What happens if you don't have your period? Two months absence of menstruation

When faced with a hormonal disorder, namely a delay in menstruation, the first thing that comes to mind is pregnancy. It’s easy to guess what scenario of action will follow.

Of course, a woman will first buy a test to rule out the most likely cause. Let's assume that this same test gave a negative result, temporarily lulling her vigilance, but there are plenty of reasons for delaying menstruation, besides pregnancy.

Why no periods?

When a woman consults a gynecologist due to a delay in menstruation by a week or even 2 months, she very often hears a diagnosis of ovarian dysfunction.

Please note that with this diagnosis, the doctor only confirms the irregularity of the menstrual cycle (that is, stopping of menstruation), ruling out the possibility of pregnancy. So dysfunction is not the cause of the disease, but only the conclusion that something is wrong with the body.

Now you need to find out what caused your period to stop. But there are many more reasons for this than it seems.

Factors that may affect cycle regularity

Gynecological factors of menstrual cycle disruption

Gynecological diseases can also cause disruption of the menstrual cycle and long delays (20 days or more):

cervical cancer;
uterine fibroids;
cyst;
disorders and infections of the genitourinary system;
contraceptives (spiral).

Any disease, be it a tumor or an inflammatory process, requires timely diagnosis and treatment, which will at least double the chances of a full recovery. Therefore, if you experience any discomfort, especially if you have not had your period for more than 2 weeks, you should not neglect your health, but rather seek qualified medical help.

External interventions such as abortion or miscarriage also have an impact on the stability of the menstrual cycle. Pregnancy initially causes resonance and drastic changes in the body, and if this pregnancy is terminated artificially, it cannot be avoided without failures. Typically, recovery after surgery takes 1–2 months, after a vacuum it takes 4 months or more. If there have been surgical interventions, there is no reason to worry about a delay in menstruation even up to 4 months. It may also happen that the cycle (stopping menstruation) does not recover at all, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Hormonal contraceptives play an important role in imbalance. The hormones contained in these contraceptives stimulate the menstrual cycle, but are addictive, adjusting the rhythms of menstruation in accordance with the schedule of taking the drugs. After stopping the pills, delays may occur for several weeks and up to 2 months. The situation will repeat until menstruation is completely restored and regulated. Hormonal contraceptives are a necessary measure that should not be abused. Constant changes in hormonal levels will not pass without leaving a trace on the body.

Non-gynecological factors of menstrual irregularities

When menstruation stops for a month or 2 months, but there is no pregnancy, it is easy to guess that something is wrong with the body. If there are no gynecological problems, it is worth thinking about the reasons for the absence of menstruation. As we already know, all processes in the body are controlled by the brain. The cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and pituitary gland are responsible for the menstrual cycle. If there are disturbances in the functioning of the brain, it is possible that this could be the cause of the delay.

Also, do not forget that there are a number of diseases that affect the entire functioning of our body. These include:

diabetes;
thyroid diseases;
adrenal diseases;
diseases of the endocrine system (in such cases, the delay can range from two weeks to 4 months).

Against the backdrop of all the negative internal processes, a woman has to deal with such unpleasant symptoms as excess weight and weak immunity, which often leads to a deterioration in well-being, at least doubling the stress for the entire body as a whole.

Let's not forget about menopause. When a woman’s reproductive age comes to its logical end, some irregularities in menstruation can be observed. Usually this is 1 month, but sometimes longer (2–4 months). At this age, it is especially important to identify “problems” in the body at an early stage, at least within two weeks.

PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. What is this?

The cause of prolonged absence of menstruation (more than 20 days) may indicate a pathology such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This name hides a serious hormonal imbalance, which is often caused by impaired ovarian function. At the same time, the body increases the production of tarragon and androgens. Among other things, this disease is characterized by a functional disorder of the pancreas and adrenal cortex.

Not only a long delay in menstruation (2-4 months) may indicate PCOS, but also the woman’s appearance. The first signs of the disease are obesity and active hair growth (in the groin area, legs, upper lip, etc.), that is, the male hormone predominates in the female body. But it is worth remembering that appearance will still not give 100% results, since, for example, in Eastern women, intensive hair growth is associated with national characteristics. The surest way to diagnose the disease is to undergo an examination and get tested.

PCOS, like any other disease, has its own characteristics. In some cases, PCOS can lead to infertility, but you should not focus on this, because this disease is treated with hormonal drugs. Taking the prescribed medicine for just a month improves not only the functioning of the ovaries, but also the appearance of the woman. This occurs due to the fact that with the help of the drug, the female body begins to produce female sex hormones, which leads to the normalization of the general condition of the body and the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

When there is a delay. What to do?

When a delay occurs, young women who are sexually active and girls who have just begun to be sexually active should do the following:

pregnancy test;
determine other factors (climate change, stress, diet, etc.), usually the duration of the delay starts from 20 days and can last up to 4 months;
contact a gynecologist if the delay is 3 months.

If a woman is not sexually active:

identify other factors;
contact a gynecologist in case of a delay lasting from 20 days and no more than 2-3 months, but no more than 4 months.

If a woman has crossed the 40-year-old barrier:

visit a medical facility for examination in case of absence of menstruation from 20 days to 4 months.

If you stop taking hormones:

visit a gynecologist if the delay lasts from 20 days to 2-3 months. Sometimes the delay can reach 4 months.

If you feel any discomfort in your body, you should immediately consult a specialist for medical help.

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.

Amenorrhea

In the medical world, a delay or absence of menstruation is called. It is divided into two categories:

Primary amenorrhea. This is a condition in which a girl has not started her period by the age of 16. Often primary amenorrhea is associated with the presence of congenital disorders that did not manifest themselves in any way until the onset of puberty. These are, for example, genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, problems with the organs of the reproductive system, etc. These may include being born without a uterus, or a uterus that does not develop normally.
Secondary amenorrhea. This is a condition in which periods suddenly stop and are absent for more than three months. Those. I used to have periods, but now they are absent. Secondary amenorrhea is the most common form of missed period. The most common causes of this condition are pregnancy, problems with the ovaries (for example, polycystic ovary syndrome or early menopause), pituitary tumors, stress, serious violations of normal body weight (both smaller and larger), and others.

In addition to amenorrhea, there is another medical term that I want to introduce you to - oligomenorrhea. This is a disorder in which the duration of the menstrual cycle significantly increases and the duration of menstruation itself decreases. It is generally accepted that a woman has oligomenorrhea if during the year she had periods less than 8 times and/or lasted up to 2 days or less.

Normal course of menstruation cycles

The normal menstrual cycle occurs at 10-15 years of age in a young woman, after which the body is considered to have entered a phase where it can perform full-fledged conception. This system works every month up to 46-52 years of age, but this is an average figure. (There are cases of later cessation of menstruation.)

Then there is a decrease in the duration of menstruation and the amount of blood released during this process. Eventually, menstruation stops completely.

Reasons for delayed menstruation other than pregnancy

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 occurs in patients suffering from gynecological diseases, primarily polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition, such a symptom can accompany inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, occur after termination of pregnancy or diagnostic curettage, after hysteroscopy. 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.

List of reasons that may cause a delay in menstruation

A delay of 2 to 5 days in the “red days of the calendar” should not be a cause for concern, since this is considered a very real phenomenon for every woman. If pregnancy is excluded, then such disorders of the female body can be caused by many factors. Their careful analysis allows us to determine the cause of a gynecological or non-gynecological nature.

So, we list the top 15 reasons for missed periods:

Inflammatory diseases;
Hormonal contraceptives;
Diagnosis of the uterine cavity, abortion or miscarriage;
The period after childbirth;
Puberty;
Menopausal disorders;
Great physical activity;
Stressful conditions;
Environmental climatic conditions;
Body weight abnormalities;
Intoxication of the body;
Taking certain medications;
Hereditary predisposition.

As follows from all of the above, the reasons for regularly recurring delays of critical days are multifaceted. Biological clocks can go wrong even in nulliparous women, who often confuse the symptoms of menstrual irregularities with pregnancy. An inconsistent menstrual cycle should not be considered a particularly dangerous, serious illness, but it is still worth paying close attention to the frequency of your critical days.

Stress and physical activity

The most common causes of missed periods, besides pregnancy, are various nervous tensions, stress, and the like. Difficult work environment, exams, family problems - all this can cause a delay. A woman’s body perceives stress as a difficult life situation in which a woman should not give birth yet. It is worth taking care of changing the situation: contact a family psychologist, change jobs, or learn to relate to the situation more simply, and the like. Keep in mind that overwork and lack of sleep are also very stressful for the body.

Excessive exercise also does not contribute to the regularity of the menstrual cycle. It is known that professional athletes often experience problems with delayed periods and even with childbearing. The same problems plague women who take on physically demanding jobs. It's better left to men.

But don’t think that moderate exercise or morning jogging can affect the situation. An active lifestyle has never bothered anyone. We are talking specifically about excessive loads under which the body works for wear and tear.

Weight problems

Scientists have long found out that adipose tissue is directly involved in all hormonal processes. In this regard, it is easy to understand that the reasons for a delay in menstruation, in addition to pregnancy, may also lie in weight problems. Moreover, both excess and lack of weight can provoke a delay.

If you are overweight, the fat layer will accumulate estrogen, which negatively affects the regularity of your cycle. With underweight, everything is much more complicated. Prolonged fasting, as well as weight loss below 45 kg, is perceived by the body as an extreme situation. Survival mode turns on, and in this state pregnancy is highly undesirable. In this case, not only a delay in menstruation is possible, but also its complete absence - amenorrhea. Naturally, problems with menstruation disappear with normalization of weight.

That is, plump women need to lose weight, thin women need to gain weight. The main thing is that this must be done extremely carefully. A woman’s diet should be balanced: the food should contain proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and microelements. Any diet should be moderate and not debilitating. It is better to combine them with moderate physical activity.

Inflammatory diseases of the uterus

Often, inflammatory processes are the cause of infertility, tumors of the reproductive system, and mammary glands. Inflammatory diseases occur due to infection due to improper hygienic care of the genitals, unprotected sexual intercourse, traumatic damage to the uterus during childbirth, abortion, and curettage.

Uterine fibroids

Menstruation with uterine leiomyoma can be irregular, with a delay ranging from several days to several months. Despite the fact that this pathology is in most cases considered a benign tumor, there are a number of negative consequences that it can lead to. And first of all, its degeneration into cancer is dangerous. Therefore, seeing a doctor at the slightest suspicion of fibroids is extremely necessary.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

One of the main reasons for menstruation to lag behind the usual schedule in this case is the lack of the required amount of hormones. As a rule, the process is caused by the lack of ovulation, suppression of the endometrium, as well as existing hormonal disorders. The egg does not mature in this process, which gives the body a signal that there is no need to prepare for possible fertilization.

Endometriosis

This disease is a pathological proliferation of benign tissue, which is similar to the mucous membrane of the reproductive organ. The development of endometriosis can occur in various parts of the reproductive system, and it is also possible to go beyond it. Changes in hormonal levels can be both the cause of the disease and its consequence. Irregular critical days are also one of the main symptoms of such deviations.

Birth control pills

If you are taking hormonal birth control pills, it is possible that your menstrual cycle will be significantly different from normal. Very often, the duration of cycles when taking birth control pills increases significantly. Some pills do not have this effect. Menstruation occurs as usual, but most often it is lighter and shorter. It is also worth noting that in very rare cases the pill may not prevent pregnancy, especially if it is missed. However, even if you took the pills accurately and correctly, if your period is late and you are worried about it, you can take a pregnancy test to calm down.

Nowadays you can find a fairly large number of different birth control pills on sale. Some of them may differ significantly in their effects on the body. In addition, it is worth noting that each individual woman can react differently to the same pills.

Also, keep in mind that when you stop using birth control pills, you may not have a normal menstrual cycle right away. For most women, the recovery period takes from one to two months, and sometimes this period can last up to six months. Only then will you be able to conceive a child again. Accordingly, during the recovery period you may also have an irregular cycle, and this must be taken into account if you have a delay.

Delayed menstruation during pregnancy and after childbirth

During the entire period of pregnancy, a woman does not have periods. After childbirth, their resumption occurs in different ways - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Elevated prolactin levels when breastfeeding can prevent eggs from starting to function. If a woman is breastfeeding, a delay in menstruation may last as long as milk is produced (this directly depends on the level of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for lactation). Sometimes this can happen within 2-3 years.

If milk is not produced, another period will occur in about 6-8 weeks. But sometimes there are exceptions when the ovaries begin to work even before the baby stops feeding, the egg matures, and the woman can become pregnant again. If this does not happen, the new cycle ends with the appearance of menstruation.

Why are constant delays in menstruation dangerous?

Constant delays in menstruation indicate hormonal disorders, lack of ovulation, and abnormal changes in the structure of the endometrium. Pathology can arise due to serious, even dangerous diseases: tumors of the uterus, endocrine glands, polycystic ovaries. The cause of a missed period is an ectopic pregnancy.

It is necessary to establish a diagnosis as early as possible, to find out the degree of danger of the processes, since they lead, at a minimum, to infertility and early menopause. Diseases associated with delayed menstruation cause breast tumors, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, weakened immunity, premature aging, and changes in appearance. For example, if the delay occurs due to polycystic ovary syndrome, then the woman experiences a sharp increase in weight, up to obesity, hair appears on the face and chest (as in men), acne, and seborrhea.

Timely treatment of diseases that cause prolongation of the cycle often helps to avoid infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and prevent the appearance of cancer.

Examinations for delayed menstruation

To find out the reasons for the delay in menstruation, the following studies are prescribed:

Examination for sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, etc.).
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, thyroid gland and adrenal glands. This study is carried out to exclude pregnancy, tumors, gynecological and endocrine diseases.
Examination of the pituitary gland (radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, electroencephalography). Diseases of the pituitary gland are quite often the cause of delayed menstruation.
Hormonal studies. The levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, PRL are determined, as well as thyroid and adrenal hormones.
Curettage of the inner layer of the uterus and its further histological examination. Curettage is performed from the cavity and canal of the cervix.

What to do if your period is late?

If you experience regularly recurring delays in menstruation or the period of delay exceeds the maximum permissible physiological limits of five days, you should consult a doctor. After determining the reasons, the woman will be prescribed appropriate treatment. Most often, therapy is carried out using hormonal pills. However, under no circumstances should they be taken independently, without medical advice. This is extremely dangerous for a woman’s health and can disrupt the entire hormonal system, which means it can lead to serious health problems.

Among the most common hormonal drugs, doctors prescribe the following:

Duphaston. Used if a delay in the menstrual cycle is caused by insufficient levels of progesterone in the body. Only a doctor should adjust the dose based on the research conducted. If there is no pregnancy and the delay does not exceed 7 days, then postinor is prescribed for a period of 5 days. After this time, menstruation should begin two or three days later.
Postinor. It is a drug used for emergency contraception. This remedy is used if it is necessary to induce a menstrual cycle as quickly as possible. However, it is recommended only for regular menstruation, since its use can cause cycle disorders, and if used very frequently, lead to infertility.
Pulsatilla. Another hormonal drug that can be prescribed for delayed menstruation. This is the safest remedy that does not lead to weight gain and does not affect the nervous system. However, it should not be taken by girls who have an irregular cycle.
Progesterone is an injectable hormone. Used to induce menstruation, dosage selection is carried out strictly individually. An increased intake of progesterone in the body can cause a lot of side effects, including excess hair growth, weight gain, and menstrual irregularities. More than 10 injections are never given. The effect is based on stimulating the work of the glands located in the mucous membrane of the uterus. The drug has a number of contraindications, including: uterine bleeding, liver failure, breast tumors, etc.
Non-ovlon, a drug that stimulates the onset of the menstrual cycle, is able to prevent acyclic bleeding. It contains estrogen and gestagen. Most often, if there is a delay, two tablets are prescribed every 12 hours. However, before using it, it is mandatory to consult a specialist, since the drug has side effects and can disrupt the functioning of the reproductive organs.
Utrozhestan. It is a drug that suppresses estrogen and stimulates the production of progesterone, which determines its therapeutic effect. In addition, it has a stimulating effect on the development of the endometrium. The drug can be administered vaginally, which is its undoubted advantage, however, this drug also has some contraindications.
Norkolut, causes menstruation, as it contains norethisterone, which in its action is similar to the action of gestagens. And their lack often provokes failures in cycles and their delay. The course of treatment should not exceed five days; it is not used during pregnancy, as it risks miscarriage and bleeding. It has a large number of contraindications and side effects, so a preliminary consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Naturally, the use of hormonal drugs to induce menstruation is not a safe method. They must be taken correctly, as they can cause irreparable harm to health.

If pregnancy is not confirmed, the onset of premenopause, the reason for the delay of menstruation for longer than 2 months must be looked for among pathologies. Diagnosis is extensive.

Reasons for delay of menstruation for 2 months with a negative test

When there is a 2-month delay in menstruation, the test is negative for pregnancy, ovulation or the onset of premenopause, and the result is positive, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination. The development of inflammatory processes inside the body can cause dangerous complications.

During puberty, closer to 14 years of age, the cycle is not stable. After menarche, there is usually a delay of 2 months or longer. Then menstruation resumes; the duration and nature of their flow stabilize during the first year.

The main reasons for a 2-month delay in menstruation:

stress;
depression;
emotional upheavals (moving, change of job or climate, session, etc.);
breakdown;
prolonged fasting, strict diets;
mental or physical constant fatigue.

Pathological causes include chronic and acute diseases (endocrine, gynecological, cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory, etc.), viral, bacterial or fungal in nature.

Delay due to hormonal imbalance

Failure of the metabolic mechanism causes glandular dysfunction, anorexia, and obesity. Frequent jumps in substances (above, below normal) during ovulation and after menstrual periods, childbirth, lactation, menopause and other physiological changes affect hormonal levels. When estrogen production decreases, androgen levels increase, and a prolonged delay in menstruation occurs.

Periods of life when normal ovulation may not occur:

puberty of girls (first time immediately after menarche);
fetal development (all trimesters);
lactation;
early approach of menopause (about 40 years).

Ovulatory dysfunction is a disruption of processes associated with ovulation. It often occurs during the period of life associated with pregnancy and subsequent care of the baby (childbirth, feeding).

Gynecological causes of delayed menstruation

The advanced state of chronic, infectious diseases of the reproductive and endocrine system poses a threat to life. You should undergo an accelerated examination of the body if your period is delayed longer than a week.

Gynecological reasons for lack of menstruation:

ovarian dysfunction;
polycystic adnexa;
ectopic pregnancy.

The first factor that causes a two-month delay in menstruation is an unsuccessful criminal abortion, curettage of the uterine cavity in unsterile conditions in order to get rid of the child. This often becomes the main reason for surgery.

Pathology of the appendages

Ovarian dysfunction occurs due to a violation of the production of hormones by the adrenal glands, thyroid gland or hypothalamus, pituitary gland (its anterior part). Their activity is regulated by prolactin, LH (luteinizing) and FSH (follicle-stimulating) substances. The balance of these hormones maintains the proper functioning of the ovaries.

Consequences of disruption of the appendages: delay of menstruation for 2 months, amenorrhea (no menstruation for a long time), hypermenorrhea (frequent and heavy discharge), uterine bleeding, frequent miscarriages.

Other causes of ovarian dysfunction:

inflammation of organ tissue (adnexitis, oophoritis, salpingoophoritis);
neoplasms, cancer;
diseases of the uterus or cervix (endometriosis, cervicitis, fibroids).

A patient complaining of a delay in menstruation for more than 2 months should contact a gynecologist and endocrinologist to undergo an examination. It will be necessary to undergo an ultrasound of the reproductive organs, endocrine glands, adrenal glands, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computer tomography) of the brain, EEG.

They donate blood, make smears from the walls of the vaginal mucosa, cervix, and endometrial scraping to analyze the actual composition of the microflora (bacterial culture, pap test, microscopy). The cause of ovarian dysfunction is eliminated with the help of hormonal and antibacterial drugs, physiotherapy techniques, and psychology.

Ectopic pregnancy

An abnormal site of implantation of a fertilized egg can be caused by the presence of adhesions in the area where the fallopian tubes meet organs, bending or displacement of the uterine body, an incorrectly (or long ago) installed intrauterine device, or other gynecological diseases.

The main danger of abnormal development of pregnancy is that the signs do not differ from implantation and growth of the embryo in its usual place.

General symptoms of conception and course of the first trimester:

dizziness;
sick in the morning;
toxicosis (vomiting after eating);
implantation bleeding;
delay of menstruation for several weeks;
breast tenderness;
white discharge from the nipples (a few drops).

When planning a child, a woman expects signs of conception and conducts rapid testing at home, but it often gives a negative result. At an early stage of pregnancy, it is recommended to do a second hCG test, which will more reliably indicate whether the embryonic protein hormone has appeared in the woman’s blood. The result will only confirm conception, but will not indicate the site of implantation of the fetus.

If the egg is implanted inside the fallopian tube, during the first half of the first trimester the woman will begin to experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen on the side where the embryo is attached. The discomfort is increasing - the size of the fetus begins to exceed the diameter of the fallopian tube. The last symptom is that every day the pain intensifies, during the duration of the action of analgesics or antispasmodics it is slightly dulled, then it resumes with renewed vigor.

When the size of the embryo stretches the tube from the inside to its limit, it will burst and bleeding will begin. If an ectopic pregnancy is not diagnosed in a timely manner, the woman quickly bleeds, hemorrhagic shock occurs, and the situation can be fatal.

Women of reproductive age, especially those around 40 years old, are at risk. The only recommendation for women, if there is a delay in menstruation with the simultaneous presence of pain or unpleasant discomfort in the abdomen, should immediately undergo an ultrasound of the organs located in the abdominal cavity and pelvis.

Conclusion

A delay in menstruation for 2 months in a row should raise suspicion if the test is negative. You should undergo a medical examination to identify pathology. Having found the cause using ultrasound, hCG analysis, and laboratory results, the doctor will select adequate therapy. Menstruation can also be delayed due to psycho-emotional and physical fatigue. For prevention, it is recommended to adjust your diet, take vitamins, do gymnastics, and avoid stress.

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The way a woman's reproductive system functions can be used to judge her overall health. The appearance of cycle disorders and delayed menstruation indicate abnormalities in the functioning of the endocrine, nervous and other systems. Regular periods of normal duration indicate that the level of hormones is normal and the woman is able to become pregnant. The reasons for the delay of menstruation can be the processes of natural age-related changes, the body’s reaction to external factors. Deviation from the norm is often a sign of a serious illness.

Content:

What is considered a missed period?

It is considered normal if a woman’s period comes in 21-35 days. A delay of more than 10 days is a pathology if it is not associated with a physiological restructuring of the body. Every woman experiences a slight delay in menstruation 1-2 times a year. If this repeats constantly, then you need to see a doctor for examination.

Menstruation may occur at intervals of more than 40 days (oligomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea), or may be absent for several menstrual cycles (amenorrhea).

There are natural reasons for a missed period. In addition to pregnancy, this could, for example, be lactation or menopause. If the delay is not associated with normal physiological processes, then the nature of the pathology must be immediately established to avoid complications.

Physiological causes of delayed menstruation

The menstrual cycle is a strict sequence of processes associated with preparing the female body for pregnancy. Even a completely healthy woman can experience malfunctions of this mechanism under the influence of external factors. These include:

Emotional state: tense anticipation of menstruation, if a woman fears an unwanted pregnancy, stress at work, personal worries.
Increased physical and mental stress, intense sports.
Moving to a new place of residence, changing climate, occupation, daily routine.
Poor nutrition, addiction to diets, obesity, vitamin deficiency.
Colds, chronic gastritis, diabetes, kidney disease.
Taking antibiotics and some other medications.
Use of hormonal contraceptives, abrupt discontinuation of contraception.
Hormonal changes in the body during puberty. For 1-2 years, periods come irregularly, even missing for several months due to the immaturity of the ovaries. Then the cycle is established. If this does not happen, then it is necessary to find out the cause of the violations.
Changes in hormonal levels during menopause. Rare, irregular periods are a sign of the onset of perimenopause, which precedes the complete cessation of menstruation.
An increase in prolactin levels in the body during the postpartum period associated with milk production. If a woman does not breastfeed, her periods will return after 2 months. If she is breastfeeding, her period comes after she stops putting her baby to the breast.

Note: If your period does not come 1 year after giving birth, this may be a sign of a disease caused by birth injuries.

Constant delays occur due to intoxication of the body with alcohol, drugs, and nicotine. Cycle disorders often occur in women working in hazardous industries on the night shift.

Video: Causes of delayed menstruation. When to see a doctor

Pathologies that lead to delayed menstruation

In addition to pregnancy, diseases of the reproductive and endocrine systems can be the cause of missed periods.

Hormonal disorders

A common cause of menstrual irregularities are diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and ovaries, which cause hormonal imbalance.

Hypothyroidism- insufficient production of thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Without these substances, it is impossible to produce sex hormones in the ovaries: estrogens, progesterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which ensure the maturation of the egg, ovulation and other processes of the menstrual cycle. Delayed periods are one of the first signs of thyroid disease in women.

Hyperprolactinemia- a disease of the pituitary gland associated with excessive production of prolactin. This hormone suppresses the production of estrogens, which are responsible for the timely maturation of eggs. The work of the ovaries is disrupted by congenital underdevelopment of the pituitary gland and brain tumors.

Adenoma(benign tumor) of the pituitary gland or adrenal gland. Leads to obesity, excess body hair growth, and menstrual irregularities.

Ovarian dysfunction- disruption of the production of sex hormones in the ovaries. This condition may be the result of previous inflammatory diseases, hormonal disorders, installation of an intrauterine device, or the use of hormonal drugs.

Video: Why menstruation is delayed or absent

Diseases of the reproductive system

Inflammatory diseases of the uterus and ovaries lead to disruption of the production of hormones that are responsible for the processes of maturation of eggs, follicles, and endometrium. As a result, they are often the cause of delay. At the same time, the volume and nature of the discharge changes, pain appears in the lower abdomen, lower back, and other symptoms. Often, inflammatory processes are the cause of infertility, tumors of the reproductive system, and mammary glands. Inflammatory diseases occur due to infection due to improper hygienic care of the genitals, unprotected sexual intercourse, traumatic damage to the uterus during childbirth, abortion, and curettage.

Salpingo-oophoritis- inflammation of the uterus and appendages (tubes and ovaries). The process can cause ovarian dysfunction.

Endometritis- inflammation of the uterine mucosa, which leads to the appearance of hypomenstrual syndrome (menstruation can come after 5-8 weeks and not even more than 4 times a year).

Cervicitis- inflammation of the cervix. The process easily spreads to the uterus and appendages.

Endometrial hyperplasia. There is a pathological thickening of the mucous layer lining the uterus. It causes a long delay in menstruation, after which heavy bleeding occurs. Pathology occurs due to hormonal disorders caused by diseases of the endocrine glands.

Uterine fibroids- a benign tumor in the uterus, single or in the form of several nodes located both outside and inside the uterus. This disease is characterized by irregular menstruation. Long delays can alternate with short cycles.

Polycystic ovary syndrome- formation of multiple cysts outside or inside the ovaries. The disease may occur without symptoms. It is often discovered when examining a woman for a long (more than 1 month) absence of menstruation.

Uterine polyps- the formation of pathological nodes in the endometrium, which can spread to the cervix. Characterized by delayed menstruation and prolonged heavy bleeding. Malignant tissue degeneration often occurs.

Endometriosis- growth of the endometrium into the tubes, ovaries, and neighboring organs. In this case, the patency of the fallopian tubes is disrupted, which can cause a delay in menstruation. In addition to normal pregnancy, menstruation with endometriosis does not come on time due to ectopic pregnancy, if the embryo is attached in the tube and not in the uterine cavity. As a result, a pipe rupture can occur, which can be life-threatening for the woman. Instead of the expected menstruation, spotting mixed with blood appears. A woman should pay attention to the appearance of such signs as nausea, vomiting, nagging pain in the lower abdomen (on the side where the egg is attached).

Ectopic pregnancy also occurs after diseases leading to adhesions of the tubes and ovaries (salpingoophoritis).

Endometrial hypoplasia- underdevelopment of the uterine mucosa, in which the endometrial layer remains too thin and cannot hold a fertilized egg. This leads to termination of pregnancy at the very beginning, when the woman does not yet know about its occurrence. The next menstruation comes with a delay, and brown spotting may appear before it. Hypoplasia becomes the result of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, operations on the uterus and ovaries, and hormonal disorders in the body.

Addition: One of the common causes of delay is anorexia, a mental illness associated with an eating disorder. It is usually observed in young women. The desire to lose weight becomes an obsession. In this case, food ceases to be absorbed, and complete exhaustion occurs. Menstruation comes with increasing delay and then disappears. If you manage to regain weight, your periods will appear again.

Why are constant delays in menstruation dangerous?

Timely treatment of diseases that cause prolongation of the cycle often helps to avoid infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and prevent the occurrence of cancer.

Examination methods, establishing the reasons for the delay

To determine the cause of the delay in menstruation, an examination is carried out.

It is checked whether the woman is ovulating. To do this, basal body temperature (in the rectum) is measured throughout the entire cycle and a schedule is drawn up. The presence of ovulation is indicated by a sharp increase in temperature above 37° in the middle of the cycle.

A blood test for hormones is carried out to detect deviations from the norm and possible consequences.

Using ultrasound, the condition of the pelvic organs is studied, the presence of tumors and other pathologies in the uterus and appendages is detected.

The brain and the condition of the pituitary gland are examined using computer and magnetic resonance imaging (CT and MRI) methods.

Taking care of your women's health is the first priority of every lady. After all, a lot of things depend on this, including the ability to conceive, bear and give birth to offspring.

From the time of the first menstruation, time must pass, about 12-18 months, for each girl’s cycle to normalize and become regular. Approximately it lasts from 21 to 33 days. If spotting occurs less frequently or more often than average, you should definitely consult a doctor and, most likely, you will need to undergo a series of tests to determine the cause of such phenomena. A delay is considered to be a situation when menstruation does not begin on time. The question arises: what to do if you don’t have your period? First, it’s worth understanding the reasons for this phenomenon. There may be several of them.

Reason 1. Infection

The most common reason for the absence of bleeding on the appointed day today is common infections of the genitourinary system. Unfortunately, these phenomena are very common among modern youth. It’s easy to answer the question of what to do if you don’t have your period. You just need to treat the infection, and the cycle will resolve itself.

Reason 2. Hormones

Hormonal imbalance, improper functioning of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands are all also possible causes of delayed menstruation. Only a doctor can help you figure out what to do if you don’t have your period in this situation by prescribing a specific treatment to eliminate hormonal dysfunction.

Reason 3. Stress

A stressful situation in which a woman finds herself can also affect the delay of menstruation. But these are not necessarily negative emotions associated with experiences, grievances, etc. The body experiences stress even when the climate changes, when a person travels to foreign lands on vacation.

Reason 4. Weight

If you want to figure out what to do if you don’t have your period, you should pay attention to fluctuations in your body weight. If a woman has gained or lost weight dramatically, this may affect her menstrual cycle. It is also worth saying that obese women are more susceptible to delayed menstruation than girls with normal weight.

Reason 5. Pregnancy

If there is a delay in menstruation in a girl who has already begun to be sexually active, you should not exclude the option of a possible pregnancy. And even if the test purchased at the pharmacy showed a negative result, but your period still does not come, you should seek advice from a gynecologist, because sometimes tests lie. In addition, they do not always show an ectopic pregnancy.

What to do?

If a girl is 5 days late, what should she do in such a situation? First you need to take a pregnancy test. It is important to remember the need to use morning urine. It is also worth knowing that the test does not provide a 100% guarantee of results. Only a gynecologist during an examination can clarify the absence or presence of pregnancy. Understanding how long an ultrasound is done, it must be said that such an examination can be carried out already from the first day of the delay. Namely, an ultrasound examination with a vaginal sensor, which should tell about the presence or absence of a picture of a mature second phase. If the result is positive, you can also donate blood for beta-hCG.