Treatment of prolonged delay in menstruation. Frequent questions of women with a delay in menstruation

The content of the article:

Delay of menstruation can be fixed in women who have not entered the menopause. Usually, the menstrual cycle can be delayed up to 34 days. If the gap between periods is 35 days, then this indicates a delay in the menstruation schedule from the norm.

If the pregnancy test turned out to be negative, then it means that there are some malfunctions in the woman's body itself. The delay in menstruation, other than pregnancy, may have different: functional disorders, physiological characteristics, the occurrence of pathologies, etc. According to statistics, almost a 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 came, is pregnancy. A woman may feel a painful sensation in the mammary glands, fatigue. Nausea and changed eating habits may come later.

In order not to guess for a long time, you should take a pregnancy test, which shows changes in the hormonal background, the level of hCG in the blood. If the result was negative, then the cycle was delayed due to other factors, but not because of 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 there is a delay in menstruation for a month, reasons other than pregnancy may be as follows:

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

Types of gynecological factors, other than pregnancy, that could affect cycle failures:

Changes in the psycho-emotional state: stress, anxiety, worries, long depression. The level of hormones and their quantity depends on the work of certain parts of the brain. If during the month there were significant stresses, then the work 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 due to relationships with loved ones, emotional outbursts - all this can be cause of what has come delay of menstruation.

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

Prolapse of the uterus can also occur, so physical activity must be correct. Exercises should be done periodically, and not at one time, otherwise menstruation may come much later. This problem is especially familiar to female athletes who are involved in heavy sports.

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

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

Testosterone is overproduced. This can be manifested in the increased growth of oxen in down, armpits, above the lips, on the arms, etc. If you do not contact a specialist, then the onset of infertility is also possible due to the wrong hormonal background.

Respiratory viral infections, influenza, and inflammation of chronic diseases. The thyroid gland can also malfunction, causing the endocrine system to fail to produce the right amount of hormones. Diabetes mellitus, kidney disease also cause menstrual irregularities.

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

Reception of antibiotics, other medicines. Antidepressants, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can also cause failures.

Wrong way of life. Alcohol, drugs can lead to infertility, early menopause, or significant delay.

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

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

The onset of menopause before the age of 40. There are statistics that say that menopause can occur in the period up to forty years, for example, by thirty years. But this has nothing to do with external factors. This is usually the result of failures in the endocrine system, which is also responsible for the production of hormones.

Hormonal development and puberty. In the first two years of the onset of the first menstruation in adolescent girls, the cycle is unstable, there may be lags in it.

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

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

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

Endometriosis, inflammation of the genitourinary system, a benign tumor, as well as other diseases, including polycystic, 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 delayed menstruation.

Miscarriage in 1-2 trimesters, which also affects menstruation.

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

Women often tell their doctor that they have a stable delay for 2-3 days. As a rule, this is normal, so do not sound the alarm, especially when we are talking about such a small delay. But with a five-day deviation of menstruation from the norm, it is worth considering and contacting a gynecologist.

Interesting to know! A delay in menstruation in a woman for a couple of days or five days in most cases is a physiological norm. If there is any discomfort, pain in the lower abdomen, then you need to visit the gynecologist's office.

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

The formation of a cycle that can take place over two years. Deviations can be 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 some time before menopause. Could be permanent 5 days delay or periodic, and the menstruation itself may be completely absent for some time before menopause occurs.

Refusal of oral contraceptives, because of which the menstruation schedule is not restored immediately.

A delay in menstruation for 5 days, in addition to pregnancy, can have the following reasons: 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 can only be manifestations of some disease, which may not be associated with the endocrine, genitourinary system. But if such failures were observed infrequently, then there is no cause for concern.

According to experts, a few days delay is already the norm. An active lifestyle, frequent hay conditions, climate, stress, diet - all this affects the schedule for the onset of menstruation. That is, such a situation is considered a physiological norm. If the patient has pain or other uncomfortable sensations, then you should come to an appointment with your doctor.

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

Important! A woman needs to visit a gynecologist at least once a year. Then any functional changes can be detected. The specialist will conduct an examination and be able to give advice or redirect to another doctor if the reason for 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 are also the cause of failures. Factors other than pregnancy include:

Weakened immunity, a consequence of the transferred disease: from a cold to the flu, SARS.
Conducting chemotherapy.
The presence of chronic diseases in women.
A delay in menstruation for a week can have other reasons besides pregnancy: stress, moving to a country with a different climate, hypothermia or long exposure to the sun, diet, heavy physical exertion.
Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives by a woman.
Frequent alcohol consumption, long-term smoking and drug use. This can affect not only the 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 weekly delay in menstruation is recognized as the norm.

Delay for a week a woman is not a cause for concern. But if there is a delay 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 the prolonged absence of menstruation. Requires mandatory inspection and diagnosis.

Advice! First you need to do a pregnancy test before sounding the alarm. It is desirable to perform two such measurements. The second result will be the control. Perhaps the test will show a positive reaction, which means pregnancy.

infrequent delay in menstruation causes other than pregnancy by 10 days can be different: from the state of health of a woman to a change in climate, diet. If this happens extremely rarely, then it is worth waiting a bit, as the menstruation cycle can recover on its own. Reasons, other than pregnancy, can be the same as in the case of standing up for a couple of days:

Recently received by a woman stress, sowed mood swings emotional outbursts.
Dietary changes that can affect weight. If it sharply decreases or increases, then this can cause delayed menstrual cycle.
Change of residence. Moving to another country also leads to climate change. Until complete acclimatization occurs, there may be any failures in the body.
The presence of diseases in a woman.
Taking drugs, undergoing chemotherapy.
Doing sports with frequent physical activity.

A delay in menstruation for 10 days can also be of a gynecological nature, in addition to pregnancy:

Polycystic ovaries in a woman. It is a disease that occurs in women of any age and can affect the menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis with proliferation of uterine tissue. The cause may 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 the onset of ovulation.

Possible a delay of several days, except for pregnancy, and for 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.
The consequences of an abortion.
Wrong way of life of a woman: alcoholism, drug addiction.
Oncology.
Wrong diet or diet without the inclusion of foods rich in vitamins, BJU.

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

Most women endure the period of menopause or its onset is quite difficult. This usually occurs after the age of 40, when the menstrual cycle may be constantly or intermittently disturbed. 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 can also occur. This is the main cause of delays menstruation after forty years.

Before menopause, menstruation may be:

Meager.
Infrequent.
Allocations are observed for a smaller number of days.

Now the average age at which menopause occurs in a woman has shifted significantly. If earlier menopause occurred at 45-50 years old, now it comes after 40. Various factors contribute to this: from viral infections to hard work, physical exertion, stress, nutrition. Therefore, in women after 40 years, frequent delayed menstruation.

Important! After the age of 40, it is important for a woman to undergo examinations as often as at a younger age. Sometimes a delay in menstruation can also indicate the presence of gynecological diseases, 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, normal daily stress - all this causes tension, decreased immunity, delayed menstruation. This can lead to early aging of the body and the approach of the menopause period, which is characterized by irregular periods.

The presence of chronic diseases. It can be diseases of the cardiovascular, urolithiasis system. Also, problems with the gastrointestinal tract are displayed on the menstrual cycle: from ulcers to gastritis. Any serious or chronic disease, even diabetes, can instantly appear on the endocrine system. Because of this, the hormonal background changes, which leads to a delay.

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

A problem with the thyroid gland, due to which endocrine disruptions occur.

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

Great weight or its lack (dystrophy, a sharp decrease in body weight). Usually, after forty years, women suffer from obesity, high cholesterol in the blood. This also causes diabetes.

Improper diet: a large amount of fats, carbohydrates in food. You should review your diet so that the body can replenish the necessary reserves in time, make up for the lack of vitamins, minerals, micro and macro elements.

Adapting a woman to a new environment, work, lifestyle or country. If there was a move, a job change, then this affects the hormonal background and the psycho-emotional state.

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

Delayed menstruation causes and why they are dangerous

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

Advice! If the delay happened 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, then a woman should contact a gynecologist to determine its cause.

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

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

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

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

All this contributes to the fact that early aging of the woman's body, skin occurs, fatigue is felt, drowsiness occurs, and menstruation gradually stops. Any delay in menstruation outside the norm, except for pregnancy, requires a visit to the doctor's office. Then you can quickly identify the causes and undergo a course of treatment.

A normal cycle lasts 24-35 days. The nervous and humoral structures (brain, hypothalamus, pituitary gland), as well as the genital organs (ovaries, uterus) are responsible for the menstrual function. All functions of the body are closely interconnected, because the delay in menstruation is caused by a disruption in the work of any of the links. Violation of the cycle can be caused by some gynecological diseases - inflammation of the uterine appendages, uterine fibroids (benign tumor). But still, with these diseases, they are more often observed than delays. Failures in the female cycle and delays occur in the ovaries. It is caused by a violation of the production of hormones, the absence of ovulation and, as a result, the occurrence of infertility. The most common symptoms of PCOS are repeated delays of menstruation from 2 days to several months, excessive growth of body hair, and sometimes obesity. Delay in the offensive - one of the consequences of the interruption. This is due to a violation of the hormonal balance in the woman's body, as well as the fact that during the mechanical uterus, its inner 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 a delay. During the intake of tablets or after their withdrawal for several menstrual cycles, the absence of any discharge is quite acceptable. This is "ovarian hyperinhibition syndrome". If oral contraceptives are given such, as a rule, they are canceled. Within 2-3 months after the end of taking contraceptives, ovarian function is restored. In the case of a longer absence of menstruation, the doctor prescribes medication. Severe stress can cause failure of the central structures of the body (hypothalamus, pituitary gland), which are responsible for the functioning of the ovaries and uterus. For example, in wartime, women experienced severe stress, and their critical days could stop for a long time. Therefore, against the background of the absolute physical health of a woman, due to emotional experiences, failures in the cycle of critical days are sometimes observed. Significant delays in menstruation can also be provoked by rapid weight loss. Most often, this effect is a consequence of anorexia nervosa - eating disorders, refusal to eat. The nervous and endocrine systems of the body slow down, the production of pituitary hormones responsible for the functioning of the ovaries decreases sharply. The disappearance of the reproductive function is a protective reaction of the 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 critical days. Delay menstruation during pregnancy may be accompanied by a number of signs: changes in taste and smell, drowsiness, soreness of the mammary glands.

A normal 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. The calendar should always mark the day of the onset of menstrual bleeding in order to notice the irregularity of the cycle in time.

Often, after stress, illness, intense physical activity, climate change, a woman has a slight delay in menstruation. In other cases, this sign indicates the onset of pregnancy or hormonal disorders. We will describe the main reasons for the delay in menstruation and the mechanism for their development, as well as talk about what to do in such a situation.

Why there is a delay

A delay in menstruation can be the result of physiological changes in the body, and also 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, it largely depends on whether the woman has lactation. In women without pregnancy, an increase in the duration of the cycle may be a manifestation of perimenopause (menopause). Also, the irregularity of the cycle in girls after the onset of menstruation is considered the norm, if it is not accompanied by other violations.

Functional disorders that can provoke a menstrual cycle failure are stress, intense physical activity, rapid weight loss, an infection or other acute illness, climate change.

Often an irregular cycle with a delay in menstruation in patients suffering from gynecological diseases, primarily. In addition, such a symptom may accompany inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, occur after an abortion or diagnostic curettage, after. Ovarian dysfunction may be due to the pathology of the pituitary gland and other organs that regulate the hormonal background of a woman.

Of the somatic diseases, accompanied by a possible violation of the menstrual cycle, it is worth noting obesity.

When is a missed period 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, failures in the menstrual cycle are possible. A delay in menstruation in adolescents occurs during the first 2 years after menarche, after this period it can serve as a sign of disease. If menstruation did not appear before the age of 15, this is an occasion to visit a gynecologist. In the event that an irregular cycle is accompanied by obesity, excessive growth of body hair, voice changes, as well as heavy menstruation, it is necessary to seek medical help earlier in order to start correcting violations in time.

Normally, the cycle is already regular by the age of 15. In the future, menstruation occurs under the influence of cyclic 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 bubble (follicle), in which it developed, bursts, and the egg is in the abdominal cavity - ovulation occurs. During ovulation, short mucous white discharge from the genital tract appears, it may hurt a little on the left or right lower abdomen.

The egg is taken up by the fallopian tubes and travels through them to the uterus. At this time, the bursting follicle is replaced by the so-called corpus luteum - a formation that synthesizes progesterone. Under the influence of this hormone, the layer lining the uterus from the inside - 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, therefore it is not rejected. In addition, progesterone inhibits the maturation of new eggs, so there is no ovulation and, accordingly, cyclic processes in the woman's body stop.

If there is a delay

With a delay of menstruation for 3 days (and often on the first day), a test can be done at home to determine pregnancy. If it is negative, but the woman is still worried about the delay, she should undergo an ultrasound examination of the uterus using a vaginal probe, as well as take 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 will talk about it below); during pregnancy, a fetal egg is determined in the uterus, and when it is, for example, in the fallopian tube (). In doubtful cases, after 2 days, you can repeat the analysis for hCG. An increase in its concentration by two or more times indicates the course of uterine pregnancy.

Menstruation after childbirth

After childbirth, the menstrual cycle for many women is not restored immediately, especially if the mother feeds the child 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 for its acceptance, and then is not rejected.

Usually, menstruation is restored within 8-12 months after childbirth against the background of 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.

Reproductive decline

Finally, over time, women's reproductive function gradually begins to fade. At the age of 45-50 years, menstruation delays, cycle irregularity, and changes in the duration of discharge are normal. 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 probability, you should contact a gynecologist in time and choose contraceptives.

Intermittent cycle disturbances

A delay in menstruation with a negative test is often associated with the effect on the body of adverse factors. The most common causes of a momentary cycle time failure are:

emotional stress, such as a session or family troubles;
intense physical activity, including sports competitions;
rapid weight loss while dieting;
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, there may be a temporary disruption of the cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland - the main regulatory centers in the body. Under the influence of substances secreted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland secretes cyclically follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, under the action of which estrogen and progesterone are synthesized in the ovaries. Therefore, when the work of the nervous system changes, the duration of the menstrual cycle can also change.

Many women are interested in whether there can be a delay in menstruation after taking antibiotics? As a rule, antibacterial drugs by themselves do not affect the duration of the cycle and cannot cause a delay in menstruation. However, the infectious disease for which the patient was prescribed antimicrobial drugs can lead to it. The infection has a toxic (poisonous) effect on the nervous system, and is also a stress factor that contributes to the disruption of hormonal regulation. This is possible, for example, with cystitis.

Normally, the next menstruation after a delay in these cases occurs on time. More permanent cycle disorders may occur with the use of certain drugs:

, especially low-dose;
prolonged action gestagens, used in some cases for the treatment of other diseases;
prednisolone and other glucocorticoids;
releasing hormone agonists;
chemotherapeutic agents and some others.

How to induce menstruation with a delay?

Such a possibility exists, but it is necessary to clearly answer the question - why does a woman need menstrual bleeding as a fact. Most often, the fair sex answers this question - in order to restore a normal cycle. In this case, you need to understand that thoughtless self-medication with hormonal drugs can, of course, cause menstruation, but it is even more likely to lead to dysfunction of the reproductive system, a violation of the ability to conceive.

Thus, a woman will get 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 do 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, starvation, excessive load) and follow the recommendations of her doctor.

Diseases that cause delayed menstruation

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 symptom can also be observed in extragenital pathology, not directly related to diseases of the female reproductive system.

The defeat of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland can occur with a tumor of neighboring parts of the brain or these formations themselves, hemorrhage in this part (in particular, as a result of childbirth). Common causes, other than pregnancy, for which the regularity of the cycle is disturbed, are ovarian diseases:

Emergency hormonal contraception. If the irregularity persists during the cycle following the intrauterine manipulation, you need to contact a gynecologist.

Finally, a delay in menstruation occurs in some extragenital diseases:

epilepsy;
neurosis and other mental disorders;
diseases of the biliary tract and liver;
blood diseases;
breast tumor;
adrenal gland 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.

A delay in menstruation is a failure in the work of the menstrual cycle, in which menstruation is absent for a certain period. If a delay of up to 10 days is the norm, after 10 days it is a reason to sound the alarm and go to the hospital, although you may not have any pain.

Delayed menstruation is a violation of the normal course of the menstrual cycle

Every woman at least once in her life is faced with such a problem as a delay in menstruation. This can be both a normal process in the body and a pathological one. But we can definitely say that the delay in menstruation is an alarm signal for contacting the appropriate specialist in the hospital. Since a delay in menstruation can indicate the onset of serious problems and lead to formidable complications.

Description of pathology

There are several options for deviations in the menstrual cycle:

Amenorrhea is the complete absence of menstruation.
Oligomenorrhea - discharge in a small amount.
Opsomenorrhea is a pathological cycle that exceeds 35 days, while the periods themselves can go non-standard (for example, once every six months).

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

Menstruation should occur in all women of childbearing age

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:

pulling pains, accompanied by cramps in the lower abdomen;
a slight increase in temperature;
change of mood;
appetite changes;
bloating;

During menstruation, a woman often notices bloating in her abdomen.

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

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

A special calendar will help control the onset of menstruation

Reasons for delayed menstruation

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

Possible menstrual irregularities after taking emergency contraceptive pills

Delay symptoms

Delay symptoms are often accompanied by:

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

Simultaneously with the delay of menstruation, as a rule, appetite increases

unpleasant secretions;
frequent urination.

The reasons for the delay, like the symptoms, may be individual for different patients. The main options for the course of pathology are as follows:

Signs of a missed period are not unambiguous and you should always consult a doctor for a complete answer. You need to be aware that the cause of pain in the lower abdomen does not always indicate pathology from the genital organs.

Diagnosis of causes

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

A woman with delayed menstruation is required to have a blood test for hormones

Tracking temperature or using special tests to determine ovulation.
Research of a hormonal background on analyzes of a blood. Allows you to determine the cause in the pathology of the organs responsible for their production.
Scraping and bacterial culture. Determines the cause of the delay in inflammation or genital infection.
Ultrasound is performed to exclude pathological formations, foci 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 with a delay? - the most important question that a woman asks herself and her gynecologist. But such a question cannot be solved independently. The very first thing you need is a diagnosis from a specialist.

When menstruation is delayed, progesterone injections are used

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

Preparations for hormonal therapy in violation of ovarian function:

Progesterone. It is prescribed in the form of injections, injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The drug is prescribed when a low level of the hormone is detected.
Duphaston. Produced in the form of tablets. 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, is prescribed for intolerance to the drug.
Postinor in the form of tablets. It is a means of emergency contraception, it is prescribed extremely rarely, with unprotected intercourse during the period of ovulation. After taking the drug, you should not take alcohol, antibiotics, fried and fatty foods to reduce the negative effect on the liver.

The use of Postinor may cause side effects

Why do women try to induce menstruation ahead of time:

Pregnancy. There are many sites where this method is described as one of getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy. This cannot be done. Even if pregnancy is undesirable, contact a gynecologist, determine the term and method of abortion. Otherwise, self-treatment can lead to tragic consequences or terrible complications.
To change the menstrual cycle. There are moments in a woman's life when menstruation should appear at the most unnecessary moment. Such decisions must be made jointly with the gynecologist. Taking hot baths is not recommended, such a procedure can lead to profuse bleeding or an increase in blood pressure. If a girl is in a position and does not know about her pregnancy, she can provoke a miscarriage. At the same time, she will feel that her stomach hurts and blood discharge has appeared.
Cycle extension. Women are often frightened if the cycle becomes longer or vice versa less. The menstrual cycle is not always the same. There is nothing wrong with this.

The regulation of the menstrual cycle should be carried out in conjunction 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 comply with planned trips to the gynecologist. You will also need:

Elimination of the diet or mitigation of its conditions.
Reducing physical activity.
Eliminating stress, contacting a psychologist and taking sedatives.

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

Reasons for delayed periods, excluding pregnancy, can be very diverse.. Small changes in the menstrual cycle are not a pathology. If the delay in menstruation is no more than 4-5 days, then there is no cause for concern. If the delay has exceeded this period, then a pregnancy test should be performed. What to think and do if the test showed a negative result? The answer is simple. It is necessary to consult a doctor, he will help to 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 and hypothalamus. They are interconnected, and also produce hormones that have a specific effect on the reproductive system of a woman, that is, on the ovaries and uterus. The hypothalamic-pituitary system also affects other endocrine glands that regulate the menstrual cycle.

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

After the follicle bursts and an egg is released from it (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 well-established. Any failure in the female body can provoke its violation. The normal menstrual cycle is characterized by stability and regularity. Ideally, the cycle lasts 28 days and is called the lunar cycle. Cycles from 21 to 35-40 days are considered the norm.

If the interval between cycles is sufficient, then you should not panic. After all, such events can occur, but not 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 provoke a delay in menstruation

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

Chronic and acute diseases. Many diseases disrupt the delicate balance within the female body and can cause hormonal imbalances, including affecting the menstrual cycle. These are dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, metabolic diseases, in particular, diabetes mellitus 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, salpingo-oophoritis, adnexitis, ovarian dysfunction, inflammation of the uterus and its appendages. Urinary tract infections can be added to infections of the genital organs. The reasons that provoked violations of the cycle include the incorrect position of the intrauterine device.
The body's response to drugs. Long-term use of hormonal, anti-inflammatory, psychotropic, antiulcer, corticosteroid and anabolic, diuretic drugs can adversely affect the female genital area and cause menstrual irregularities. It is necessary to consult a doctor to adjust the doses or stop the medication.
Overweight. Subcutaneous fat is a participant in the regulation of hormonal levels within the body. This is a "pantry" of estrogen, and an excess of its contents can lead to various pathologies. It is necessary to normalize the weight, then the menstrual cycle also normalizes.
Lack of weight. Excessive thinness is also the cause of delays in menstruation, and even its termination. The minimum weight for a healthy woman should not be less than 45 kg. Diets, the pursuit of the notorious Hollywood parameters of 60-90-60 cost many women their health and even their lives. Why do you need it?
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, night vigils at the computer have not yet benefited anyone. You should streamline the daily routine and learn how to calmly respond to any life situations. If you are not able to cope with stress alone, then consult a specialist.
Physical exercise. Heavy physical labor, sports training provoke delays in menstruation. Ordinary women should avoid excessive stress, sports, which are rather exhausting and do not bring benefits. Be careful when choosing a profession.
Body intoxication . Bad habits, drug use, as well as forced work in hazardous industries constantly poison the body and lead to serious health problems. There is reason to think about changing your lifestyle.
Abortion. Forced or spontaneous, it doesn't matter. Abortions and miscarriages have an extremely negative effect on the condition of the uterus. This can lead to regular delays in menstruation.
Hormonal contraceptives. Long-term use, as well as a sharp rejection of them, can cause menstrual irregularities. There are no reasons for special concern. Talk to your doctor and take a break from taking contraceptives. The body will restore its functions.
emergency contraception. Emergency contraception refers to forced measures, 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 very rarely.
Acclimatization. If you have left the harsh climate for the golden sands of the beaches, then you can comprehend all the delights of acclimatization. Be ready for anything. Including delayed menstruation. The cycle can be broken if you visit the solarium uncontrollably. By the way, a too tanned girl or woman looks untidy against the backdrop of snowy streets.
hereditary factor. Menstrual disorders 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 the climax. Not the fact that menopause will come immediately after 40 years. For many women, the menstrual cycle continues until the age of 55. But still, the extinction of the reproductive function causes a change or violation of 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 it is in our power to eliminate most of them. Be prudent and take care of yourself.