Delayed menstruation: when and why to worry

What is a delay in menstruation

A delayed period is when your period does not start as expected. Every woman has her own. To determine it, that is, to understand if there is a delay, two parameters are taken into account.

Individual cycle time. According to Your first period of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a typical menstrual cycle (the so-called interval between the first day of these and the previous or subsequent periods) lasts 28 days. However, cycles of 21-40 Stopped or Missed Period days are also normal variants.
Regularity of the cycle. In healthy adult women, menstruation, as a rule, occurs after a strictly defined number of days. For example, every 28 or every 35. Young girls who had their period no more than 6 years ago may have an irregular cycle. In one month, the blood on the pad will be, let's say, 25 days after the previous time, and in another - after 29. Such fluctuations are normal.

Now for a simple example. Your last period began on March 3. Today is April 4th. Is there a delay? There may be several answers.

If your cycle is, say, 28 days, your period is 4 days late. But if 35, there is still no delay: according to your individual schedule, menstruation is expected only on April 7th. And in the event that you are a young girl with an unsteady, floating cycle, the delay is questionable.

If there is no period for a long time, more than three months, doctors talk about amenorrhea Amenorrhea - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. This condition is normal for pregnant, lactating and menopausal women. Everyone else needs to be examined to find out for what reasons menstruation does not start.

But, suppose, the thought of amenorrhea has not yet reached. And when you find a delay of several days, you just want to find out what it means. Lifehacker has collected several options.

Why is there a delay in menstruation and what to do about it

Here are some of the most common reasons for Stopped or Missed Period.

1. You are pregnant

This is perhaps the most popular reason for delay in healthy women who are sexually active.

If you don't have sex, pregnancy can be ruled out. Otherwise, wait another couple of days (or better 5-7, if you have enough patience) and take a pregnancy test. In order not to wait, you can go to the laboratory and donate blood for hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin. Such an analysis is able to detect pregnancy after 11 days. What is HCG? after conception.

What to do

If the result is positive, visit your gynecologist as soon as possible. Pregnancy can turn out to be ectopic, and this is a serious threat to your health and even life.

2. You are stressed

Acute or chronic stress significantly affects hormonal levels, so the monthly cycle can become longer or shorter. And in some cases, menstruation stops altogether.

What to do

The most obvious and simple advice is to try to calm down. Learn to breathe deeply, abstract, rest more, think good - there are many relaxation techniques. If you understand that you can't pull yourself together on your own, contact a psychologist or psychotherapist.

But the important thing to remember is this. It's not at all a fact that the delay in menstruation is associated with stress. Other reasons cannot be ruled out (the same pregnancy). Therefore, if your period does not return for several weeks, still consult with your gynecologist.

3. You've lost too much weight

If there are not enough calories, the production of hormones that are responsible for ovulation and start menstruation stops.

What to do

A delay in menstruation against the background of insufficient weight (this can be determined by calculating the body mass index) is a serious reason to consult a therapist as soon as possible. After the examination, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you normalize your weight. Or a psychotherapist if you have an eating disorder.

4. You've put on too much weight

The accumulated adipose tissue in the body increases the production of estrogen, a hormone that, among other things, regulates the monthly cycle. Excess estrogen can make your period less frequent or stop it altogether.

What to do

Go to a therapist. Your doctor will advise you on how to lose weight faster and safer. Perhaps you will get a referral to a more narrow specialist - a nutritionist.

5. You are overtrained

Excessive physical activity is also stressful. And stress, in turn, affects hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.

What to do

If you suspect the delay may be related to intense training, cut back on your activity. Professional athletes should consult a physician who specializes in sports medicine. An expert will advise on how to keep fit without disrupting the menstrual cycle.

6. You are using contraception

Some oral contraceptives, birth control injections, and even an intrauterine device (IUD) can stop menstruation altogether.

In addition, menstruation is sometimes delayed while taking conventional hormonal contraceptives. And after the abolition of such pills, it will take time for the cycle to stabilize.

What to do

If you are on birth control pills or have recently put on a coil, talk about the delay with your gynecologist. Follow his recommendations.

7. Menopause is approaching

Menopause is a natural part of aging in women. These are hormonal changes in which the ovaries stop producing eggs, and periods are delayed, become irregular, and then completely stop.

Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, in about 1 in 100 women, it occurs before the age of 40.

What to do

Consult a gynecologist. Menopause, in addition to the cessation of menstruation, may have other unpleasant signs: vaginal dryness, sweating, problems with sleep and libido, regular sensations, as if throwing into a fever. A doctor can help reduce symptoms.

8. You have polycystic ovary syndrome

This is a condition in which cysts (cavities with unreleased eggs) form on the ovaries, and the level of the androgen hormone rises in the body. As a result, polycystic ovary syndrome can cause menstrual disruptions. Including a delay in menstruation.

What to do

Only a gynecologist can deal with polycystic disease. The doctor will listen to your complaints, conduct an examination and offer to do an ultrasound scan and a blood test. All this is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.

If the syndrome is confirmed, you will be prescribed medication. Sometimes, surgery is needed to restore ovulation and a disturbed monthly cycle.

9. You have a different medical condition

Your menstrual cycle can say a lot about your health. Understand how to start tracking your menstrual cycle and what to do about irregularities.:

Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. Inflammation can appear due to both sexually transmitted infections and those that are not related to sexually transmitted diseases.
Uterine fibroids and other neoplasms. Various tumors sometimes lead to cycle disorders. These may be benign processes, but you still need to be checked.
Premature ovarian failure. This is a disease in which menopause is, in theory, still far away, but the ovaries already cease to produce eggs normally.
Diseases of the endocrine system. For example, diabetes or thyroid disorders.
Celiac disease. It is an autoimmune disease in which the gut responds inadequately to gluten (gluten), a protein found in the seeds of cereal plants. Celiac disease causes the intestinal walls to become inflamed, which prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can also lead to disruption of the monthly cycle.

What to do

If it seems to you that you have ruled out almost all the reasons for a possible delay, but there is still no monthly period, go to the gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and examination to rule out possible illnesses. If necessary, he will refer you to another specialist, such as an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, or oncologist.

10. You are taking certain medications

Any hormonal drugs can affect the menstrual cycle.

What to do

If you are prescribed such medications and against their background, menstruation delays have begun, talk about this with your doctor. Perhaps he will offer you an alternative - a drug that will not disrupt the menstrual cycle.

This material was first published in March 2018. In February 2021, we updated the text.