Any woman knows her individual norm for delayed menstruation. The absence of delays in menstruation indicates a normal healthy state of the reproductive system. Women and girls of different ages may have their own acceptable period of delayed menstrual flow.

According to doctors, a delay in bloody vaginal discharge can be considered normal for 1-7 days if the female body does not experience “side symptoms” against this background. If a representative of the fairer sex feels well and does not suffer from discomfort, then such delays are considered acceptable. But each age segment has its own limit on such expectations.

Pay attention! In girls, menarche (first periods) is expected in the age category of 11-15 years. And during the first two years it will be difficult to expect the regularity of these discharges. At a young age, a 5-day delay in discharge should not cause concern.

If after two years your periods have not stabilized, you should contact a gynecologist to determine the normal functioning of the uterus and ovaries. The “dry” period for a healthy woman and girl is 28-35 days. It is after this time that spotting appears monthly.

In older women, sexual function declines, which is a natural and inevitable process. With each new month there will be a delay in menstruation, which will gradually increase until it stops altogether.

The average age for menopause in women is 44-50 years. But there are exceptions to climacteric ovarian dysfunction in one direction or the other.

Reasons for missed periods

Delayed menstruation (main reasons, besides pregnancy, why is there a delay in menstruation):

• Gynecological reasons;
• Not gynecological reasons.

The reasons for long waits for menstruation are gynecological (with the exception of pregnancy) and non-gynecological in nature.

Gynecological reasons:

1. puberty;
2. diseases (polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst);
3. menopause;
4. long-term use of contraceptives;
5. lactation.

Non-gynecological reasons:

1. stress;
2. climate change;
3. diet;
4. anorexia;
5. poor environment;
6. diseases (ARVI, gastritis, thyroid and kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus);
7. intoxication;
8. excessive physical activity;
9. overweight.

Important to remember! Some medications that are used to treat the genitourinary system, stomach ulcers and depression can delay menstruation.

Leading an unhealthy lifestyle, using drugs, drinking heavily and smoking tobacco can all affect the regularity of your periods each month.

There are times when a negative test result results in a significant delay in the cycle. Such a failure, lasting more than 7-15 days, may be a consequence of taking hormonal drugs.

There may also be a test error if your period is late and the test is negative.

Reasons why your period is late and the test is negative

As soon as a delay in regulation occurs, women use rapid tests to determine pregnancy. All tests work on the same principle - they determine the level of hCG in female urine. If this indicator is normal, the result does not exceed 5 MIU/ml. Starting from the 7th day of pregnancy, this figure increases 5 times.

Errors during testing can be primarily due to non-compliance with instructions and a low-quality product. There are many known tests that show errors in cases of kidney disease and hormonal imbalance. Violation of the integrity of the packaging and expired expiration date also do not promise a reliable test result.

A woman may receive a false negative test result if there is a slight delay, when 3 days have not passed since the missed period. Another reason for false information may be late ovulation of the previous cycle. Insufficient concentration of urine composition gives an unreliable result.

Therefore, testing should be done at the first urination of the day. A pathological pregnancy (frozen or ectopic) will not indicate an increase in the level of hCG in the blood.

A false positive result is less common than a false negative result. This result may occur in the case of termination of pregnancy at a very early stage, which showed the actual level of hCG at the time of pregnancy. Tumors formed due to hormonal imbalance contribute to the production of hCG, which can mislead a woman.

A positive response to testing may occur in the event of a recent termination of pregnancy (miscarriage, abortion). The use of certain drugs in the treatment of infertility can also cause false results.

A pale and unclear second line of the test gives rise to re-testing after 3-5 days, and in the case of IVF you will need to wait 10-15 days. An error in the test is undoubtedly possible, so doctors recommend that you check the result two more times.

How many days can a missed period last without pregnancy?

A delay in regulation that does not cause concern is 5-7 days in a woman of young and middle reproductive age. In the case of older women during menopause, the maximum delay period can be about six months. The acceptable period for delaying the arrival of menstruation after the first sexual intercourse is considered to be 2-4 days.

What and how affects the menstrual period in women

Women's health is influenced by many factors: external environment, age, physiological state and others. The table below shows the factors, conditions and moments and how they affect the regularity and nature of menstruation in women.

No menstruation: wait or act?

The absence of the onset of critical days within 1 week against the background of symptoms of their appearance can be considered the norm. If the acceptable delay period has expired, action should be taken. The first step in the plan should be pregnancy testing.

If pregnancy is not confirmed, and the normal waiting period has passed, you should immediately go to an antenatal clinic. At the appointment, you will need to talk about your health, the appearance of new symptoms, and be examined and tested.

Doctors are paying attention! A significant delay in regulation cannot be attributed to external factors and normal physiological processes. This signals the beginning of pathological processes, which should be intervened as quickly as possible.

If your chest hurts, but you don’t have your period, what does this mean?

Before the onset of menstruation, a significant number of women notice swelling, pain and sensitivity of the mammary glands. If your chest hurts, but your period has not arrived, then this may be a signal of the beginning of a new life.

This happens in 70% of cases. If pregnancy never occurs, and the mammary glands continue to bother you, then in 20% of cases the problem is associated with mastopathy.

The remaining 10% is attributed to: the presence of infection in the mammary glands:

• oncology of these organs;
• ovulation process;
• consequences of active physical exercise (muscle strain);
• hormonal imbalance;
• shingles.

Why does my stomach hurt but I don’t have my period?

You may also experience pain in the abdomen in the absence of menstruation. Some women experience pain during ovulation when the follicle ruptures. This is a normal process that is attributed to the individual characteristics of the body.

Gynecological problems can also be accompanied by pain. Women begin to pay attention to inflammatory processes after the appearance of severe pain. If such inflammations are ignored and not treated, they can later give rise to serious diseases.

Fluid accumulated in the fallopian tubes can cause abdominal pain., which will prevent the appearance of menstruation.

Acyclic pain in most cases they cause urolithiasis. Adhesions, cystitis, and colitis can cause trouble. If, in addition to the abdomen, a woman is bothered by a bursting sensation in the mammary glands, fibroids can be suspected. If you have abdominal pain and lack of regulation, you should undergo an examination to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.

How long can you not worry?

Important to remember! Each woman's menstrual cycle can last for a different period of time. Most often, an established cycle (21-35 days) accompanies a woman throughout her reproductive age from 18 to 45 years.

The countdown begins on the first day of discharge and lasts until the arrival of the next ones.
A healthy woman has regular periods for 1-3 days and there is no reason to worry.

Delay of menstruation 1-4 days: reasons

The most common reasons for delay (1-4 days) are the following:

1. recent cold;
2. excessive physical activity;
3. climate change;
4. sudden change in diet;
5. emotional, nervous breakdown.

If your period is 5 days late (the test is negative): is there a problem or not?

With a 5-day wait for the arrival of menstruation, it is too early to talk about any pathology, because it is within normal limits. A woman has time before taking active steps.

The reason for the failure of the regularity of the cycle may be the consequences of workaholism., which lead to exhaustion of the body, lack of sleep and decreased vitality. In the absence of poor health and unpleasant symptoms, we can say there is no problem.

Delay of menstruation by 6 - 10 days. Reasons other than pregnancy

Doctors pay attention! A delay of 6-10 days in menstruation is the first call for a woman. It can signal a borderline state, pregnancy or illness.

If pregnancy is excluded, doctors call this delay secondary amenorrhea. A very dangerous condition for a woman that should be excluded first is ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms of this pregnancy are:

• pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen;
• feeling of weakness;
• nausea;
• dizziness;
• the appearance of vaginal discharge of a brown, brown color.

If these symptoms are detected, you should immediately visit an antenatal clinic. Ignoring an ectopic pregnancy causes heavy bleeding and infertility.

Delay in menstruation for 10 days or more: start looking for the cause with your doctor!

A woman’s good health and the presence of a partner obliges her to undergo testing. When the fact of pregnancy is not confirmed, you must consult a doctor to undergo an examination and identify the causes.

Based on the survey results, A gynecologist will be able to detect or exclude diseases:

1. Vaginitis;
2. Polycystic disease;
3. Candidiasis;
4. Thrush;
5. Adnexitis;
6. Myoma, tumors.

If the doctor does not find gynecological problems, you should refer to his colleagues. The delay can be caused by illness:

1. Pancreatitis;
2. Duodenitis;
3. Chronic gastritis;
4. Diabetes mellitus;
5. Pyelonephritis;
6. Adrenal diseases;
7. Anorexia.

Delay 2 weeks or more

Waiting for critical days longer than two weeks no longer leaves hope that everything is in order with the woman’s body. This condition cannot be ignored, even if the woman is not bothered by anything. A trip to the antenatal clinic should be organized as a matter of urgency.

What to do if you haven’t had your period for 2 (two) months, but you’re not pregnant

If the regulations have not arrived after 2 months, you need to be examined for ovarian dysfunction. This disease is not independent, as it is caused by factors such as a viral or infectious disease; diseases of the genital organs, kidneys, thyroid gland, stomach.

As soon as a woman notices vaginal discharge that does not resemble menstruation, she should go to the clinic. After refusing to take contraceptives, your period should occur in 2-3 months; if this does not happen, and discomfort is felt below, do not delay going to the antenatal clinic.

No period for 3 months, but not pregnant

Waiting for the arrival of menstruation for 3-6 months received the medical name - amenorrhea. Its cause is a serious gynecological disease, which requires examination and examination by a specialist.

Why are there no periods after an abortion?

Important to remember! Every woman recovers her menstrual cycle differently after an abortion.

In this situation, it is worth taking into account the timing and method of termination of pregnancy, as well as the physiological characteristics of the patient. Provided the outcome of the operation is normal, after 1 month. After an abortion, regulation should begin. The first day of the cycle should be considered the date of the operation.

Doctors are paying attention! If you have not had your period 31 days after surgical termination of pregnancy, it is recommended to visit a doctor to avoid health problems.

Delayed menstruation while breastfeeding

The return of menstruation in recent women will depend on the lactation process, during which there is a high level of the hormone prolactin in the blood, which is responsible for breast milk. If the natural process of lactation does not occur (caesarean section, refusal to breastfeed, other reasons), then the cycle will be restored after 1 month.

In this case, the maximum delay after childbirth can last approximately 8 weeks. During lactation, normalization of the menstrual cycle is a purely individual process. This may take 2-3 years.

Important to remember! To accurately predict the time at which the menstrual cycle begins to resume after childbirth, it is necessary to take into account:

• feeding cycle;
• type of feeding (mixed, on demand, regular).

If the mother feeds the baby at the child's request, the menstrual flow will be restored one year after birth. With mixed feeding, you can expect your period to return after 3-4 months. For 80% of women giving birth, their critical days come after weaning their baby.

Attention: Dangerous Causes of Delay

Dangerous reasons for delay:

• Andexit;
• Polycystic ovary syndrome;
• Endometriosis.

Gynecological and endocrine diseases are at risk. Diseases of the ovaries, adrenal glands and thyroid glands can cause polycystic ovary syndrome and lead to infertility.

Adnexitis is an inflammatory process in the uterine appendages that causes hormonal imbalance. Endometriosis or uterine fibroids is a benign tumor that can develop into a malignant neoplasm.

What are the dangers of frequent delays in menstruation?

It is not recommended to ignore periodic delays. And if they become frequent, it is absolutely impossible to show a negligent attitude towards a woman’s health.

Gynecologists insist! Ignoring regular and frequent delays is fraught with the appearance of chronic diseases, infertility, and oncology of the genital organs.

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

The delay forces the woman to wait agonizingly for a week and then be sent to a medical facility. Any deviation of the menstrual cycle from the norm is a reason to contact an antenatal clinic.

Together with the gynecologist, the cause of the menstrual cycle failure will be determined. To do this, you will need to take tests, undergo pregnancy testing, and be examined by an endocrinologist and an ultrasound specialist.

In the case of an unstable menstrual cycle in a girl (duration less than 2 years), the onset of menopause in an older woman and an acceptable one-week delay, do not panic and try to induce menstruation.

Important to know! In women who have not reached menopause and have passed the age of menerche, constant delays in menopause are abnormal. Therefore, having established the reasons for the delay, measures should be taken to restore the cyclicity of the regulation.

Is it possible to induce menstruation if there is a delay?

It is possible to provoke monthly bleeding if it is delayed both under medical supervision and at home. Almost all medications used to restore the menstrual cycle are hormonal.

You can get the desired effect from taking them if a woman has problems with hormonal levels and a deficiency of a certain substance in the body.

How to induce menstruation if you are late at home

Having established the patient’s hormonal picture, the gynecologist prescribes special medications according to the regimen. Often women use herbal infusions that provoke the onset of menstruation. At home, you can induce menstruation with medications, decoctions of medicinal herbs, hot baths, a large dose of vitamin C and active physical exercise.

Decoction of medicinal herbs:

1. Elecampane;
2. Oregano;
3. Nettles;
4. Rosehip;
5. Yarrow;
6. Sporysha.

Herbs taken 2 tbsp. l., and filled with 1 l. boiling water, consume after 12 hours of exposure for one day. To induce menstruation, they also drink a decoction of onion peels and ginger.

Drugs for hormonal imbalance (Duphaston and others for delayed menstruation)

If no serious health problems are identified, doctors prescribe special medications that stimulate the arrival of critical days.

Such drugs include:

• Duphaston;
• Utrozhestan;
• Pulsatilla;
• Postinor;
• Mifegin.

Duphaston is prescribed 1 tablet twice a day for a course of 5 days. If serious health problems are detected, the endocrinologist may prescribe a different treatment regimen. Most often, the long-awaited discharge appears on the 2-3rd day of taking the drug.

The expected effect of Duphaston is ensured by the concentration of progesterone. In case of pregnancy, this drug will not cause harm to the fetus, and it will not be able to terminate the pregnancy. Duphaston will give results only if a hormonal imbalance is detected.

If the delay occurs due to stress, then Pulsatilla will help speed up the onset of menstruation, 6 granules of which thin the blood. Taking Postinor can urgently induce menstruation.

The emerging problem of delayed periods should not provoke women to look for ways to speed them up without determining the cause of this condition.

Important to remember! Any delay in the menstrual cycle is a failure, the cause of which should be found out.

If you experience frequent delays in menstruation, it is imperative to consult a specialist in order to rule out serious diseases, including malignant tumors, mental disorders, infertility and other gynecological diseases.

Video about the reasons for a delay in menstruation with a negative test

Delayed menstruation test negative. Why and what to do:

About the reasons for a delay in menstruation, if the test is negative in adolescents and women:

At what stage will a pregnancy test accurately show a 100% result:

– menstrual dysfunction, manifested by the absence of cyclic bleeding for more than 35 days. It may be due to physiological reasons (pregnancy, premenopause, etc.), as well as various organic or functional disorders. Delayed menstruation occurs at different periods of a woman’s life: during the formation of menstrual function, during the reproductive period and during premenopause. A delay of menstruation for more than five days is a reason to consult a doctor. Diagnosis of delayed menstruation is aimed at finding the main cause of this symptom, on which further treatment tactics depend.

General information

Delayed menstruation A disruption in the menstrual cycle is considered, in which menstrual bleeding does not occur at the expected time. A delay in menstruation not exceeding 5-7 days is not regarded as a pathology. Options for delaying menstruation are such menstrual cycle disorders as oligomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea and amenorrhea, manifested by a decrease in menstrual bleeding. A delay in menstruation can be observed at different age periods of a woman’s life: during puberty, during the reproductive phase, during premenopause, and can be caused by physiological or pathological reasons.

Natural, physiological reasons for the delay of menstruation are explained in the puberty period during the formation of the menstrual cycle, when for 1-1.5 years menstruation can be irregular. In women of reproductive age, a delay in menstruation is natural during pregnancy and lactation. During the premenopausal period, menstrual function gradually fades away, changes occur in the rhythm and duration of menstruation, and delays in menstruation are replaced by their complete cessation.

All other options for delayed menstruation, exceeding 5-7 days, are not explained by natural phenomena; in such cases, urgent consultation with a gynecologist is required. A woman’s menstrual cycle is a subtle mechanism that maintains reproductive function and reflects any deviations in general health. Therefore, to better understand the causes and mechanisms of delayed menstruation, it is necessary to clearly understand what is normal and abnormal in the characteristics of the menstrual cycle.

Characteristics of the menstrual cycle

The functioning of the body of a woman of childbearing age has cyclical patterns. Menstrual bleeding is the final stage of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual discharge indicates that fertilization of the egg and pregnancy have not occurred. In addition, the regularity of menstruation indicates that a woman’s body is functioning smoothly. A delay in menstruation, on the contrary, indicates some failures that have occurred.

The onset of the first menstruation usually occurs between 11-15 years of age. At first, menstrual bleeding may occur irregularly, a delay in menstruation during this period is normal, but after 12-18 months the menstrual cycle should finally form. The onset of menstruation before 11 years of age and absence after 17 years of age is a pathology. A delay in the onset of menstruation up to 18-20 years of age indicates obvious pathological processes: a general lag in physical development, dysfunction of the pituitary gland, underdevelopment of the ovaries, uterine hypoplasia, etc.

Normally, menstruation begins and ends at certain time intervals. For 60% of women, the cycle length is 28 days, that is, 4 weeks, which corresponds to the lunar month. About 30% of women have a cycle lasting 21 days, and about 10% of women have a menstrual cycle lasting 30-35 days. On average, menstrual bleeding lasts 3-7 days, and the permissible blood loss per menstruation is 50-150 ml. The complete cessation of menstruation occurs after 45-50 years and marks the onset of menopause.

Irregularity and fluctuations in the duration of the menstrual cycle, systematic delays of menstruation for more than 5-10 days, alternation of scanty and heavy menstrual bleeding indicate serious deviations in a woman’s health. In order to control the onset or delay of menstruation, every woman should keep a menstrual calendar, marking the day the next menstruation begins. In this case, the delay in menstruation will be immediately visible.

Delayed menstruation and pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most common cause of missed periods in women of childbearing age. In addition to a delay in menstruation, the probable occurrence of pregnancy is indicated by changes in taste and olfactory sensations, appetite, the appearance of nausea and vomiting in the morning, drowsiness, and painful sensations in the mammary glands. The possibility of pregnancy cannot be rejected even in cases where there has been interrupted sexual intercourse, sexual contact during menstruation, on “safe” days or using a condom, in the presence of an intrauterine device, taking oral contraceptives, etc., since neither One method of contraception does not provide 100% contraceptive effect.

If there is a delay in menstruation, and in the previous month the woman had sexual intercourse, then pregnancy can be determined using special tests. The principle of operation of all pregnancy tests (test strips, tablet or inkjet) is the same: they determine the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG or hCG) in the urine, the production of which begins in the body 7 days after fertilization of the egg. The concentration of hCG in the urine increases gradually, and modern, even the most sensitive tests, are able to detect it only after a delay in menstruation and no earlier than 12-14 days after conception has occurred. It is necessary to “read” the test result in the first 5-10 minutes. The appearance of even a barely noticeable second stripe during this period of time indicates a positive result and the presence of pregnancy. If the second strip appears later, then this result is not reliable. If your period is late, to obtain a reliable result, it is recommended to repeat the pregnancy test twice with an interval of 2-3 days.

It should be remembered that while being sexually active, a woman can always become pregnant, so it is necessary to closely monitor the menstrual cycle and pay attention to delays in menstruation. However, a delay in menstruation can be caused not only by pregnancy, but also by a number of very other, sometimes very serious and dangerous to health reasons.

Other reasons for missed periods

Gynecology conventionally divides all the reasons that cause a delay in menstruation into two large groups: physiological and pathological causes of a delay in menstruation. In some cases, a delay in menstruation is caused by special transitional, adaptive conditions for the body, and usually does not exceed 5-7 days. However, some of these conditions are borderline, and when they worsen, organic disorders may occur, leading to a delay in menstruation as a manifestation of one or another pathology. Caused by physiological reasons can be considered:

• delay in menstruation caused by strong emotional or physical stress: stress, increased sports, academic or work loads;
• delay in menstruation due to unusual changes in lifestyle: change in the nature of work, sudden climate change;
• delayed menstruation due to insufficient nutrition and adherence to strict diets;
• delay of menstruation during periods of hormonal changes: puberty or menopause;
• delayed menstruation as a condition after discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives, caused by temporary hyperinhibition of the ovaries after prolonged receipt of hormones from the outside. If your period is delayed by 2-3 cycles, you should visit a gynecologist.
• delay in menstruation after using emergency contraception containing a high dose of hormones;
• delay of menstruation in the postpartum period associated with the production of the pituitary hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the secretion of milk and suppresses the cyclic function of the ovaries. If a woman does not breastfeed, then menstruation should resume approximately 2 months after birth. When breastfeeding, menstruation resumes after the baby is weaned. However, if your period is delayed for more than a year after childbirth, you should consult a gynecologist.
• delay of menstruation caused by colds (ARVI, influenza), chronic diseases: gastritis, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases and many others. etc., as well as taking certain medications.

In all cases (except for those when the delay in menstruation is caused by age-related hormonal changes or lactation), the period of delay should not exceed 5-7 days, otherwise it is necessary to visit a gynecologist in order to prevent the development of serious diseases.

Pathological causes of delayed menstruation include, first of all, diseases of the genital area. This group of reasons includes:

• delay of menstruation caused by inflammatory (adnexitis, oophoritis) and tumor (uterine fibroids) diseases of the genital organs. Inflammatory processes in the genitals, in addition to delayed periods, can manifest as pathological discharge and pain in the lower abdomen. These conditions require emergency treatment as they can lead to serious complications and infertility;
• delayed menstruation due to polycystic ovary syndrome and associated hormonal disorders. Also, with polycystic ovary syndrome, in addition to delayed menstruation, there is an increase in body weight, the appearance
• delay of menstruation caused by health-critical weight gain or loss. For women suffering from anorexia, a delay in menstruation can result in their complete cessation.

Thus, regardless of the reasons, a delay in menstruation is the basis for an urgent visit to the gynecologist.

Examination for delayed menstruation

To determine the causes of delayed menstruation, examinations may be required in addition to a gynecological examination:

• measurement and graphical display of changes in basal temperature, allowing you to verify the presence or absence of ovulation;
• determination of the level of hCG, ovarian hormones, pituitary glands and other glands in the blood;
• ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs to determine pregnancy (uterine, ectopic), tumor lesions of the uterus, ovaries and other reasons causing a delay in menstruation;
• CT and MRI of the brain to exclude tumors of the pituitary gland and ovaries.

If diseases accompanying a delay in menstruation are identified, consultations with other medical specialists are prescribed: endocrinologist, nutritionist, psychotherapist, etc.

To summarize the above, it should be noted that a delay in menstruation, no matter what circumstances it is caused by, should not go unnoticed by a woman. A delay in menstruation can be caused by a banal change in weather, or the joyful anticipation of motherhood, or by serious illnesses. If a delay in menstruation occurs, a timely consultation with a doctor will free you from unnecessary worries and worries that can significantly aggravate this condition. In families where girls are growing up, it is necessary to provide them with competent sex education, explaining, among other things, that a delay in menstruation is a problem that must be solved together with the mother and the doctor.

Delayed menstruation is one of the most common complaints when visiting a gynecologist. Although a delay is an obvious symptom of pregnancy, missing periods can be due to other conditions. In this article, we will list the most common causes of delayed menstruation.

Pregnancy

If you are sexually active and have had sexual intercourse this month, then a delay of 3 days or more in your period may indicate that you are pregnant.

If a pregnancy test is negative when your period is late, there may be other reasons listed below.

Stress and physical fatigue

Problems at work, conflicts with loved ones, exams or defending a thesis - any stressful situation can lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle and a delay of a week or more.

Another possible reason for the delay is overwork, which can sometimes be combined with stress. An active lifestyle is certainly good for our body, however, if a woman overdoes physical activity and is overtired, this can affect the regularity of her menstrual cycle. Excessive exercise (especially if combined with a strict diet) disrupts the production of the hormone estrogen, which can lead to menstrual irregularities and delayed periods.

If your body mass index is below 18 or above 25, then a delay in menstruation may be due to weight.

Normalization of weight usually leads to the restoration of a regular menstrual cycle.

Change of place of residence and time zones, travel

The usual rhythm of life, or the so-called biological clock, is important for the normal regulation of the menstrual cycle. And if you change day and night (for example, fly to another country, or start working at night), your biological clock may get confused, which will lead to a delay in your period.

If the reason for the delay lies in a change in the rhythm of life, then the normal menstrual cycle usually restores on its own within several months.

Adolescence

Colds and other inflammatory diseases

Any illness can negatively affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle and lead to delays. Think about whether you had any colds, exacerbations of chronic diseases, or other health problems in the past month. If the reason for the delay lies in this, then the menstrual cycle will recover on its own within a few months.

Medicines

Some medications can affect the menstrual cycle, causing your period to be late.

Taking birth control pills is the most common medication-related cause of missed periods. If you take oral contraceptives (for example, etc.), then the absence of menstruation between packs or on inactive pills may be normal. However, in case of a delay while taking OCs, gynecologists recommend doing this to make sure that the delay is not related to pregnancy.

If the cause of the delay is polycystic ovary syndrome, then the gynecologist may recommend taking birth control pills to regulate the menstrual cycle.

Thyroid dysfunction

Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism. An excess of these hormones, or vice versa, their deficiency, can affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle and cause a delay in menstruation.

With an increased level of thyroid hormones, the following symptoms may be observed: weight loss, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, insomnia, emotional instability, etc. With a deficiency of thyroid hormones, weight gain, swelling, hair loss, and drowsiness are observed.

If you suspect that you have problems with the thyroid gland, consult an endocrinologist.

If a woman is 5 days late, she begins to worry. And of course, the first thing that comes to mind is pregnancy. The woman immediately buys a test to check this. But menstruation does not always mean pregnancy. Sometimes it happens that the test shows a negative result. “What is the reason for the delay then?” - the woman asks. And there can be many reasons. But don’t immediately panic that you are sick. Maybe it's not so bad. Not all women know their body and how it works. First, let’s find out what the menstrual cycle is.

Menstrual cycle

Every month all women get their periods. If the body is completely healthy, then they go regularly. The menstrual cycle is a process that is responsible for reproductive function. It is usually triggered by the brain. But researchers have not yet been able to find out which area is responsible for these processes. The only thing that is known is that the pituitary gland and hypothalamus receive information from the cerebral cortex. Thanks to this, they produce a certain amount of hormones that are responsible for the functioning of the uterus and ovaries. Both also regulate other secretory glands. They are also important for the proper start of menstruation.

Usually the cycle is counted from the first day of menstruation, and on average it lasts 28 days. But not everyone is like that. After all, every organism is individual. A cycle of approximately 21 to 35 days can be considered normal, and a 5-day delay in menstruation should be an alarm bell. You should focus on your cycle regularity. In its first half, the egg matures, the body prepares for conception. The follicle bursts to release the corpus luteum. It forms the hormone progesterone. It is he who prepares the uterus for conception. In the second half of the cycle there may be two options. If conception occurs, then there is a natural delay in menstruation. And if pregnancy does not occur, then menstruation comes.

Weight and latency

A delay of 5 days (test negative) also occurs in overweight women. If you think you have a weight problem, you can check it very easily. For this purpose, a special formula was created that calculates the body mass index. It looks like this: kg/height in meters squared. If you get more than 25, then you have it, and if you get less than 18, then your weight is very low, which is also not good. If you achieve a weight between 18 and 25, the cycle will be restored. Therefore, if you are 5 days late and the test is negative, then pay attention to your weight and lifestyle.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a great happiness for every woman. Because with its onset our lives change for the better. Many women dream of having a child and are waiting for the coveted second line on the test. Sometimes it happens that an unplanned pregnancy occurs. A delay of 5 days may mean that conception has occurred. In this case, you should pay attention to some other symptoms.

It happens that a woman feels pregnant even a few hours after conception. But, unfortunately, this is rare. In any case, you should pay attention to symptoms such as bloating, a feeling that something is bothering you, a slight increase in body temperature, an increase in basal temperature, and a little brown discharge. A week after conception, all this is accompanied by other symptoms: weakness and fatigue, pimples that appear out of nowhere, pain in the lower abdomen, like during menstruation. A little later, toxicosis and chest pain may occur. All these symptoms are harmless. They mean that your body is being rebuilt. It is very rare to have periods during pregnancy. In order not to torment yourself with guesswork, you can do a test or take an hCG test, especially when you have, in addition to all the symptoms, a delay of 5 days. But the test does not always give the correct result; sometimes it does not show pregnancy.

Discharge

Every woman has discharge. But it is very important to understand whether they are dangerous, or whether this is a feature of our body. When you're 5 days late, your discharge can tell you what's going on with you. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to them. most often occur when the cycle is delayed. This means that the tissue of the upper layer of the mucous membrane has aged, and that is why the color of the discharge is so dark. However, if you have a stomach ache, the delay is 5 days, and you begin to feel unwell, then this is a reason to consult a doctor. Sometimes discharge of this nature can mean diseases such as inflammation, menopause, cervical cancer, papilloma virus, chlamydia or gonorrhea. But all these diseases can be accompanied by other symptoms. Women also experience white discharge. The reasons for this can be very different: stress, diabetes, taking contraceptives or antibiotics, allergies, hormonal imbalance, inflammation and infection. Therefore, you shouldn’t put off going to the doctor either.

Stomach ache

During pregnancy, women often complain that on the 5th day of the delay, their stomach feels tight. These pains are similar to those that bother us during menstruation, and women think that they are about to begin. But there are pains for which you need to see a doctor. These include strong and cutting. If you are 5 days late and you feel pain, then this is a sign of pregnancy, inflammation or a threat of miscarriage. This can also be caused by stress, physical activity, uterine fibroids, inflammation of the ovaries, adnexitis or salpingoophoritis. If you have very severe pain or bleeding, you need to call an ambulance.

and delay

A 5-day delay in menstruation should alert you. Especially if this happens for the first time. Nowadays, there are many women diagnosed with ovarian dysfunction. This diagnosis is not scary at all. It only explains why your period is late. It is very important to find the reason why the dysfunction occurred. Based on this, you may be prescribed a course of hormonal medications, and with their help your cycle will be restored. In order to prescribe treatment for you, some tests will need to be done to understand the cause. Usually, with such a picture, a blood test is prescribed, including hCG and ultrasound. This is to determine if you are pregnant. It often happens that ovarian dysfunction occurs due to stress.

But the most common reason for this is inflammation. It can begin due to various factors: poor hygiene, chlamydia, candidiasis, and other sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, it is very important to pass all the necessary tests and consult with a gynecologist.

Reasons for delay and consequences

A 5-day delay in menstruation can occur in women who work a lot and are overworked. Nowadays it is very difficult to avoid this. The nervous system can be affected by exams, problems at work, quarrels with loved ones or a difficult situation in life. To avoid these factors, it is best to consult a psychologist and take things more simply. Lack of sleep can also affect your cycle, because it is also a lot of stress for the body. Overexertion is also one of the reasons for delayed periods. Very often, female athletes have problems with their cycles. There may be a delay due to climate change. For example, if you go on vacation to another country where the climate is completely different, your body may not have time to readjust, and then a delay may occur.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

There are now many women diagnosed with this disease, which involves hormonal imbalances and disruption of the ovaries. With this disease, the functioning of the adrenal glands and pancreas is disrupted. This diagnosis can be made by looking at the woman. Patients are usually overweight and have a lot of body hair. But there are also those who lack these factors. This disease can lead to infertility. It is difficult for women with this disease to become pregnant. With such a picture, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment with hormones. If the disease progresses, surgical intervention may be required, so you should not hesitate to visit a gynecologist. Especially with a delay of 5 days. After treatment, the cycle is quickly restored, and you can get pregnant very quickly.

Few women have a menstrual cycle so regular that it is possible to schedule a calendar for several months in advance. The hormonal system, which regulates the functioning of the genital organs, responds to the slightest changes in health and external factors. Therefore, a delay of 5 days is quite common.

Normally, the duration of the menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 33 days, but for most women this period is 28 days. Bloody discharge that appears at such intervals lasts from 3 to 5-7 days. The frequency of the onset of “critical days” in women and their duration is regulated by the nervous system, as well as the endocrine and reproductive organs.

A delay in menstruation can be caused by pregnancy, approaching menopause and other physiological reasons. But it can also be caused by diseases of various organs and systems. If your period does not come longer than expected, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. The examination prescribed by him will allow him to determine the exact cause of the delay in menstruation and prevent the development of serious health problems.

Possible reasons for the delay

A 5-day delay in menstruation may not be associated with any illness, but is a consequence of the woman becoming pregnant. It often happens that she feels all the symptoms that accompany the early stages - she feels slightly nauseous in the morning, her breasts become enlarged and hurt. The test is positive, which means you need to go to the doctor to confirm the pregnancy and make sure that the embryo is developing normally.

It happens that all the symptoms of an “interesting situation” are present, but the test is negative. Soon after conception, this means that a sufficient amount of human chorionic gonadotropin has not yet accumulated in the blood.

A more reliable result can be obtained after a laboratory test for hCG prescribed by a doctor. In the case when a test performed at home showed a negative result, and a laboratory one confirmed pregnancy, it is possible that the fertilized egg did not attach to the wall of the uterus, but began to develop in the fallopian tube, ovary, or in the cavities that are located next to the uterus.

An ectopic pregnancy, in which menstruation is delayed by five days, is a threat to a woman, so you should pay special attention to the following symptoms:

• dizziness, attacks of nausea;
• lower back pain;
• spastic or nagging pain (with increasing pain) in the lower abdomen and in the area of ​​the ovaries;
• the appearance of bloody or brown discharge that differs from menstruation.

The menstrual cycle can change several times during the reproductive years of a woman's life. The reasons for this are varied - from a previous cold to climate change. Sometimes periods can be delayed due to hormonal changes - in adolescence, after childbirth, or during pregnancy.

Sometimes a girl who is sexually active tests negative for 5 days. This is not necessarily evidence that she will soon become a mother. A woman may feel the same symptoms as in the early stages of pregnancy with the onset of pregnancy. Tightening in the lower abdomen, nausea, headache, irritating smells, you want to cry or laugh - these signs appear due to an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone.

It happens that there is no menstruation for a whole month, although pregnancy is also not considered as a reason for the delay. In this case, it can be provoked by:

• stressful situations;
• increased physical activity;
• climate change;
• withdrawal of contraceptives;
• taking emergency contraception;
• postpartum period.

All of them are associated with hormonal fluctuations. Even a sudden weight gain or losing several kilograms within a month causes a hormonal shift in a woman’s body. Therefore, your period may come late. If 5 days of delay have already passed, it’s time to get ready to see a gynecologist.

Delay due to ovarian dysfunction

Disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries, which lead to a failure in the production of hormones and the absence or delay of ovulation, are called dysfunction. Menstrual irregularities are often associated with it. It happens that there is a delay of 15 days, and then for several months the spotting appears chaotically, unable to withstand cyclicity.

Untreated inflammatory diseases of this organ and the uterus lead to the appearance of ovarian dysfunction. As well as benign and malignant neoplasms of the female genital organs, nervous and physical exhaustion, endocrine disorders. Dysfunction is often caused by previous abortions or an incorrectly installed intrauterine device.

Puberty and premenopause

There are two periods in a woman’s life when a delay of 15 days, and sometimes longer, is not considered a manifestation of any problem. This is the time of formation and decline of reproductive function. In adolescents, it is called puberty, and in mature women, premenopause.

It is believed that the normal functioning of the organs of the reproductive system in girls is established within two years after the first menstruation. Therefore, during this period, disruptions in the monthly cycle are often observed. The frequency of occurrence of bleeding varies between 21-50 days. If the girl feels healthy and is not bothered by pain in the lower abdomen, then there is no reason to worry.

However, it is during puberty that mothers should be especially attentive to the health of their daughters. It is necessary to ensure that the girl eats properly and does not freeze. Any inflammatory processes should be treated immediately. The teenager must follow a sleep and rest schedule. Playing sports at this age should not be exhausting. Only in this case will the girl’s genitals be able to function normally.

For all women it is a natural and inevitable process. However, for each of them it goes differently. Many people pass this period, practically not noticing the global changes in their well-being. Others, on the contrary, have a hard time tolerating the symptoms of the approaching menopause. One of the signals of changes in hormonal levels and the gradual decline of ovarian function is a delay of 5 weeks.

Sometimes quite heavy bleeding begins after it, and sometimes you can notice only a couple of drops of blood or brown discharge, more like a smudge. Spotting often appears in the middle of the cycle. A woman may feel sudden irritability, weakness and insomnia.

Although reproductive function declines during perimenopause, a woman is still capable of becoming a mother. Therefore, the delay may be due to pregnancy. If such an event does not fit into the woman’s future plans, then it is necessary to take precautions so that if there is a delay there is no need to panic.

What to do if there is a delay

Not all women know what to do when their period is 5 days late, or even longer. The first thing to do is take a home test. It is better to carry out the analysis in the morning on an empty stomach. The evening before you should not drink a lot of liquid. When the test is positive after a 5-day delay, two clear lines should appear. Sometimes the procedure has to be repeated several times.

A doctor can confirm the fact of pregnancy after an examination and hCG test. In addition, you will have to undergo an ultrasound examination, which will show where the embryo has attached and whether the embryo is developing normally. This is a mandatory procedure, which already on the 5th day of delay will allow you to exclude (and sometimes confirm) the presence of an ectopic pregnancy.

If a period delay of 5 days is not associated with future motherhood, then your period will come later. However, if there is a malfunction in the hormonal system or diseases of other organs, consultation with a gynecologist is also necessary. If your period has not started, then, in addition to being examined in a gynecological chair, you will have to undergo a thorough examination.

First of all, the doctor will prescribe tests to determine the level of hormones in the body. It will be necessary to do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs; if neoplasms are suspected, a computer or magnetic resonance imaging scan will be performed.

It often happens that menstruation may be delayed due to non-gynecological problems. In this case, the woman will be referred for consultation to other specialists.