doctor can choose the right tactics after a general, gynecological and additional examination of the patient.
Every girl has experienced a delay in menstruation. The first thing that all women think in such a situation is: “Is there a pregnancy?” They run to the pharmacy, buy a test, and it shows a negative result. Then a lot of thoughts and self-diagnosis appear, which become the reason for the protracted wait for menstruation. But what are the actual reasons and is it worth panicking so much? Let's figure it out.
Is this really a major delay or just a minor glitch?
A normal female cycle lasts from three weeks to five. If the difference in the menstrual calendar lasts up to one week, then most likely the woman has some problems in her body and they need to be examined together with a specialist, a gynecologist. He will accurately determine whether there is pregnancy. The fact is that a negative test may turn out to be false, since in the early stages the level of hCG, due to which two stripes appear, is often still low. A negative test is especially likely to be false if it was taken on the day when menstruation is expected.
But in the case where there is no actual pregnancy, the delay can be caused by many factors. Their severity depends on what type of delay occurred in a particular woman. This can be a cycle disorder up to two months apart, but accompanied by mild bleeding for just a couple of days. In addition, menstruation may simply be delayed by several days, when the cycle itself is delayed by its maximum period of up to 35 days. Or menstruation has been absent from a woman’s life for six months.
There is nothing wrong if the delay lasts only a few days. There is no need to panic and attribute a whole range of illnesses to yourself. It is possible that this is just a slight malfunction due to poor nutrition or stress, which is not a threat to the female body. But if this repeats from month to month, then there is a reason to visit your doctor.
The main reasons for delayed periods
- The most common cause of delayed periods is serious stressful situations. This can be a consequence of a difficult exam for young girls, problems with raising their first child, difficult everyday life at work, conflicts with their boss, excessive worries about their personal life, serious illness or death of a loved one, etc. Any nervous condition, one way or another, affects the female body and at some point can have consequences. It is better to initially learn to analyze and treat everything as calmly as possible, remembering that health is always more important.
- Another common cause is a significant change in weight. This change can be either upward or downward. If a woman decided to quickly lose weight and went on a diet, limiting her diet, stopped consuming a number of vitamin products and lost more than four kilograms per month, then the body falls into a state of war and responds to such sudden changes. A beautiful figure is good. But without too much enthusiasm.
- Obesity as a cause of delayed menstruation. Women who are overweight often face such problems. In such situations, you most likely will not be able to cope with the problem on your own and simply lose weight. It is necessary to consult not only a gynecologist, but also an endocrinologist. It is necessary to determine the real cause of excess weight and eliminate it. It is possible that obesity can be affected by serious organ diseases or severe hormonal imbalance.
- Moving. Changing your place of residence is also, to some extent, stressful for the body. Especially if you have changed not just cities, but also climate zones, even time zones. Each climatic region has its own natural characteristics and the body needs time to adapt to them.
- Incorrectly prescribed pills to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Any pills against unwanted pregnancy should be prescribed by a doctor, based on test results, hormone levels and the individual characteristics of the female body. The tablets are hormonal and can negatively affect the body. The same reason may include changing hormonal medications or birth control pills.
- Reasons for delayed periods include recent surgeries. Especially if they were carried out on the genitals. Consultation with a doctor and observation by him for a certain period is mandatory.
- It could also be the consequences of an abortion experienced in the past or even several abortions. Abortion is a serious intervention on a woman's body and its consequences often may not appear immediately, but may take several months or years. This is also influenced by what method of abortion was performed and how professionally.
- Inflammation of the kidneys or genitourinary system. The disease is quite serious and is often accompanied by difficulty when trying to go to the toilet, pain that radiates to the lower back. Some women may confuse this serious disease with cystitis and PMS. But when you notice the first such symptoms, you simply need to see a doctor, undergo an examination and get tested.
- Tumor of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. The disease is terrible. A high percentage is that it is detected in the final stages. To avoid this or detect it in the early stages, it is important to consult a doctor regularly as a preventive measure. Experts say that healthy women should visit a gynecologist at least once every six months.
- Severe vitamin deficiency. For the health of any person, not just women, it is very important that the body receives all the vitamins necessary for life and functioning. Therefore, it is important to monitor your own nutrition and, if necessary, take vitamin complexes.
- And yet, stress is the most common and common problem of delaying months in the absence of pregnancy. It is especially bad if a woman is constantly exposed to serious experiences. Then it begins to talk not only about visiting a gynecologist, but also a psychologist, in order to learn how to cope with emotional pressure.
But if your problem seems really serious to you and the delays are already long, then do not put off going to a professional for too long. A comprehensive diagnosis, which will be prescribed to you by your attending physician, will help you understand the cause and eliminate it as soon as possible, before the consequences become irreversible and lead to a chain of other diseases (the cause of which, do not forget, can also be regular regular stress).
According to the latest statistics, women very often, citing various reasons, postpone this important visit to the gynecologist so much that, as a result, the detected diseases become difficult to treat. You need to understand that the tumor grows, in most cases, without unnecessary symptoms and pain. It makes itself felt already in the very last stages, when treatment is ineffective or useless.
A regular and healthy menstrual cycle is the main indicator that you are doing well. The delay should not be neglected. Especially if you want to have a child in the future. If you miss some failures or illness, you may have problems conceiving a baby, carrying it to term, or giving birth.
What to do if your period is late but you are not pregnant?
If you are absolutely sure of the veracity of the negative test, but your period still does not come, then there can be only one piece of advice - consult a doctor. Only a gynecologist and no one else can determine the cause and tell you how to proceed. During the examination prescribed by a specialist and taking tests, eliminate junk food from your diet (or better yet, eliminate it completely), stop being nervous and worrying. A gynecologist will definitely help you!
The way a woman's reproductive system functions can be used to judge her overall health. The appearance of cycle disorders and delayed menstruation indicate abnormalities in the functioning of the endocrine, nervous and other systems. Regular periods of normal duration indicate that the level of hormones is normal and the woman is able to become pregnant. The reasons for the delay of menstruation can be the processes of natural age-related changes, the body’s reaction to external factors. Deviation from the norm is often a sign of a serious illness.
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What is considered a missed period?
It is considered normal if a woman’s period comes in 21-35 days. A delay of more than 10 days is a pathology if it is not associated with a physiological restructuring of the body. Every woman experiences a slight delay in menstruation 1-2 times a year. If this repeats constantly, then you need to see a doctor for examination.
Menstruation may occur at intervals of more than 40 days (oligomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea), or may be absent for several menstrual cycles (amenorrhea).
There are natural reasons for a missed period. In addition to pregnancy, this could, for example, be lactation or menopause. If the delay is not associated with normal physiological processes, then the nature of the pathology must be immediately established to avoid complications.
Physiological causes of delayed menstruation
The menstrual cycle is a strict sequence of processes associated with preparing the female body for pregnancy. Even a completely healthy woman can experience malfunctions of this mechanism under the influence of external factors. These include:
- Emotional state: tense anticipation of menstruation, if a woman fears an unwanted pregnancy, stress at work, personal worries.
- Increased physical and mental stress, intense sports.
- Moving to a new place of residence, changing climate, occupation, daily routine.
- Poor nutrition, addiction to diets, obesity, vitamin deficiency.
- Colds, chronic gastritis, diabetes, kidney disease.
- Taking antibiotics and some other medications.
- Use of hormonal contraceptives, abrupt discontinuation of contraception.
- Hormonal changes in the body during puberty. For 1-2 years, periods come irregularly, even missing for several months due to the immaturity of the ovaries. Then the cycle is established. If this does not happen, then it is necessary to find out the cause of the violations.
- Changes in hormonal levels during menopause. Rare, irregular periods are a sign of the onset of perimenopause, which precedes the complete cessation of menstruation.
- An increase in prolactin levels in the body during the postpartum period associated with milk production. If a woman does not breastfeed, her periods will return after 2 months. If she is breastfeeding, her period comes after she stops putting her baby to the breast.
Note: If your period does not come 1 year after giving birth, this may be a sign of a disease caused by birth injuries.
Constant delays occur due to intoxication of the body with alcohol, drugs, and nicotine. Cycle disorders often occur in women working in hazardous industries on the night shift.
Video: Causes of delayed menstruation. When to see a doctor
Pathologies that lead to delayed menstruation
In addition to pregnancy, diseases of the reproductive and endocrine systems can be the cause of missed periods.
Hormonal disorders
A common cause of menstrual irregularities are diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and ovaries, which cause hormonal imbalance.
Hypothyroidism- insufficient production of thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Without these substances, it is impossible to produce sex hormones in the ovaries: estrogens, progesterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which ensure the maturation of the egg, ovulation and other processes of the menstrual cycle. Delayed periods are one of the first signs of thyroid disease in women.
Hyperprolactinemia- a disease of the pituitary gland associated with excessive production of prolactin. This hormone suppresses the production of estrogens, which are responsible for the timely maturation of eggs. The work of the ovaries is disrupted by congenital underdevelopment of the pituitary gland and brain tumors.
Adenoma(benign tumor) of the pituitary gland or adrenal gland. Leads to obesity, excess body hair growth, and menstrual irregularities.
Ovarian dysfunction- disruption of the production of sex hormones in the ovaries. This condition may be the result of previous inflammatory diseases, hormonal disorders, installation of an intrauterine device, or the use of hormonal drugs.
Video: Why menstruation is delayed or absent
Diseases of the reproductive system
Inflammatory diseases of the uterus and ovaries lead to disruption of the production of hormones that are responsible for the processes of maturation of eggs, follicles, and endometrium. As a result, they are often the cause of delay. At the same time, the volume and nature of the discharge changes, pain appears in the lower abdomen, lower back, and other symptoms. Often, inflammatory processes are the cause of infertility, tumors of the reproductive system, and mammary glands. Inflammatory diseases occur due to infection due to improper hygienic care of the genitals, unprotected sexual intercourse, traumatic damage to the uterus during childbirth, abortion, and curettage.
Salpingo-oophoritis- inflammation of the uterus and appendages (tubes and ovaries). The process can cause ovarian dysfunction.
Endometritis- inflammation of the uterine mucosa, which leads to the appearance of hypomenstrual syndrome (menstruation can come after 5-8 weeks and not even more than 4 times a year).
Cervicitis- inflammation of the cervix. The process easily spreads to the uterus and appendages.
Endometrial hyperplasia. There is a pathological thickening of the mucous layer lining the uterus. It causes a long delay in menstruation, after which heavy bleeding occurs. Pathology occurs due to hormonal disorders caused by diseases of the endocrine glands.
Uterine fibroids- a benign tumor in the uterus, single or in the form of several nodes located both outside and inside the uterus. This disease is characterized by irregular menstruation. Long delays can alternate with short cycles.
Polycystic ovary syndrome- formation of multiple cysts outside or inside the ovaries. The disease may occur without symptoms. It is often discovered when examining a woman for a long (more than 1 month) absence of menstruation.
Uterine polyps- the formation of pathological nodes in the endometrium, which can spread to the cervix. Characterized by delayed menstruation and prolonged heavy bleeding. Malignant tissue degeneration often occurs.
Endometriosis- growth of the endometrium into the tubes, ovaries, and neighboring organs. In this case, the patency of the fallopian tubes is disrupted, which can cause a delay in menstruation. In addition to normal pregnancy, menstruation with endometriosis does not come on time due to ectopic pregnancy, if the embryo is attached in the tube and not in the uterine cavity. As a result, a pipe rupture can occur, which can be life-threatening for the woman. Instead of the expected menstruation, spotting mixed with blood appears. A woman should pay attention to the appearance of such signs as nausea, vomiting, nagging pain in the lower abdomen (on the side where the egg is attached).
Ectopic pregnancy also occurs after diseases leading to adhesions of the tubes and ovaries (salpingoophoritis).
Endometrial hypoplasia- underdevelopment of the uterine mucosa, in which the endometrial layer remains too thin and cannot hold a fertilized egg. This leads to termination of pregnancy at the very beginning, when the woman does not yet know about its occurrence. The next menstruation comes with a delay, and brown spotting may appear before it. Hypoplasia becomes the result of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, operations on the uterus and ovaries, and hormonal disorders in the body.
Addition: One of the common causes of delay is anorexia, a mental illness associated with an eating disorder. It is usually observed in young women. The desire to lose weight becomes an obsession. In this case, food ceases to be absorbed, and complete exhaustion occurs. Menstruation comes with increasing delay and then disappears. If you manage to regain weight, your periods will appear again.
Why are constant delays in menstruation dangerous?
Constant delays in menstruation indicate hormonal disorders, lack of ovulation, and abnormal changes in the structure of the endometrium. Pathology can arise due to serious, even dangerous diseases: tumors of the uterus, endocrine glands, polycystic ovaries. The cause of a missed period is an ectopic pregnancy.
It is necessary to establish a diagnosis as early as possible, to find out the degree of danger of the processes, since they lead, at a minimum, to infertility and early menopause. Diseases associated with delayed menstruation cause breast tumors, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, weakened immunity, premature aging, and changes in appearance. For example, if the delay occurs due to polycystic ovary syndrome, then the woman experiences a sharp increase in weight, up to obesity, hair appears on the face and chest (as in men), acne, and seborrhea.
Timely treatment of diseases that cause prolongation of the cycle often helps to avoid infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and prevent the occurrence of cancer.
Examination methods, establishing the reasons for the delay
To determine the cause of the delay in menstruation, an examination is carried out.
It is checked whether the woman is ovulating. To do this, basal body temperature (in the rectum) is measured throughout the entire cycle and a schedule is drawn up. The presence of ovulation is indicated by a sharp increase in temperature above 37° in the middle of the cycle.
A blood test for hormones is carried out to detect deviations from the norm and possible consequences.
Using ultrasound, the condition of the pelvic organs is studied, the presence of tumors and other pathologies in the uterus and appendages is detected.
The brain and the condition of the pituitary gland are examined using computer and magnetic resonance imaging (CT and MRI) methods.
