No periods for 1 month but not pregnant. Delayed menstruation, the main reasons other than pregnancy. Disorder of hormonal function of the ovaries

Content

At reproductive age, the beginning of monthly menstruation will allow a woman to leave thoughts of illness and unplanned conception. There is a generally accepted opinion: your period has started, which means you can relax. A delay in the menstrual cycle is a dangerous phenomenon for any age, since it may indicate the course of a pathological process.

Why is there a delay in menstruation during pregnancy?

The first sign of a woman’s “interesting situation” is the absence of menstruation. Normal delay in menstruation indicates that in 9 months the fairer sex will experience the joy of motherhood. In such a clinical picture, the arrival of planned bleeding is not expected in the near future, and the first menstruation will remind itself a few months after birth.

If you are wondering what happens in a woman’s body during pregnancy, and where scheduled menstruation disappears, it’s worth clarifying. Physiologically, such bleeding is provoked by progesterone, the level of which is unstable in a pregnant woman. So:

When the egg is fertilized and implanted in the thickness of the uterus, the hormone level increases - for this reason, menstruation is absent.
If the pregnancy test is negative, progesterone drops, resulting in menstruation.

Why there may be a delay in menstruation

It is normal for a pregnant woman to miss menstruation. If a representative of the fairer sex is not in an “interesting position,” the risk of exposure to physiological and pathological factors increases. It is important to find out in detail What could cause a delay in menstruation? to promptly respond to a progressive health problem. There may be many reasons, but it is important to highlight the most common ones.

For stress and fatigue

Even healthy women can experience disruptions to their menstrual cycle. For example, due to emotional fatigue and nervous exhaustion, after suffering shock or stress, in the case of chronic fatigue, abnormal processes associated with dysfunction of the reproductive system predominate in the female body. The patient may not realize What could cause a delay in menstruation?, but everything is clear to the doctor - the reasons for the “problems” in the functioning of the nervous system. What is the relationship?

Increased nervousness negatively affects the functions of the central nervous system, as a result of which the activity of the uterine muscles is disrupted. Certain muscle structures receive an insufficient amount of blood, and the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels is impaired. Under the negative impact of such abnormal phenomena, the patient experiences an unexpected delay in menstruation for several days. It happens that bleeding for these reasons, on the contrary, occurs earlier than expected.

For overweight and underweight

A possible reason for the absence of planned bleeding in a woman of reproductive age is abnormal weight. There are standards established by WHO norms that ensure the smooth functioning of the endocrine system. Thus, a woman’s weight should not be less than 45 kg at the age of 18 years and older. There are also certain limitations for the BMI indicator:

If the BMI is less than 18 units, there are serious disruptions to the endocrine system. When the body is depleted, the “death” of estrogen is observed, and, as a result, hormonal imbalance occurs.
When the BMI is more than 25 units, signs of hormonal imbalance and a delay in the menstrual cycle are obvious. In obesity, estrogens are produced in subcutaneous fat, and their “production” by the ovaries is blocked by the pituitary gland.

Since the endocrine system cannot cope with its functions with abnormal weight, hormonal imbalance progresses. There is an increasing deficiency of estrogen, what causes delays in menstruation. Until conservative methods manage to stabilize the level of female hormone in the blood, the menstrual cycle will not be regular for obvious reasons.

When changing place of residence and time zones

The “biological clock” is an important indicator of women’s health. If there are disruptions in the menstrual cycle, the reasons may be hidden in a disruption of the usual rhythm of life. This often happens when changing jobs or places of residence, regular lack of sleep, as well as on long journeys, in new climates and time zones. Delayed menstruation is not a pathology, and the cycle will soon normalize without medical intervention.

Causes of delayed periods in teenagers

During puberty (girls 14-16 years old), the first menstruation occurs, which indicates that the body has reached reproductive age. Representatives of the fairer sex already feel like girls, but they often ask the question why there are no periods if they have already come before. Reasons Why is there a delay in menstruation in teenagers? There are several observed, the most relevant ones during puberty are described below:

Physiological: development of hormonal levels, nervous shock, rapid bone growth, overwork at school, change of place of residence or time zone.
Pathological: one of the stages of obesity, pathologically low weight, hormonal imbalance due to excess prolactin, past infectious diseases, thrush.

Problems with menstruation due to inflammation

When there is no menstruation, the first thing a woman does is buy a pregnancy test. It is possible that she is expecting a child. It happens that delay without pregnancy occurs, indicates serious pathologies in women. This clinical picture occurs especially often in gynecological diseases of an inflammatory nature that require urgent medical treatment.

Diseases may not affect the reproductive system, for example, a delay in the menstrual cycle is caused by the classic cold or cystitis. If a woman begins to get very sick, all the body’s forces are aimed at fighting the pathogenic virus, and the arrival of menstruation recedes into the background. After recovery, the immune system needs time to recover, after which menstruation begins.

Delayed menstruation from taking medications

After long-term drug treatment, the reason for the absence of menstruation is obvious, especially if the patient was taking hormonal drugs, for example, oral contraceptives. Doctors report that this is a normal indicator, but recommend that women additionally take a pregnancy test. If the result is negative, the reason for the delay is in birth control pills. There are other medications that can cause a delay in menstruation. This:

emergency contraception;
antidepressants;
chemotherapy drugs;
corticosteroid hormones;
antibiotics.

Delayed menstruation due to thyroid pathologies

If there is a malfunction of the thyroid gland, it will not be possible to normalize the menstrual cycle until the underlying disease is treated. Only after normalization of hormonal levels can one expect that the next scheduled menstruation will come on time. It is important to note that thyroid hormones are responsible for metabolism, so impaired concentration causes disruption of the menstrual cycle.

What causes delay in polycystic ovary syndrome?

If breastfeeding delays the arrival of menstruation, this is a completely acceptable process in the female body. If the lactation period has nothing to do with it, and your periods have been erratic for several months, female problems cannot be ruled out. They occur equally in spring, winter and summer and indicate serious diseases of the reproductive system. This could be endometriosis, fibroids or other uterine tumors, or polycystic ovaries. In the latter case, we are talking about a hormonal disorder, which not only disrupts the menstrual cycle, but also leads to diagnosed infertility.

If PCOS begins, effective treatment may take several weeks. If you miss the first symptoms of a characteristic illness, the disease becomes chronic, incurable, and radically disrupts a woman’s hormonal balance. It is recommended to pay attention to symptoms such as facial hair, changes in skin type, growing belly, and weight gain.

Why does there be a delay in premenopause?

Constant disruption of the menstrual cycle, changes in the abundance of monthly bleeding (scanty or, conversely, intense), the appearance of premenstrual syndrome after 45 years are signs of approaching menopause, when radical hormonal changes are resumed in the female body. This problem does not last for a single week, and in some patients the alarming symptoms can last for a year.

A pregnancy test will definitely be negative, and a delay of a week or more in menstruation is explained by a reduced concentration of estrogen in the blood. A woman after 45 years of age will have to put up with such innovations in her general condition, but it is better to contact a local gynecologist in a timely manner and determine an individual hormonal therapy regimen.

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Regular menstruation is one of the main signs of the absence of pathologies and dysfunctions in a woman’s body. If menstruation is delayed, the first thing girls think about is conception, but there are other reasons for delayed menstruation besides pregnancy.

In this article we will look at what a “delay” is, and also study all the possible reasons for the lack of regulation.

What is delay in girls, its norms

Delayed menstruation is a failure of menstrual function, which is manifested by the absence of regular monthly bleeding for more than 35 days. The delay can be caused by both physiological reasons and various functional and organic disorders. Irregular menstruation can accompany various periods of a woman’s life. So, at puberty and during menopause, a delay in menstrual periods is the norm.

Let's consider the basic delay standards:

if the delay does not exceed 5-7 days, it should not be considered a pathology. Such a short absence of critical days is typical for the period of puberty and premenopause, as well as for some disorders of the menstrual cycle (oligomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea, amenorrhea);
if there are infections and diseases in the body, menstruation may be delayed for 10 or more days, in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor;
During pregnancy, menstruation does not occur throughout the entire period of gestation until the cessation of breastfeeding. In this case, menstruation is delayed by 1-3 years. If a woman is not pregnant, and her period does not occur for more than a year, this may indicate the arrival of menopause.

To know exactly why menstruation has not occurred, you should definitely visit a gynecologist.

When the absence of critical days is the norm

First, let's look at what can cause a delay in menstruation in women in good physical health. It is considered normal that if menstruation is delayed, their absence can only occur during certain periods of the life of the fair sex:

during puberty;
during pregnancy;
after childbirth;
with the decline of reproductive function.

Now let's look at why periods don't come, and this is the norm, in more detail.

Puberty

Starting from 8-10 years of age, girls begin puberty, during which the reproductive system of a young lady is formed. Usually, by the age of 12-13 years, the first menstruation or so-called menarche appears. Due to the fact that the reproductive system and hormonal background have not yet fully formed, during this period it is quite natural to have disruptions in the menstrual cycle.

During puberty, delays may appear for 1-2 years after the first menstruation, but if two years have passed and the cycle has not become regular, you should definitely consult a doctor and be examined for diseases. Medical assistance is also needed in cases where the girl is already 15 years old, but menarche has not occurred. You should definitely find out why there are no periods if, in addition to a delay, the girl has problems with excess weight, excess hair growth on the face and body, and a change in voice. All this may be a sign of hormonal disorders that require medical correction.

In adolescents, by the age of 15, the menstrual cycle is usually normalized, and then a cyclical change in the level of hormones in the body occurs every month, which causes new regulations.

Pregnancy

To understand why critical days are delayed during pregnancy, we will describe the main processes that take place in a woman’s body during the menstrual cycle.

In the first half of the cycle, the ovaries begin to intensively produce estrogens, which promote the maturation of a new egg, which until it is fully ready is located in a special vesicle, a follicle. When the reproductive cell has matured, the follicle bursts and it exits into the uterine cavity. Thus, ovulation occurs, accompanied by slight mucous discharge from the genital tract and mild pain on the right or left side of the abdomen.

At the site of the ruptured follicle, the corpus luteum begins to rapidly develop, which synthesizes progesterone. Under the influence of this hormone, the inner mucous layer of the uterus begins to grow, increasing in size, and thus prepares to receive a fertilized egg in the event of conception. If fertilization does not occur, less progesterone is produced, and the endometrium, as unnecessary, begins to exfoliate and be removed from the uterus. This is how menstruation begins.

If the egg is fertilized, then the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum does not stop, but increases. Under the influence of this hormone, the zygote is implanted into the endometrium, the placenta begins to form and pregnancy develops. In this case, degradation and rejection of the endometrium does not occur, and progesterone suppresses the maturation of new eggs and the onset of subsequent ovulations. As a result, new periods do not occur. Thus, pregnancy is the main cause of delay for women who are sexually active and have no health problems.

Childbirth

Childbirth affects a woman’s body differently, so the restoration of menstrual function occurs individually for each mother. The type of feeding of the newborn most influences the duration of the recovery period.

If a child immediately begins to eat artificial formula after birth, then the maximum delay in menstruation should not exceed 1 month. With combined feeding, critical days may be absent for 3-4 months. Regulae are delayed the longest for nursing mothers, since milk is produced under the influence of prolactin, which simultaneously inhibits the synthesis of progesterone and the onset of ovulation. Thus, prolactin prevents the maturation of the egg and the development of the endometrium, which means there is no germ cell for fertilization and a place for implantation of the zygote.

Against the background of breastfeeding with the gradual introduction of complementary foods (usually supplementing the baby’s diet with foods begins at six months of age), restoration of menstrual function occurs after 8-12 months. At the same time, for 2-3 months the cycle may be irregular, and it is quite possible that delays may occur; if critical days do not appear after this period, a pregnancy test should be taken.

Menopause

The number of eggs that mature in a woman’s body throughout her life is strictly limited, therefore, starting from the age of 40-45, reproductive function gradually fades away and menstruation becomes irregular. Their duration and nature also change. At this time, ovulation occurs periodically, so pregnancy should not be ruled out as a possible cause of delay. During menopause with an irregular cycle, it is better to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal medications will help alleviate the symptoms of menopause and additionally protect against unwanted conception.

Why don't I get my period?

Most often, when menstruation is delayed, women who are sexually active suspect conception, but if there is no pregnancy and the test is negative, you should know what other reasons there are for the absence of menstruation besides the “interesting” position.

When a woman experiences a delay in menstruation, but is not pregnant, the lack of regulation can be caused by other physiological reasons besides pregnancy. First, you should rule them out, and only then suspect the presence of pathology and immediately seek help from a specialist.

Physiological reasons

During the menstrual cycle, normally all processes occur in a certain sequence, the main purpose of which is to prepare the woman’s body for conception and bearing offspring. Even a physically healthy woman sometimes experiences a delay in her period; this disruption is provoked by various external factors. Common causes of delay can be:

emotional overstrain. Even excessive anticipation of menstruation can provoke a delay; this happens when a woman has had unprotected sex and is under stress due to a possible unwanted pregnancy. A similar reaction of the body can be caused by a stressful situation at work or personal experiences;
excessive physical and mental stress, intense sports training and exercises associated with lifting heavy weights;
change of place of residence, change of climate zone, also a delay in regulation may be associated with a change in daily routine and type of activity;
unbalanced diet, large amounts of unhealthy foods in the diet, strict diets, insufficient amounts of vitamins and nutrients, problems with excess weight;
colds, diseases of the digestive system and kidneys, diabetes;
taking antibacterial drugs and some other medications;
hormonal contraception, starting to take contraceptives, abrupt change in oral contraception or its cancellation;
poisoning of the body with excessive doses of alcohol, drugs and nicotine;
work in hazardous industries and on night shifts.

Physiological reasons for the absence of menstruation also include the factors discussed above: puberty, menopause and lactation. If after childbirth menstruation does not appear after a year, you should undergo a gynecological examination to rule out the presence of diseases due to birth injuries.

If you have ruled out all physiological causes, then your period is delayed due to pathology in the body. To identify it and prescribe adequate treatment, you should definitely seek help from a gynecologist.

Pathologies

The older a woman is, the more reasons can be found in her body that cause a delay in menstruation. If critical days do not occur, you first need to exclude pregnancy, and then suspect the presence of pathological conditions. Diseases of the genital area and endocrine system can cause periodic delays in menstruation. Let's consider the most common pathologies of each direction.

Disease affecting hormonal levels

Diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and pituitary gland can lead to hormonal imbalances and, as a result, to systematic and long-term delays of critical days:

hypothyroidism A condition in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These substances are directly involved in the synthesis of estrogens, progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the ovaries. Without a sufficient amount of these hormones, the egg cannot mature, which means ovulation does not occur and menstruation does not begin. At the initial stage of the disease, a delay in the onset of menstruation is one of the symptoms of thyroid problems;
hyperprolactinemia - with this disease, the functions of the pituitary gland are affected. Intensive production of prolactin begins, which suppresses the secretion of estrogen, which prevents the timely maturation of the egg, ovulation does not occur, which explains the absence of menstruation;
oncological tumors in the brain or congenital hypoplasia of the pituitary gland;
benign neoplasm (adenoma) in the pituitary gland or adrenal glands. This tumor causes obesity, increased hair growth on the face and body, and menstrual irregularities;
improper functioning of the ovaries caused by hormonal imbalance, past inflammation;
If a girl’s period does not come on time, this may be caused by the installation of an IUD and the use of hormonal-based drugs.

Anorexia can cause a delay in menstrual periods. This is a mental illness that is associated with a disorder of digestive behavior. Most often it affects young girls who strive to conform to the “glossy” canons. The desire to lose weight develops into an obsession, which is why food is not absorbed by the body, and it is completely depleted. Stopping menstrual function in this case is a protective reaction of the female body, so when normal weight is restored, menstruation resumes. For this disease, you may need to consult a psychotherapist and gastroenterologist.

If your periods are delayed due to the presence of endocrine pathologies, then in addition to visiting a gynecologist, you may need to consult an endocrinologist, but most often the delays are due to gynecological diseases.

Gynecological pathologies

Gynecological causes of delayed menstruation are inflammatory diseases of the uterus and ovaries, which lead to hormonal disorders. At the same time, the concentration of hormones responsible for the maturation of the germ cell and the mucous layer of the uterus changes. As a result, there is a delay, the intensity and composition of monthly discharge changes, pain appears in the lower abdomen or lower back, and other pathological symptoms appear. In such a condition of the reproductive system, without proper treatment, tumors of both the genital organs and mammary glands can occur. Also, lack of proper therapy can lead to infertility. The cause of inflammatory processes can be an infection that has entered the genitals due to poor hygiene, unprotected sex, trauma to the uterus after childbirth, abortion and medical curettage.

If you don’t have your period, this may be due to gynecological pathologies that lead to delays:

salpingoophoritis is a disease in which the uterus and appendages become inflamed; it can lead to ovarian dysfunction;
endometritis - the inflammatory process affects the inner mucous layer of the uterus, and hypomenstrual syndrome is observed when there is no discharge for 2-3 months;
cervicitis – inflammation of the uterine cervix, which without proper treatment can spread to the uterus and its appendages;
endometrial hyperplasia is characterized by severe thickening of the inner mucous layer of the uterus, and after a long delay in the critical days, severe bleeding occurs. The development of this disease is caused by hormonal imbalances due to endocrine pathologies;
Uterine fibroids are a benign neoplasm. It looks like a single node or a cluster of several tumors. It can be localized both inside the uterus and outside. The presence of a tumor is indicated by an irregular cycle;
Polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by the formation of cysts inside and outside the ovary. The symptoms of the disease are not expressed; often only a very long delay can cause the detection of this disease;
polyps are focal growths of the endometrium in the form of nodes, which under certain conditions can spread to the cervix. A polyp can cause delay, which is followed by heavy bleeding. Polyps are characterized by malignant tissue degeneration;
endometriosis is a pathological growth of the mucous layer of the uterus beyond its boundaries (into the tubes, ovaries and other organs). Usually, with endometriosis, the patency of the fallopian tubes is disrupted, which causes delays;
ectopic pregnancy. When a fertilized egg is implanted not in the uterine cavity, but in the tube, an ectopic pregnancy occurs. Untreated endometriosis may be to blame for this. If it is not surgically removed in time, the tube ruptures, which can lead to severe bleeding and death. A sign of ectopic implantation of the fetus may be spotting instead of the expected regular discharge. If such a daub is accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting, you should definitely consult a gynecologist. An ectopic pregnancy can occur not only after endometriosis, but also after salpingoophoritis, which causes adhesions in the tubes and ovaries;
endometrial hypoplasia. A disease in which insufficient development of the endometrium occurs. With this disease, the inner uterine layer is so thin that it is unable to hold the zygote. This causes miscarriage in the early stages, when the woman does not even know she is pregnant. The next critical days come late and begin with a brown smudge. Hypoplasia is caused by inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems, surgical interventions on the uterus and ovaries, as well as hormonal imbalance.

What to do if you don't have your period

If menstruation is systematically delayed, this is not the norm for women of reproductive age. Such menstrual fluctuations can be harmful to a woman’s health, because the cause of a long delay can be not only pregnancy, but also a serious illness.

The first thing to do, if your period is delayed for more than 10 days, is to buy a pregnancy test at the pharmacy; if it is negative, you should immediately go to the gynecologist.

Delay examination

If there is no period for a long time, and a woman wants to find out why there was a delay in a negative pregnancy test, she must undergo a gynecological examination. In case of absence of menstruation for a very long period, the doctor may additionally prescribe the following tests and examinations:

measuring and charting fluctuations in basal temperature, such a study will determine the presence or absence of ovulation;
blood test for hCG levels, as well as tests for hormones of the ovaries, pituitary gland and other glands;
Ultrasound examination of the organs of the reproductive and excretory system. This diagnostic method allows you to determine intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy, the presence of benign and malignant formations in the uterus, ovaries and signs of other diseases;
To exclude neoplasms in the ovaries or pituitary gland, CT and MRI of the brain may be prescribed.

If menstruation does not occur due to non-gynecological diseases, an additional visit to an endocrinologist, psychotherapist, nutritionist and other specialized specialists may be required.

Ways to provoke regulation

If your period is delayed, you can speed up its onset in several ways:

in order to restore menstruation, the delay of which is caused by stress, a strict diet, vitamin deficiency, excess stress and other non-pathological factors, it is enough to eliminate the external irritant. The menstrual cycle will quickly return to normal if you rest well, eat well and do not subject the body to physical and emotional overload;
You can use emergency contraception such as Pastinor. This is a progesterone-acting drug, which after ovulation increases the level of progesterone in the body and can stimulate the rapid growth and detachment of the endometrium, thereby promoting the speedy onset of regulation. Other hormonal drugs, such as Duphaston, Utrozhestan, Norkolut, have a similar effect. But each of these drugs has a number of contraindications, so they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor;
if your period comes late, your doctor may also prescribe injections that stimulate the muscle activity of the uterus. Increased uterine tone can cause menstruation;
at home, you can provoke regulation with the help of herbal decoctions and infusions of chamomile, bay leaf, tansy, parsley, blue cornflower, etc. Hot baths with iodine show good effectiveness for short delays.

Despite the fact that there are a huge number of methods for dealing with delayed menstruation, each of them should be prescribed exclusively by a specialized specialist, since the reasons for the delay can be very different, which means that the method of dealing with the problem should be selected individually based on the results of tests and examinations.

Preventive measures

Preventing a disease is always easier than treating it later. To prevent the delay of critical days, it is better to maintain your health in normal condition in advance; for this, it is enough to follow several recommendations:

get rid of bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle;
play sports, but do not allow severe overload of the body;
create a balanced diet, exclude all harmful foods and drinks;
do not exhaust yourself with hunger and strict diets;
use medications only as prescribed by a doctor;
Go for preventive examinations to a gynecologist at least 2 times a year.

Every woman sometimes experiences delays, but if you follow the tips above, the likelihood of them occurring will be minimal.

What are the dangers of constant delays?

The absence of menstruation is not a dangerous condition for a woman; the reasons for the delay may be much more serious, especially when it occurs monthly. The most positive reason that the regulations are late is pregnancy. Constant delays in menstruation not only cause discomfort to a woman, confusing her plans, but may also indicate the presence of serious pathologies in the body.

If there is a delay, it is necessary to visit a doctor every month as quickly as possible, since early diagnosis allows timely treatment of diseases and neoplasms, prevention of early menopause, prevention of infertility or elimination of ectopic pregnancy, which is dangerous not only for a woman’s health, but also for her life.

Conclusion

First of all, if menstruation does not come on time, a woman should take a pregnancy test, and if the result is negative, seek help from a doctor, especially if there is a general deterioration in her condition, an increase in temperature and pain in the lower abdomen. If the woman feels well and there are no pathological symptoms, then a visit to the gynecologist can be scheduled on the tenth day of the delay.

Delays in menstruation, especially when absent for a long time, are a fairly serious disruption of the menstrual cycle, the elimination of which should be monitored by a gynecologist.

Few things frighten or delight a woman as much as a delay in her period - the reaction depends, of course, on whether she wanted to get pregnant or tried to avoid it. Pregnancy is the first thing that comes to mind when menstruation is delayed. But can there be only one reason for this?

Stress affects many things in our lives, including our periods. Sometimes stress is so strong that the body reduces the production of the hormone that is responsible for the onset of menstruation. In this case, you need to consult with your doctor and, possibly, a psychologist.

A variety of diseases can cause a delay in menstruation. This is usually temporary - once you are cured, your menstrual cycle will return to normal.

Change of schedule

Do you work different shifts, started getting up earlier and/or going to bed later, or changed your time zone? All this can cause your period not to start on time.

Medications

Your period may start later or not at all if you start taking any medications. This can also happen when you stop taking birth control pills.

Excess weight

Carrying too much weight on you can cause hormonal imbalances, which in turn will lead to changes in your menstrual cycle. Once normal weight is restored, the cycle usually returns to normal.

Below normal weight

This is also not at all healthy. Being too low can even lead to a complete cessation of menstruation, a condition called amenorrhea. When weight is restored, periods usually return. This problem is often observed in women who are overly keen on losing weight and among professional athletes.

Error in calculations

Women's menstrual cycles are not the same. On average it lasts 28 days, but for some it may be shorter or longer. What you mistake for a delay may in fact only be a consequence of the fact that you have incorrectly determined the duration of your menstrual cycle. In this case, you just need to wait a little - most likely, your period will begin when it should begin.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the period when a woman transitions from reproductive to non-reproductive age. At this time, menstruation may become weaker or stronger, come more often or less often, and sometimes be very late. If you don't want to get pregnant, continue to use birth control throughout perimenopause.

Menopause

If you have reached menopause, you will no longer ovulate or have periods.

Pregnancy

And finally - yes, a missed period can happen because you are pregnant. If you are at least a week late, take a home pregnancy test. If the result is positive, immediately make an appointment with a gynecologist.

Women's menstrual cycle can be disrupted for a variety of reasons. This article proposes to consider these reasons in detail and answer the question of why periods are delayed and how many days of delay are considered normal.

First of all, you should decide from what day the delay is considered and what period of time should cause alarm and require clarification of the reasons. A delay in menstruation by 1-2, or maybe 3 days is quite common, this is normal. Despite the fact that every woman has her own duration and regularity of menstruation, even for an absolutely healthy woman, periods do not always come on time. That's why a slight delay does not indicate any serious problems.

However, if your period is late by more than the acceptable 3-5 days, you should consult a doctor and find out the reasons. The maximum period of “unreasonable” delay should not exceed a week. First, pregnancy should be ruled out (or confirmed). Secondly, if pregnancy is excluded, check if everything is okay with the reproductive system. Remember that the delay itself may not be terrible, but it is always a signal indicating changes in the body.

Normal indicators of the menstrual cycle are presented in the table:

Main reasons for delay

The first thought that comes to a woman’s mind when her period does not come on time is pregnancy. However, there are a huge number of reasons why the regularity of menstruation may be disrupted even without pregnancy. The regularity of the cycle can be influenced by various factors, be it jet lag, problems with acclimatization, stress, hormonal imbalances, disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive organs or malnutrition. Let's look at all these factors in more detail and determine what kind of delay should cause concern.

Pregnancy is the most common cause of missed periods in young women. During pregnancy, phenomena such as changes in taste and smell, drowsiness, swelling of the mammary glands, and nausea can be observed. You should not immediately reject the possibility of pregnancy, even if protected sex took place.

If, in addition to the delay, other signs of the above appear, it makes sense to do a test, and twice to determine the exact result. If the first test does not detect pregnancy, this does not mean that it does not exist. Repeat the test after 2-5 days. A reliable result can be obtained by taking a blood test for hCG. Only after receiving a negative result for the second time and making sure that the woman is not pregnant, you need to look for other reasons for the absence of menstruation on time. The delay may be due to other serious and dangerous reasons besides pregnancy.

Severe emotional or physical stress

If a woman experiences a delay but is not pregnant, her body may have been affected by other changes in her physical or emotional state. Let's consider in what cases menstruation may be late or stop altogether.

A delay can occur due to stressful situations, shock, excessive physical exertion, intense mental activity (for example, on the eve of exams or an important project), or tension at work. The body reacts to daily stress as a situation unfavorable for the birth of a child, and menstruation stops “until better times.” This explains why periods do not come on time. In such a scenario, efforts should be made to get out of the crisis moment, reduce the level of emotional or physical stress and try to relax.

If a woman spends a lot of time working out in the gym or is engaged in a physically demanding job, it is better for her to think about reducing physical activity. We are not talking about a complete cessation of training, but only about a golden mean.

Any change in your usual lifestyle can affect your menstrual cycle. A new job, a different daily routine, a change in climate and time zones may lead to a slight delay. Therefore, there is no need to sound the alarm if your period does not come on time after a vacation in another part of the planet or after a long flight of many hours. This suggests that the body is being rebuilt according to rapidly changing conditions, and the result may be a delay in menstruation. However, if you have not had your period for more than 10-14 days, you should consult a doctor.

You should not be surprised if a delay occurs during a diet, especially if you refuse food and eat several times less than usual. In young girls who sharply limit themselves in nutrition, delayed menstruation is a common occurrence. Hormonal disorder due to starvation and lack of nutrients leads to...

With stress experienced by the body in cases of sudden weight loss (or, conversely, weight gain), menstruation may stop for a long time. Of course, there is nothing good or natural in such a cessation. You should reconsider your diet and consult a psychologist. Anorexia is a terrible disease, and a delay in menstruation is by no means its only sad consequence.

The delay may be due to hormonal changes and often occurs during puberty, when the cycle has not yet been established, or during menopause.

In teenage girls, their first periods come at 11-14 years of age, and the menstrual cycle is not established immediately, therefore, there is often a delay. It is difficult to accurately answer the question of how long periods may be delayed during puberty. The breaks between them may be too short or, conversely, long. However, after some time, the cycle becomes established and the number of days between periods becomes constant. If your period started before the age of 10 or is absent at the age of 15, you need to go to the doctor.

You should not be afraid of delays after the age of 40. The functioning of the ovaries at this age begins to gradually slow down, causing menstruation to become irregular. The delay, therefore, will be a harbinger of menopause, which occurs at the age of 45-50 years. Remember that after 40 years of age, you must undergo an examination by a gynecologist annually. The doctor will more accurately tell you about the causes and rule out diseases and disorders in the functioning of the organs of the female reproductive system.

Delayed menstruation after childbirth

During the first time after childbirth, the cyclic function of the ovaries is suppressed, and menstruation is restored approximately two months after the birth of the child. If the mother keeps the baby breastfed, menstruation usually returns after it stops. However, if a year has passed since the birth and the menstrual cycle has not returned, you should consult a doctor.

Abortion

Termination of pregnancy, no matter how prompt and safe it may be, always entails disturbances in the hormonal balance. Menstruation may come only 30-40 days after the abortion. Despite the fact that such a delay is common, it is still not considered normal, so you should contact a gynecologist, undergo an examination and, if necessary, begin hormonal treatment. The reason for the delay after an abortion can be either a change in the level of hormones in a woman’s body or a mechanical injury received during curettage. This symptom also indicates retention of parts of the fertilized egg.

Diseases and medications

Another reason for the delay may be taking medications, as well as diseases of various types: colds (ARVI), chronic diseases, thyroid pathology, kidney disease, etc. Usually, if the delay is due to these reasons, it is considered normal when it does not exceed weeks. If a woman does not have her period for longer, she should consult a gynecologist. A delay of 14 days or more has serious reasons.

Gynecological diseases

This group of diseases should be considered separately, because they represent one of the most common reasons why menstruation may be delayed.

Tumor and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. Periods may be delayed due to serious illnesses, which may also be accompanied by abnormal discharge and pain. These diseases must be treated urgently because they are fraught with serious consequences. We are talking about diseases such as oophoritis, uterine fibroids, etc.
. The duration of missed periods with this disease usually does not exceed two weeks. The cyst is formed due to hormonal disorders and is treated with a course of hormonal therapy.
Polycystic ovary syndrome. This disease is associated with the formation of many cysts in a woman's ovaries. The maturation and release of eggs is disrupted, which, in turn,... Polycystic disease may be accompanied by short and irregular delays, but sometimes with this disease, periods may be absent for up to five months or more.

A common cause of delay may be the use of hormonal contraceptives, since their main function is to suppress ovulation. If the drug is chosen incorrectly, delays may become common. In this case, other contraceptive options should be considered. However, the most common reason for delay in using oral contraceptives is non-compliance with instructions. You need to take contraceptives within strictly prescribed periods. Violation of the regime is extremely undesirable and may affect the effectiveness of contraception.

A delay in menstruation is considered normal when taking emergency contraceptives, because they contain large doses of hormones. However, the delay is considered suspicious if it exceeds 10 days. This may indicate that the measures taken did not produce results and pregnancy still occurred.

Gynecological procedures

A minor delay in menstruation can be caused by procedures such as cauterization or hysteroscopy.

Whatever the reasons, they need to be identified and analyzed. If a delay of 3-4 days in menstruation may not have any serious reasons behind it, then a longer period must be investigated and measures taken as soon as possible. Only a doctor, after examining the patient, can accurately determine the causes and say how serious they are and what to do to eliminate them.

A woman who loves herself should monitor the systematicity and regularity of her menstrual cycle - this is the main indicator of her health.

If there is a cycle failure and your period comes ahead of schedule, or there is a long delay, this is a clear signal indicating that you need to contact a gynecologist to find out why you are not getting your period.

A slight delay of two to three days should not be a cause for concern. Even a week is not an indicator.

But if there is no menstruation for a month, you should seriously think about your health.

The absence of menstruation can be caused by a number of reasons, including troubles, for example, at work.

A slight delay of 3 days or even a week can cause:

stress;
climate change;
weather;
and even a change in the usual rhythm of life.

Also, the absence of menstruation can be directly caused by taking pharmaceutical drugs, medications that contain any hormones that are prescribed after miscarriages or abortions.

What to do in such cases? Nothing - in this case no treatment is required.

Young girls who have not yet formed their menstrual cycle should not worry about why they are on time. Menstruation may be delayed for more than a week, sometimes even a month. Over time, the cycle will form and menstruation will begin strictly on a certain day of the cycle.

But if the girl had sexual intercourse, especially during pregnancy, it is worth checking for pregnancy. This does not mean that pregnancy has occurred. Most likely, you need to exclude this fact and verify the opposite.

When there is cause for concern

The maximum permissible period of delay of menstruation, which should not particularly worry a woman “why no menstruation,” is approximately 10 days. But this is provided that the woman is not pregnant.

You can check for pregnancy with a test that will show pregnancy after. And if you don’t have your period, but you’re not pregnant, this is already a cause for concern.

Sometimes there are situations when your period does not come for more than a couple of days. Their delay may last a month or even more. If menstruation has not started within a week or two, then you can try, but only under the condition that everything must be agreed with your doctor.

Why the failure occurred - only an experienced specialist can answer this question.

If an absolutely healthy girl who has never had delays before has no periods for more than 10 days or even a month, this is a good reason to visit an antenatal clinic.

What to do if you don't have your period?

If this is the first time a woman has had this situation and her health is normal, you can try to induce menstruation by increasing physical activity. This could be more physical work than usual or strenuous exercise.

In many cases, after such a shake-up for the body, menstruation begins.

There can be a lot of reasons and a woman should understand that factors for the absence of menstruation can be:

pathological;
hereditary diseases;
as well as natural physiological ones.

So what to do if? Before you panic and clutch your head, you need to check for pregnancy with a test at least three times in a row. If, then you need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the delay.

It is important to remember: the maximum delay in menstruation can be up to ten days. If you don't have your period, this is a cause for concern.

What factors can cause delayed menstruation?

A woman should have accessible and correct information about what reasons exist that can cause a delay in menstruation.

Abortion (). After an abortion, the menstrual cycle may take 3-4 months to recover and there may be an absence of menstruation. If a woman had a 28-day cycle before the abortion, then after surgery there may be long delays. In this case, a maximum delay of 7-10 days can be considered the norm.
Gynecological diseases. In the absence of pregnancy, the delay in menstruation can be maximum, up to 10 days. If you don't have your period, these may be the first symptoms of amenorrhea. In this case, the woman should definitely visit a gynecologist.
Taking contraceptives. Hormonal hormones cause hyperinhibition of the ovaries, which can cause the absence of menstruation. In case of ovarian dysfunction, you should stop taking contraceptives and consult a doctor to prescribe other medications.
Stressful situations. Severe stress can cause a maximum delay in menstruation. Depending on the body, in stressful situations, periods may come ahead of schedule or, on the contrary, there will be a long delay.
Sports activities. Intense fitness activities can cause a delay in menstruation. It should be noted that the maximum delay can be ten days. If you don’t have your period, buy it or consult a doctor immediately.
Diets. Starvation diets, in which weight is sharply reduced, can lead not only to a delay for the maximum permissible period, but also to a complete absence of menstruation in the future. In gynecology there is such a thing as critical menstrual weight. Usually, at this weight, girls begin their first menstruation. If diets lead to weight loss below the critical menstrual level, menstruation may stop completely. This disease is called amenorrhea (complete absence of menstruation for a long period).

There may be many reasons for a missed period, but an accurate diagnosis will be made by a doctor. Do not try to diagnose yourself or self-medicate. The maximum permissible delay in menstruation depends on its causes. And this reason could be pregnancy in the early stages, which the test will not show.

The absence of menstruation and at the same time no pregnancy is a serious reason to visit a gynecologist, whom, quite possibly, you have not been to for too long.