Treatment of prolonged delay of menstruation. Frequently asked questions from women about delayed menstruation

The content of the article:

Delay of menstruation can be recorded in women who have not entered menopause. Typically, the menstrual cycle can be delayed by up to 34 days. If the gap between menstruation is 35 days, then this indicates that the menstruation schedule is behind the norm.

If the pregnancy test turns out to be negative, then it means that there are some malfunctions in the woman’s body itself. Delayed menstruation can have different causes other than pregnancy: functional disorders, physiological characteristics, the occurrence of pathologies, etc. According to statistics, almost every woman has experienced shifts in her menstrual schedule at least once during the period from puberty to menopause.

The most common cause that menstruation never occurred, is pregnancy. A woman may feel a painful sensation in the mammary glands and fatigue. Nausea and changed gastronomic preferences may come later.

To avoid guessing for a long time, you should take a pregnancy test, which shows changes in hormonal levels and the level of hCG in the blood. If the result is negative, then the delay in the cycle occurred due to other factors, but not due to pregnancy.

Important! One pregnancy test can give an inaccurate, false result. It is better to do at least two such tests and contact your gynecologist.

If your period is delayed by a month, reasons other than pregnancy may be the following:

Gynecological. These reasons are directly related to the functioning of the uterus, appendages, endocrine glands, as well as the production of hormones.
Non-gynecological: not related to the work of the uterus or endocrine gland. As a rule, they are external in nature.

Types of gynecological factors, other than pregnancy, that could affect disruptions in the cycle:

Changes in the psycho-emotional state: stress, anxiety, anxiety, long-term depression. The level of hormones and their quantity depends on the functioning of certain areas of the brain. If there has been significant stress during the month, then the functioning of these areas of the brain may be disrupted. There is also a connection with the central nervous system. Therefore, stress at work, school, worries about relationships with loved ones, emotional outbursts - all this can be cause what has come delay of menstruation.

Exercise stress. Professional female athletes know how to properly distribute the load during exercise. If you perform physical exercises incorrectly, feeling excessive tension, then this cannot but affect the woman’s health, including the condition of the uterus and its muscles.

Prolapse of the uterus may also occur, so physical activity must be correct. Exercises should be done periodically, and not at once, otherwise your period may come much later. This problem is especially familiar to athletes who engage in heavy sports.

The need to adapt to climate change and new conditions. If there was a move to another country, a change in climate, lifestyle, then this cannot but be reflected in the body.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system. The uterus is an organ that consists of both muscles and ligaments. During the day, a large volume of blood circulates in them, which passes through the circulatory system and the heart. If there are problems in the cardiovascular system, the heart muscle, then such circulation may be disrupted, which is why menstrual cycle.

Testosterone is produced in excess. This can manifest itself in increased growth of oxen in the down, armpits, above the lips, on the arms, etc. If you do not consult a specialist, then infertility may occur due to abnormal hormonal levels.

Respiratory viral infections, FLU, as well as inflammation of chronic diseases. The thyroid gland may also not function properly, causing the endocrine system to fail to produce the required amount of hormones. Diabetes mellitus and kidney disease also cause menstrual cycle irregularities.

Weight loss or weight gain. Diets, sudden or large reduction in body weight, can lead to degeneration of internal organs, including the uterus. This leads not only to a delay in menstruation, but also to infertility. The ovaries suffer from this and their dysfunction occurs.

Taking antibiotics and other medications. Antidepressants, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can also cause disruptions.

Wrong lifestyle. Alcohol and drugs can lead to infertility, early menopause or significant delay.

Vitamin deficiency and weak immunity. Lack of vitamin E, lack of nutrients, diet - all this leads to a weakening of protective functions and a deterioration in metabolism. This is reflected in the hormonal background.

Gynecological reasons, other than pregnancy, for which there was a delay:

Menopause occurs before age 40. There are statistics that say that menopause can occur before the age of forty, for example, by the age of thirty. But this has nothing to do with external factors. This is usually a consequence of disruptions in the endocrine system, which is also responsible for the production of hormones.

Development of hormonal levels and puberty. In the first two years, after the onset of the first menstruation in teenage girls, the cycle is unstable, and there may be delays in it.

Congenital diseases and consequences of previous gynecological operations and childbirth. In all these cases, you need to come to your gynecologist on time and inform him about the slightest delays in your schedule and your well-being. Then the problem with menstruation failure can be solved much earlier, and the specialist will tell you whether such a failure is normal or not.

Contraception. For emergency contraception, women often take medications that contain large amounts of hormones. The same applies to medications that are used for a long time as contraceptives. The ovaries adapt to not having to secrete hormones. Therefore, they themselves may not produce them for more than two months, which is why it is observed delay of menstruation.

Hormonal changes and adaptation after childbirth. Lactation causes the body to produce prolactin. It blocks the functionality of the ovaries, which is what nature intended. As soon as lactation stops, after two months menstrual cycle resumes.

Endometriosis, inflammation of the genitourinary system, benign tumor, as well as other diseases, including polycystic disease, ovarian corpus luteum cyst.

Lack of regular sexual relations.

Termination of pregnancy by medication or after surgery. Also, an ectopic pregnancy or a frozen fetus can cause missed periods.

Miscarriage in the 1st or 2nd trimester, which also affects menstruation.

Since there can be many factors influencing the menstrual cycle, it is worth contacting a gynecologist and informing about your diet, lifestyle, pain, and contraceptives. Then the picture of what is happening will be accurately determined and treatment will be prescribed.

Women often tell their doctor that they are experiencing stable delay for 2-3 days. As a rule, this is normal, so there is no need to sound the alarm, especially when we're talking about about such a small lag. But if menstruation deviates from the norm for five days, you should think about it and consult a gynecologist.

Interesting to know! A delay in a woman’s period by a couple of days or five days in most cases is a physiological norm. If there are any unpleasant sensations, pain in the lower abdomen, then you need to visit a gynecologist’s office.

Delayed menstruation for reasons other than pregnancy at 5 days may be gynecological or not, but such cooling is the norm. As a rule, the five-day difference is associated with physiological processes. Possible reasons delayed menstruation, except pregnancy:

The formation of a cycle that can take place over two years. Deviations can last for a whole week. If after a couple of years the schedule has not recovered, then you need to contact a specialist.

The promenopausal period, which lasts for some time before menopause. May be permanent 5 days delay or periodic, and menstruation itself may be completely absent for some time before menopause occurs.

Refusal to take oral contraceptives, due to which the menstruation schedule is not restored immediately.

A 5-day delay in menstruation may have the following causes besides pregnancy: lactation, acclimatization, stress, weight loss or gain, and other physiological processes.

The presence of pathologies, diseases of other organs and systems that require examination. Delayed menstruation up to five days may only be manifestations of some disease, which may not be related to the endocrine or genitourinary system. But if such failures were observed infrequently, then there is no cause for concern.

According to experts, several days delay is already the norm. An active lifestyle, frequent environment, climate, stress, diet - all this affects the onset of menstruation. That is, such a situation is considered a physiological norm. If the patient has pain or other discomfort, then it is worth coming to see your doctor.

7 days delay in a woman it is also considered a physiological norm if she is
an infrequent occurrence. For example, teenage girls may have irregular menstrual cycles for up to two years. Yes, it is not uncommon for adult women to lag menstruation and cycle by almost a week. If we are talking about the period before menopause (menopause), then menstruation may be completely unstable, shortened or delayed for several days.

Important! A woman needs to visit a gynecologist at least once a year. Any functional changes can then be identified. The specialist will conduct an examination and will be able to give advice or redirect to another doctor if the cause of the delay is not gynecological.

Taking medications can also lead to a delay of a week, as medications affect hormone production. The same applies to antibiotics, which in most cases also cause failures. Factors other than pregnancy include:

Weakened immunity, a consequence of a previous illness: from colds to FLU, ARVI.
Carrying out chemotherapy.
The presence of chronic diseases in a woman.
A delay in menstruation by a week may have other reasons besides pregnancy: past stress, moving to a country with a different climate, hypothermia or prolonged exposure to the sun, dietary nutrition, and heavy physical activity.
Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives by a woman.
Frequent drinking of alcohol, prolonged smoking and drug use. This can affect not only a delay in the menstrual cycle, but also reproductive ability.

If you have even the slightest concern, you should visit a doctor. But, as a rule, a week delay in menstruation is considered normal.

Delayed by a week a woman is not a cause for concern. But if there is a lag of 10-14 days, then this is considered a significant failure. When there is no menstruation for almost two weeks, and this is already a systematic phenomenon, the doctor recognizes a prolonged absence of menstruation. A mandatory examination and diagnosis will be required.

Advice! You must first take a pregnancy test before sounding the alarm. It is advisable to perform two such measurements. The second result will be the control one. Perhaps the test will show a positive reaction, which means pregnancy.

Infrequent delay in menstruation reasons other than pregnancy for 10 days may vary: from the woman’s health to climate change and diet. If this happens extremely rarely, then you should wait a little, as the menstrual cycle can recover on its own. The reasons, other than pregnancy, may be the same as in the case of delaying the cycle for a couple of days:

The woman's recent stress, seeded mood swings and emotional outbursts.
Changing your diet, which can affect your weight. If it sharply decreases or increases, it can cause delayed menstrual cycle.
Change of place of residence. Moving to another country also leads to climate change. Until complete acclimatization occurs, there may be any disruptions in the body.
The presence of diseases in a woman.
Taking medications, undergoing chemotherapy.
Playing sports with frequent physical activity.

A 10-day delay in menstruation may be of a gynecological nature in addition to pregnancy:

Women's polycystic ovary syndrome. This is a condition that occurs in women of any age and can affect the menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis with proliferation of uterine tissue. The cause may also be endometritis with inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Hyoplasia is a gynecological disease that is characteristic of adolescents with underdevelopment of the uterus.
Gynecological infections.
Inflammation of the appendages.
Uterine fibroids in a woman.
Abortion operations, medical abortion.
When the follicle matures without ovulation occurring.

Possible a delay of several days, except pregnancy, and due to non-gynecological reasons:

A sharp decrease in immunity, which may be due to viral, colds and other diseases.
Overheating or hypothermia, which also affects menstruation.
Consequence of the postoperative period.
Consequences of abortion.
Wrong lifestyle of a woman: alcoholism, drug addiction.
Oncology.
Incorrect diet or diet without including foods rich in vitamins, BJU.

If menstruation failures up to 10 days occur frequently, then you need to contact a gynecologist and undergo an examination.

Most women experience menopause or its onset quite difficult. This usually occurs after 40 years, when the menstrual cycle may be constantly or periodically disrupted. During normal menstruation, the required level of hormones is released, and on the eve of menopause they are produced in smaller quantities. Cycles without ovulation may also occur. This is the main cause of delays menstruation after forty years.

Before menopause, menstruation may be:

Scarce.
Infrequent.
The discharge is observed on fewer days.

The average age at which a woman reaches menopause has now shifted significantly. If previously menopause occurred at the age of 45-50, now it comes after 40. Various factors contribute to this: from viral infections to hard work, physical activity, stress, nutrition. Therefore, women after 40 years may experience frequent delays in menstruation.

Important! After 40 years of age, it is important for a woman to undergo examinations as often as at a younger age. Sometimes a delay in menstruation may indicate the presence of gynecological diseases or the approach of menopause.

The causes of an unstable menstrual cycle, in addition to pregnancy, after 40 years can be:

Due to changes in the psycho-emotional state of a woman. Depression, frequent nervous breakdowns, ordinary daily stress - all this causes tension, decreased immunity, and delayed menstruation. This can lead to early aging of the body and the approach of menopause, which is characterized by irregular periods.

Presence of chronic diseases. These may be diseases of the cardiovascular or urolithiasis system. Also, problems with the gastrointestinal tract are displayed during the menstrual cycle: from ulcers to gastritis. Any serious or chronic disease, even diabetes, can instantly affect the endocrine system. Because of this, hormonal levels change, which leads to a delay.

Due to colds, colds, pneumonia, lung disease, FLU.

A problem with the thyroid gland, which causes endocrine disruptions.

As you age, physical activity should be less than in younger years. If a woman after 40 years continues to work hard or increases her pace, this can also lead to delay in menstruation. Lack of sleep, fatigue, stress - all this reduces immunity and affects menstruation.

Excessive weight or lack of it (dystrophy, sudden decrease in body weight). Usually, after forty years, women suffer from obesity and high cholesterol in the blood. This also becomes the cause of diabetes.

Poor nutrition: large amounts of fats, carbohydrates in food. You should review your diet so that the body can replenish the necessary reserves in time and compensate for the lack of vitamins, minerals, micro- and macroelements.

Adaptation of a woman to a new environment, job, lifestyle or country. If you move or change jobs, this affects your hormonal levels and psycho-emotional state.

But still, the most common reason for a delay in menstruation in women after 40 years of age is some illness, excess weight, or the period before menopause.

Causes of delayed menstruation and why they are dangerous

When delayed menstruation If, in addition to pregnancy, occurs a couple of times a year, then you should just come for an examination with a gynecologist. As a rule, he reports that failures are physiological. But with regular dysfunction, you should definitely find out the cause. It may not be gynecological in nature, but it may affect women’s health.

Advice! If the delay occurs for the first time in a year, then you can wait a couple of cycles. Perhaps the schedule will recover on its own. When the delay becomes regular, the woman should consult a gynecologist to determine the cause.

If you do not pay attention to disruptions in the menstrual cycle, except for pregnancy, then you can ignore ongoing diseases:

Hormonal imbalances due to disruption of the endocrine system.
Oncology, including brain microadenoma.
Infertility, inflammation of the appendages, ovarian dysfunction.
Early menopause due to advanced gynecological diseases.
Anovular infertility can even cause sepsis and pelvic thrombophlebitis.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Hypertension.
Obesity.

A delay may also indicate a disorder in the hematopoietic organs, which can contribute to the occurrence of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis. Also, failures can only be a manifestation of the following diseases:

Obesity, diabetes.
Asthma.
Hormonal disorders.
Early menopause.

All this contributes to early aging of the woman’s body and skin, fatigue is felt, drowsiness occurs, and menstruation gradually stops. Any delay in menstruation outside of normal limits, other than pregnancy, requires a visit to the doctor's office. Then you can quickly identify the causes and undergo treatment.

A normal cycle lasts 24-35 days. Nervous and humoral structures (brain, hypothalamus, pituitary gland), as well as genital organs (ovaries, uterus) are responsible for menstrual function. All functions of the body are closely interconnected, therefore a delay in menstruation is caused by a disruption in the functioning of any of the links. Cycle disruption can be caused by certain gynecological diseases - inflammation of the uterine appendages, uterine fibroids (benign tumor). But still, with these diseases, delays are more often observed. Disruptions in the female cycle and delays occur in the ovaries. It is caused by disruption of hormone production, lack of ovulation and, as a consequence, the occurrence of infertility. The most common symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome are repeated delays in menstruation from 2 days to several months, excess body hair growth, and sometimes obesity. Delay in the offensive - one of the consequences of interruption. This is due to a hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body, as well as to the fact that during mechanical uterine surgery, its internal lining is removed, which is supposed to grow during the menstrual cycle and come out in the form. Recovery may take not 28-32 days, but 40 or more. However, such a long delay is not the norm and should serve as a reason for examination and treatment. Oral contraceptives can also cause delay. While taking the pills or after stopping them for several menstrual cycles, the absence of any discharge is quite acceptable. This is "ovarian hyperinhibition syndrome." If oral contraceptives provide this, as a rule, they are canceled. Within 2-3 months after stopping taking contraceptives, ovarian function is restored. In case of longer absence of menstruation, the doctor prescribes medication. Severe stress can cause a malfunction of the central structures of the body (hypothalamus, pituitary gland) responsible for the functioning of the ovaries and uterus. For example, during wartime, women experienced extreme stress, and their periods could stop for a long time. Therefore, against the background of a woman’s absolute physical health, due to emotional experiences, sometimes there are disruptions in the cyclicity of menstrual periods. Significant delays in menstruation can also be caused by rapid weight loss. Most often, this effect is a consequence of anorexia nervosa - an eating disorder, refusal to eat. The nervous and endocrine systems of the body are inhibited, and the production of pituitary hormones, which are responsible for the functioning of the ovaries, sharply decreases. The disappearance of reproductive function is a protective reaction of a woman’s body in conditions of food starvation. To restore the menstrual cycle, it is enough to normalize body weight and eliminate mental stress. And finally, pregnancy is the most common and physiological reason for the absence of menstrual periods. Delay menstruation during pregnancy may be accompanied by a number of symptoms: changes in taste and olfactory sensations, drowsiness, soreness of the mammary glands.

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 a 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, therefore, 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.

Delayed menstruation is a malfunction of the menstrual cycle in which menstruation is absent for a certain period. If a delay of up to 10 days is normal, after 10 days this is a reason to sound the alarm and go to the hospital, even though you may not be in pain.

Delayed menstruation is a disruption of the normal course of the menstrual cycle.

Every woman at least once in her life faces such a problem as a delay in menstruation. This can be either a normal process in the body or pathological. But we can definitely say that a delay in menstruation is an alarming signal to contact the appropriate specialist at the hospital. Since a delay in menstruation may indicate the onset of serious problems and lead to serious complications.

Description of the pathology

There are several options for deviations in the menstrual cycle:

Amenorrhea is the complete absence of menstruation.
Oligomenorrhea – discharge in small quantities.
Opsomenorrhea is a pathological cycle exceeding 35 days, while the periods themselves may occur non-standardly (for example, once every six months).

What is menstrual flow needed for? Menstrual bleeding occurs at the end of the cycle and is a sign for a woman that fertilization of the egg has not occurred and there is no pregnancy. And menstruation is evidence that a woman is of reproductive age.

All women of childbearing age should menstruate

Normally, the cycle lasts from 21 days to 35 days, blood loss is not less than 50 ml and not more than 150 ml. As a rule, day 14 is the peak of ovulation.

Ovulation is the process of the release of an egg from a ruptured follicle for its fertilization; this process occurs during the period of fertility in women.

Often during menstruation a woman experiences:

nagging pain accompanied by cramps in the lower abdomen;
slight increase in temperature;
change of mood;
changes in appetite;
bloating;

During menstruation, women often experience bloating

stress;
anxiety;
acne;
pain in the chest, nipples, groin;
headaches and dizziness;
general malaise.

To control her cycle, avoid unwanted pregnancy, or, on the contrary, conceive a child, a woman should keep a calendar where she will mark her cycle from the beginning to the end of each menstruation. But sometimes the cycle may begin with a slight delay in menstruation or begin earlier, the reasons for this phenomenon are that the eggs may not mature at the same time, as well as hormonal instability.

A special calendar will help you control the onset of menstruation

Reasons for missed periods

The causes of disorders are various changes in the body, which can be accompanied by both pathology and normal deviations:

Possible menstrual cycle disruptions after taking emergency contraceptive pills

Symptoms of delay

Symptoms of delay are often accompanied by:

pain of a different nature: pulling, cutting, stabbing (what hurts and how often is an important diagnostic criterion);
bloating;
temperature;
nausea;
irritability;
rashes;
sweating;
increased appetite;

Along with a delay in menstruation, as a rule, appetite increases

unpleasant discharge;
frequent urination.

The reasons for the delay, as well as the symptoms, may have individual characteristics in different patients. The main options for the course of the pathology are as follows:

Signs of a missed period are not clear-cut and you should always consult a doctor to get a complete answer. You need to realize that the cause of pain in the lower abdomen does not always indicate pathology in the genital organs.

Diagnosis of causes

Determining the level of hCG (this hormone begins to be produced in a woman’s body after embryo implantation) in the blood or urine. Allows you to determine the cause of pregnancy.

A woman with a delay in menstruation is required to undergo a blood test for hormones.

Tracking your temperature or using special tests to determine ovulation.
Hormonal studies using blood tests. Allows you to determine the cause in the pathology of the organs responsible for their production.
Scraping and bacterial culture. Determines the cause of delayed inflammation or sexually transmitted infection.
Ultrasound is performed to exclude pathological formations, lesions or ectopic pregnancy.
Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography to detect neoplasms, pathological formations, their growth, location and influence on neighboring structures.

Treatment methods

How to induce menstruation if you are late? is the most important question a woman asks herself and her gynecologist. But such a question cannot be resolved independently. The very first thing that is necessary is diagnosis by specialists.

When menstruation is delayed, Progesterone injections are used

After diagnosis, a diagnosis is made, if pathology is detected, appropriate treatment is prescribed. For example, if it is a tumor, surgery is prescribed, but if it is a hormonal problem, then medications are prescribed to restore the function of the affected organs.

Preparations for hormonal therapy for ovarian dysfunction:

Progesterone. It is prescribed in the form of injections, administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The drug is prescribed when low levels of the hormone are detected.
Duphaston. Available in tablet form. An analogue of contraceptives due to the high content of progesterone, but without protection against unwanted pregnancy.
Utrozhestan. Available in capsules. An analogue of Duphaston, prescribed for intolerance to the drug.
Postinor in tablet form. It is a means of emergency contraception, prescribed extremely rarely, for unprotected sexual intercourse during the period of ovulation. After taking the drug, you should not take alcohol, antibiotics, fried or fatty foods to reduce the negative effect on the liver.

Using Postinor may cause side effects

Why do women try to induce menstruation ahead of time:

Pregnancy. There are many sites that describe this method as one of the ways to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. This cannot be done. Even if pregnancy is unwanted, contact your gynecologist and determine the timing and method of abortion. Otherwise, self-medication can lead to tragic consequences or serious complications.
To change the menstrual cycle. There are times in a woman's life when menstruation should appear at the most unnecessary moment. Such decisions must be made together with a gynecologist. Taking hot baths is not recommended; such a procedure can lead to heavy bleeding or increased blood pressure. If a girl is pregnant and does not know about her pregnancy, she can cause a miscarriage. At the same time, she will feel a stomach ache and bleeding.
Lengthening the cycle. Women often get scared if the cycle becomes longer or, on the contrary, shorter. The menstrual cycle is not always the same. There's nothing wrong with that.

Regulation of the menstrual cycle should be carried out jointly with a gynecologist

How to Avoid Delay in Healthy Women

Many diseases of the reproductive system begin asymptomatically and for a quick cure it is better to detect them in the early stages. It is necessary to observe scheduled visits to the gynecologist. You will also need:

Eliminating the diet or mitigating its conditions.
Reducing physical activity.
Eliminate stress, consult a psychologist and take sedatives.

The video will introduce you to the most common reasons for the absence of menstruation:

The reasons for a missed period, excluding pregnancy, can be very diverse.. Minor changes in the menstrual cycle are not pathology. If the delay in menstruation is no more than 4-5 days, then there is no reason to worry. If the delay exceeds this period, a pregnancy test should be performed. What to think and do if the test shows a negative result? The answer is simple. It is necessary to consult a doctor, he will help you find out the causes of menstrual irregularities and give recommendations on how to avoid this in the future.

Features of the menstrual cycle in women

The main endocrine glands that regulate the menstrual cycle are the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. They are interconnected and also produce hormones that have a specific effect on the woman’s reproductive system, that is, on the ovaries and uterus. The hypothalamic-pituitary system also influences other endocrine glands that regulate the menstrual cycle.

The first half of the cycle is characterized by the preparation of the reproductive organs to receive a fertilized embryo. The endometrium lining the uterine cavity develops, swells, and increases the vascular layer for enhanced nutrition of the uterine mucosa. The ovaries produce the hormone estrogen, which promotes the maturation of the dominant follicle with the egg.

After the follicle bursts and an egg is released (the process of ovulation), the second half of the menstrual cycle begins. The follicle forms the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone. If pregnancy does not occur, then the amount of the hormone in the blood decreases, and the uterus rejects the endometrium, that is, menstruation begins.

The menstrual cycle should be continuous and clearly established. Any malfunction in the female body can provoke its disorders. A normal menstrual cycle is characterized by stability and regularity. Ideally, the cycle lasts 28 days and is called lunar. Cycles from 21 to 35-40 days are considered the norm.

If the gap between cycles is sufficient, then you should not panic. After all, such events can happen, but no more than 1-2 times a year. If this happens all the time and you are not pregnant, then it’s time to find out the reason for the delay in menstruation.

Reasons that can cause a delay in menstruation

Let's try to outline the range of external and internal reasons that negatively affect women's health.

Chronic and acute diseases. Many diseases disrupt the delicate balance within the female body and can cause hormonal imbalance, including affecting the menstrual cycle. These are dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes and obesity. Acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the female genital area can disrupt the cycle. Among these pathologies are oncological processes, benign tumors, endometritis, endometriosis, salpingoophoritis, adnexitis, ovarian dysfunction, inflammation of the uterus and its appendages. Urinary tract diseases may be added to genital infections. The reasons that provoke cycle disorders include incorrect position of the intrauterine device.
The body's reaction to drugs. Long-term use of hormonal, anti-inflammatory, psychotropic, antiulcer, corticosteroid and anabolic, diuretic drugs can negatively affect the female reproductive system and cause menstrual irregularities. A doctor's consultation is necessary to adjust the dose or discontinue the medication.
Overweight. Subcutaneous fat is a participant in the regulation of hormonal levels within the body. This is a “storehouse” of estrogen, and an excess of its contents can lead to various pathologies. You should normalize your weight, then the menstrual cycle will normalize.
Lack of weight. Excessive thinness also causes delays in menstruation, or even its cessation. The minimum weight for a healthy woman should not be below 45 kg. Diets and the pursuit of the notorious Hollywood parameters of 60-90-60 have cost many women their health and even their lives. Why do you need this?
Stress. This is one of the most common causes of menstrual irregularities. Constant displeasure in the family, problems at work, exams, unhappy love, lack of proper rest, chronic fatigue, and nightly vigils at the computer have never benefited anyone. You should streamline your daily routine and learn to react calmly to any life situations. If you are unable to cope with stress alone, then contact a specialist.
Physical exercise. Heavy physical labor and sports training provoke delays in menstruation. Ordinary women should avoid excessive stress and sports, which are rather exhausting and not beneficial. Be careful when choosing a profession.
Intoxication of the body . Bad habits, drug use, as well as forced work in hazardous industries constantly poison the body and lead to serious health problems. There is a reason to think about changing your lifestyle.
Abortion. Whether it is forced or spontaneous does not matter. Abortions and miscarriages have an extremely negative impact on the condition of the uterus. This can lead to regular missed periods.
Hormonal contraceptives. Long-term use, as well as abrupt refusal of them, can cause menstrual irregularities. There are no reasons for special concern. Consult your doctor and take a break from taking contraceptives. The body will restore its functions.
Emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is a forced measure, but it is a mega blow to the hormonal balance of a woman’s body. Since this method of preventing unwanted pregnancy can cause menstrual irregularities, it should be used extremely rarely.
Acclimatization. If you have left the harsh climate for the golden sands of the beaches, then you can experience all the delights of acclimatization. Be prepared for anything. Including delayed menstruation. The cycle may be disrupted if you visit the solarium uncontrollably. By the way, an overly tanned girl or woman looks unkempt against the backdrop of snowy streets.
Hereditary factor. Menstrual irregularities can be inherited. Therefore, it is necessary to find out exactly whether relatives in the family suffered from similar ailments. Naturally, it would be ideal if young women were warned about this in advance.
The onset of menopause. It is not a fact that menopause will occur immediately after 40 years. Many women continue their menstrual cycle until age 55. But still, the decline of reproductive function becomes the cause of a change or disturbance in the nature of menstruation. Mature women have a history of chronic diseases, and all this together leads to a delay in menstruation. Alas, nature has power over us, although we are trying to slow down the passage of time.

We found out what can cause menstrual irregularities. We cannot change some circumstances, but we still have the power to eliminate most of them. Be smart and take care of yourself.