Regular menstruation is one of the main signs of the absence of pathologies and dysfunctions in a woman's body. If there is a delay in menstruation, first of all, girls have the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bconceiving, but there are other reasons for delaying menstruation besides pregnancy.

In this article, we will look at what this “delay” is, and also examine all the possible reasons for the lack of regulation.

What is a delay in girls, its norms

Delayed menstruation is a failure of the menstrual function, which is manifested by the absence of regular monthly bleeding for a period of more than 35 days. Both physiological causes and various disorders of a functional and organic nature can cause a delay. Irregular menstruation can accompany various periods of a woman's life. So, at puberty and during menopause, a delay in critical days is the norm.

Consider the main delay norms:

• if the delay does not exceed 5-7 days, it should not be considered a pathology. Such a short absence of critical days is typical for puberty and premenopause, as well as for some menstrual disorders (oligomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea, amenorrhea);
• if there are infections and diseases in the body, menstruation can be delayed for 10 or more days, in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor;
• during pregnancy, menstruation does not occur for the entire period of bearing a child until the termination of breastfeeding. In this case, menstruation is delayed by 1-3 years. If a woman is not pregnant, and critical days do not occur for more than a year, this may indicate the arrival of menopause.

To know exactly why menstruation did not occur, it is imperative to visit a gynecologist.

When the absence of critical days is the norm

To begin with, let's look at what may cause a delay in menstruation in women with good physical health. It is considered normal if menstruation is delayed, their absence can only be in certain periods of the life of the fair sex:

• during puberty;
• during pregnancy;
• after childbirth;
• with the decline of reproductive function.

Now consider why menstruation does not come, and this is the norm, in more detail.

Puberty

Starting from the age of 8-10, girls begin their puberty, during which the reproductive system of a young lady is formed. Usually, by the age of 12-13, the first menstruation or the so-called menarche appears. Due to the fact that the reproductive system and the hormonal background have not yet been fully formed, during this period, failures in the menstrual cycle will be quite natural.

During puberty, delays can appear for 1-2 years after the first menstruation, but if two years have passed and the cycle has not become regular, you should definitely consult a doctor and be examined for diseases. Also, medical assistance is needed in cases where the girl is already 15 years old, and the menarche has not happened. It is imperative to find out why there is no menstruation if, in addition to the delay, the girl has problems with being overweight, excessive hair growth on her face and body, and a change in voice. All this can be a sign of hormonal disorders that require medical correction.

In adolescents, by the age of 15, the menstrual cycle usually already normalizes, and then every month there is a cyclical change in the level of hormones in the body, which causes new regulations.

Pregnancy

To understand why critical days are delayed during pregnancy, we will describe the main processes that take place in a woman's body during the menstrual cycle.

In the first half of the cycle, the ovaries begin to intensively produce estrogens, which contribute to the maturation of a new egg, which, until fully ready, is in a special vesicle, the follicle. When the reproductive cell has matured, the follicle bursts, and it enters the uterine cavity. Thus, ovulation occurs, accompanied by slight mucous discharge from the genital tract and mild pain on the right or left side of the abdomen.

In place of the ruptured follicle, the corpus luteum begins to develop intensively, which synthesizes progesterone. Under the influence of this hormone, the inner mucous layer of the uterus begins to grow, which increases in size, and thus prepares to receive a fertilized egg in the event of conception. If fertilization has not occurred, less progesterone is produced, and the endometrium, as unnecessary, begins to exfoliate and be removed from the uterus. This is how menstruation begins.

If the egg is fertilized, then the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum does not stop, but increases. Under the influence of this hormone, the zygote is implanted in the endometrium, the placenta begins to form and pregnancy develops. In this case, degradation and rejection of the endometrium does not occur, and progesterone inhibits the maturation of new eggs and the onset of subsequent ovulations. As a result, new periods do not occur. Thus, pregnancy is the main cause of delay for women who are sexually active and do not have health problems.

childbirth

Childbirth affects a woman's body in different ways, so the restoration of menstrual function occurs in each mother individually. Most of all, the duration of the recovery period is affected by the type of feeding of the newborn.

If the child immediately began to eat artificial mixtures after birth, then the maximum delay in menstruation should not exceed 1 month. With combined feeding, critical days may be absent for 3-4 months. The longest delays are for nursing mothers, since milk is produced under the influence of prolactin, which simultaneously slows down the synthesis of progesterone and the onset of ovulation. Thus, prolactin prevents the maturation of the egg and the development of the endometrium, which means that there is no germ cell for fertilization and a place for implantation of the zygote.

Against the background of breastfeeding with the gradual introduction of complementary foods (usually supplementing the baby's diet with products begins at the age of six months), the restoration of menstrual function occurs after 8-12 months. At the same time, the cycle may be irregular for 2-3 months, and delays are quite possible, if critical days do not appear and after this period, a pregnancy test should be done.

Menopause

The number of eggs that mature in a woman's body throughout her life is strictly limited, therefore, starting from the age of 40-45, the reproductive function gradually fades away, and menstruation becomes irregular. Their duration and nature also change. At this time, ovulation occurs periodically, so it is not worth excluding pregnancy as a possible cause of the delay. During menopause with an irregular cycle, it is better to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal remedies will help relieve the symptoms of menopause and additionally protect against unwanted conception.

Why don't menses come?

Most often, with a delay in menstruation, women who are sexually active suspect conception, but if there is no pregnancy and the test is negative, you should know what other reasons there are for the absence of menstruation besides the “interesting” situation.

When a woman is faced with a delay in menstruation, but is not pregnant, the lack of regulation can be provoked by other physiological reasons besides pregnancy. To begin with, you should exclude them, and only then suspect the presence of a pathology and immediately seek help from a specialist.

Physiological causes

During the menstrual cycle, normally, all processes take place with a certain sequence, the main purpose of which is to prepare the woman's body for conception and bearing offspring. Even a physically healthy woman sometimes has a delay in menstruation, such a failure is provoked by various external factors. Common reasons for delays can be:

• emotional stress. Even excessive expectation of menstruation can provoke their delay, this happens when a woman has had unprotected sexual intercourse, and she is in a state of stress due to a possible unwanted pregnancy. A similar reaction of the body can be caused by a stressful situation at work or personal experiences;
• excessive physical and mental stress, intense sports training and exercises associated with lifting heavy weights;
• change of residence, change of climatic zone, also delay in regulation may be associated with a change in the regime of the day and type of activity;
• unbalanced diet, a large amount of harmful foods in the diet, strict diets, insufficient amounts of vitamins and nutrients, overweight problems;
• colds, diseases of the digestive system and kidneys, diabetes;
• taking antibiotics and certain other medications;
• hormonal contraception, the start of birth control, a sharp change in oral contraceptive or its cancellation;
• poisoning the body with excessive doses of alcohol, drugs and nicotine;
• work in hazardous industries and night shifts.

The physiological reasons for the absence of menstruation also include the factors discussed above: puberty, menopause and lactation. If after childbirth, menstruation does not appear after a year, a gynecological examination should be performed to exclude the presence of diseases due to birth injuries.

If you have excluded all physiological causes, then the critical days are late due to the pathology in the body. To identify it and prescribe adequate treatment, you should definitely seek help from a gynecologist.

Pathologies

The older the woman, the more in her body you can find the reasons that caused the delay in menstruation. If critical days do not occur, pregnancy must first be excluded, and then the presence of pathological conditions should be suspected. Diseases of the genital area and the endocrine system can cause a periodic delay in menstruation. Consider the most common pathologies of each direction.

Disease affecting the hormonal background

Diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and pituitary gland can lead to hormonal imbalances and, as a result, to systematic and long delays in critical days:

• hypothyroidism. A condition in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These substances are directly involved in the synthesis of estrogens, progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the ovaries. Without enough of these hormones, the egg cannot mature, which means that ovulation does not occur and menstruation does not begin. At the initial stage of the disease, a delay in the onset of critical days is one of the symptoms of thyroid problems;
• hyperprolactinemia - with this disease, the functions of the pituitary gland suffer. Intensive production of prolactin begins, which suppresses the secretion of estrogen, which prevents the timely maturation of the egg, ovulation does not occur, which explains the absence of menstruation;
• oncological neoplasms in the brain or congenital underdevelopment of the pituitary gland;
• a benign neoplasm (adenoma) in the pituitary or adrenal glands. This tumor causes obesity, increased hair on the face and body, menstrual irregularities;
• improper functioning of the ovaries caused by hormonal imbalance, past inflammation;
• if the girl’s period did not come on time, this may be caused by the installation of the IUD and the use of hormone-based drugs.

Anorexia can cause a delay in critical days. This is a mental illness that is associated with a digestive disorder. Most often, young girls suffer from it, striving to comply with the "glossy" canons. The desire to lose weight develops into an obsession, because of which food is not absorbed by the body, and it is completely depleted. Stopping menstrual function in this case is a protective reaction of the female body, so when normal weight is restored, menstruation resumes. With this disease, you may need to consult a psychotherapist and a gastroenterologist.

If menstruation is delayed due to the presence of pathologies of an endocrine nature, then in addition to visiting a gynecologist, you may need to consult an endocrinologist, but most often delays are due to gynecological diseases.

Gynecological pathologies

Gynecological causes of delayed menstruation are diseases of the uterus and ovaries of an inflammatory nature, which lead to hormonal disorders. This changes the concentration of hormones responsible for the maturation of the reproductive cells and the mucous layer of the uterus. As a result, there is a delay, the intensity and composition of monthly discharge changes, pains appear in the lower abdomen or lower back, and other pathological symptoms appear. In a similar state of the reproductive system, without proper treatment, tumors can occur, both in the genital organs and in the mammary glands. Also, the lack of proper therapy can lead to infertility. The cause of inflammatory processes can be an infection that has entered the genitals due to improper hygiene, unprotected sex, trauma to the uterus after childbirth, abortion and medical curettage.

If there is no menstruation, gynecological pathologies that lead to delays may be to blame:

• salpingoophoritis - a disease in which the uterus with appendages becomes inflamed, it can lead to ovarian dysfunction;
• endometritis - the inflammatory process affects the inner mucous layer of the uterus, while hypomenstrual syndrome is observed, when there is no discharge for 2-3 months;
• cervicitis - inflammation of the uterine cervix, which, without proper treatment, can go to the uterus and its appendages;
• endometrial hyperplasia is characterized by a strong thickening of the inner mucous layer of the uterus, and after a long delay in critical days, severe bleeding occurs. Hormonal disorders due to endocrine pathologies lead to the development of this disease;
• uterine fibroids are benign neoplasms. It looks like a single node or a cluster of several tumors. It can be localized both inside the uterus and outside. The presence of a tumor is evidenced by an irregular cycle;
• polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by the formation of cysts inside and outside the ovary. The symptoms of the disease are not expressed, often only a very long delay can cause the detection of this disease;
• polyps are focal growths of the endometrium in the form of nodes, which, under certain conditions, can spread to the cervix. A polyp can cause a delay, which is replaced by heavy bleeding. Polyps are characterized by malignant degeneration of tissues;
• endometriosis - pathological growth of the mucous layer of the uterus beyond its limits (into the tubes, ovaries and other organs). Usually, with endometriosis, the patency of the fallopian tubes is disturbed, which causes delays;
• ectopic pregnancy. When a fertilized egg is implanted not in the uterine cavity, but in the tube, an ectopic pregnancy occurs. Untreated endometriosis may be the culprit. If it is not removed surgically in time, the tube ruptures, which is fraught with severe bleeding with a fatal outcome. A sign of ectopic fixation of the fetus may be spotting instead of the expected regulation. If such a daub is accompanied by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting, you should definitely consult a gynecologist. An ectopic pregnancy can occur not only after endometriosis, but also after salpingo-oophoritis, which causes adhesions in the tubes and ovaries;
• endometrial hypoplasia. A disease in which there is insufficient development of the endometrium. With this ailment, the inner uterine layer is so thin that it is not able to hold the zygote. This causes a miscarriage in the early stages, when a woman is not even aware of her pregnancy. The next critical days come late and begin with a brown daub. Inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive and urinary system, surgical interventions on the uterus and ovaries, as well as hormonal imbalance lead to hypoplasia.

What to do if there is no menstruation

If menstruation is delayed systematically, this is not the norm for women of reproductive age. Such menstrual jumps can be harmful to a woman's health, because the cause of a long delay can be not only pregnancy, but also a serious illness.

The first thing to do if the delay in menstruation is more than 10 days, buy a pregnancy test at the pharmacy, if it is negative, you should immediately go to the gynecologist.

Delay examination

If there is no menstruation for a long time, and a woman wants to know for what reasons there was a delay in a negative pregnancy test, she must undergo a gynecological examination without fail. In the absence of menstruation for a very long time, the doctor may additionally prescribe the following tests and examinations:

• measuring and scheduling fluctuations in basal temperature, such a study will determine the presence or absence of ovulation;
• a blood test for the level of hCG, as well as tests for hormones of the ovaries, pituitary gland and other glands;
• Ultrasound examination of the organs of the reproductive and excretory system. This diagnostic method allows you to determine the uterine and ectopic pregnancy, the presence of benign and malignant tumors in the uterus, ovaries and signs of other diseases;
• to exclude neoplasms in the ovaries or pituitary gland, CT and MRI of the brain may be prescribed.

If menstruation does not go due to non-gynecological diseases, an additional visit to an endocrinologist, psychotherapist, nutritionist and other narrow specialists may be required.

Ways to provoke regulation

With a delay in menstruation, you can accelerate their onset in several ways:

• in order to restore menstruation, the delay of which is caused by stress, a strict diet, beriberi, excessive exercise and other non-pathological factors, it is enough to eliminate the external stimulus. The menstrual cycle will quickly return to normal if you have a good rest, eat well and do not expose the body to physical and emotional overload;
• you can use emergency contraception, such as Pastinor. This is a drug of progesterone action, which after ovulation increases the level of progesterone in the body and can stimulate the rapid growth and exfoliation of the endometrium, thereby contributing to the early onset of regulation. Other hormonal drugs, such as Duphaston, Utrozhestan, Norkolut, have a similar effect. But each of these drugs has a number of contraindications, so they can only be taken as directed by a doctor;
• if your period is late, your doctor may also prescribe injections that stimulate uterine muscle activity. Increased tone of the uterus can cause the onset of menstruation;
• at home, you can provoke reguli with the help of herbal decoctions and infusions of chamomile, bay leaf, tansy, parsley, blue cornflower, etc. Good efficiency with short delays is shown by hot baths with iodine.

Despite the fact that there are a huge number of methods for dealing with delayed menstruation, each of them should be prescribed exclusively by a specialized specialist, since the causes of the delay can be very different, which means that the method of dealing with the problem should be selected individually based on the results of analyzes and examinations.

Preventive measures

It is always easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later. To prevent late critical days, it is better to maintain your health in good condition in advance, for this it is enough to follow a few recommendations:

• get rid of bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle;
• go in for sports, but avoid strong overloads of the body;
• make a balanced diet, exclude all harmful foods and drinks;
• do not exhaust yourself with hunger and strict diets;
• use medications only as prescribed by a doctor;
• go for preventive examinations to the gynecologist at least 2 times a year.

Every woman experiences delays sometimes, but if you follow the tips above, the likelihood of them happening will be minimal.

What are the dangers of constant delays

The absence of menstruation is not a dangerous condition for a woman, where the reasons for the delay may be more serious, especially when it is observed monthly. The most positive reason that the regulations are late is pregnancy. Constant delays in menstruation not only cause discomfort to a woman, confusing her plans, but may also indicate the presence of serious pathologies in the body.

If there is a delay every month, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible, because early diagnosis allows you to start treating diseases and neoplasms on time, prevent early menopause, prevent infertility or eliminate ectopic pregnancy, which is dangerous not only for a woman’s health, but also for her life.

Conclusion

First of all, if menstruation does not come on time, a woman should take a pregnancy test, and if it is negative, seek help from a doctor, especially if there is a general deterioration, fever and pain in the lower abdomen. If a woman feels well, and there are no pathological symptoms, then a visit to the gynecologist can be scheduled on the tenth day of the delay.

Delays in menstruation, especially in the absence of them for a long time, are a rather serious violation of the menstrual cycle, the elimination of which should be controlled by a gynecologist.

Delayed menstruation with a negative test is common in modern women. Hormonal disorders, excess weight, inactive lifestyle, changing climatic conditions, stress - all this provokes menstrual irregularities. As soon as you find your period is a few days late, get a pregnancy test from the pharmacy to make a home diagnosis. This will allow with a high probability to exclude conception and select effective ways to restore the menstrual cycle.

How to recognize a delay in menstruation? one

A normal menstrual cycle lasts 21-35 days. If the test is negative, but there is no menstruation, you need to contact a gynecologist. The absence of menstruation for more than 5-7 days against the background of a negative pregnancy test is a reason for an additional examination. During the diagnosis, you can establish the true causes of the absence of menstruation. Keep in mind that a negative late test can be false, especially if you take it on the day of your expected period, when the level of hCG (a hormone that is produced after fertilization and fixation of the egg) is insufficient to determine pregnancy.

The delay of menstruation is divided into several types:

● violation of the cycle, which is accompanied by rare menstruation with an interval of 40-60 days, while the duration of menstrual bleeding is only 1-2 days;

● the cycle lengthens, lasts more than 35 days, and menstruation is late;

● absence of menstruation for more than 6 months.

The usual delay in menstruation lasts several days and does not pose a threat to health. But if menstruation constantly comes irregularly, late for weeks and months, then you need to sound the alarm. Signs of delay against the background of cycle disorders are practically no different from the manifestations of the first weeks of pregnancy. The symptoms for both of these conditions are similar.

Delayed menstruation and possible pregnancy 2

How can a woman understand that she has a slight delay or pregnancy? Testing would be the ideal solution. If the results are doubtful, a barely noticeable second strip appears, beware and consult a doctor. Retest the next day. Buy it from another pharmacy to eliminate the risk of using low-quality products. The sooner you find out about the onset of pregnancy, the better. If there is even the slightest doubt, it is better to consult a gynecologist before taking any drugs or using medical techniques.

At an early stage, pregnancy can be accurately determined only by the results of an ultrasound (ultrasound examination) or a blood test for the presence of hCG (pregnancy hormone). Ultrasound examination allows not only to confirm conception, but also to determine the number of fetuses, determine the fetal heartbeat and assess the risk of miscarriage based on the condition of the uterus.

It is possible to independently suspect the development of pregnancy against the background of a delay in menstruation only by presumptive signs:

● an increase in basal temperature (the lowest temperature reached by the body during rest) to 36.9-37.1 ° C: by the beginning of the first phase of the menstrual cycle, it usually has lower values, which indicates the imminent onset of menstruation;

● breast engorgement;

● changeability of mood;

● discoloration of the external genitalia: the mucous membrane of the genitals and vagina acquires a bluish tint (this happens due to high blood supply);

● pulling pains in the lower abdomen: they occur against the background of the attachment of the embryo to the walls of the uterus.

Causes of delayed menstruation in the absence of pregnancy 3

Why are there no periods, but the test is negative? Every modern woman has asked this question at least once in her life. Even the most effective methods of contraception are not 100% guaranteed. Therefore, any delay should alert the woman and force her to take a simple pregnancy test.

The causes of menstrual irregularities and lack of menstruation can be very different:

● stressful situations, strong emotional shock;

● frequent fluctuations in weight, severe dietary restrictions;

● change of climate zone;

● start taking hormonal contraceptives, switching to another method of contraception from unwanted pregnancy;

● recent operations on the genitals;

● hormonal diseases;

● obesity or, conversely, lack of body weight;

● previous abortions;

● inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;

● neoplasms of the uterus, ovaries.

The main reason for a delay in menstruation with a negative test is a failure in the cycle caused by stress or hormonal changes. If such a problem occurs periodically, we can talk about a persistent violation of the menstrual cycle. Only a gynecologist can make an accurate diagnosis, after receiving complex diagnostic data. When contacting the clinic, a woman will be offered to undergo an examination, laboratory blood tests, and ultrasound.

The sooner you seek help from specialists, the sooner you will be prescribed an effective treatment for cycle disorders and detected diseases. Don't forget to bring past exam data to your doctor's appointment. Some women are asked by specialists to show a menstrual calendar that reflects the constancy, duration and other features of the menstrual cycle.

In recent years, women have begun to take the periodic absence of menstruation lightly and frivolously. They are in no hurry to consult a gynecologist, which leads to a belated start of treatment and a deplorable result. Many benign neoplasms of the genital organs grow without severe pain and discomfort, but they often knock down the cycle due to hormonal disorders that occur.

Any delay in menstruation with a negative test is a cause for concern. The regularity of the menstrual cycle is an indicator of women's health. If you do not pay close attention to it, skip the alarming symptoms, then in the future there may be problems with conception, childbearing and childbirth.

The hormonal background of a woman reacts sharply to adverse effects: stress, treatment with antibiotics and other potent drugs, alcohol consumption, smoking, climate change. Menstruation can disappear with a passion for sports, when the body is subjected to serious stress, especially when combined with diet therapy. Cycle disorders often appear during the holidays, when a woman spends a lot of time under the scorching sun, abruptly switches to a different diet.

Almost always, menstrual irregularities occur due to hormonal imbalance, malfunctions of the glands involved in the regulation of the basic functions of the body and the ovaries. And, as you know, hormones directly affect the condition of a woman - her beauty, mood, performance and life expectancy. The longer the menstrual function lasts, the better the woman will feel. With the cessation of the production of female sex hormones, the risk of developing arthrosis (age-related joint deformity), arthritis (joint deformity that does not depend on age) and other joint pathologies, as well as cardiovascular diseases, increases sharply.

What to do with a delay in menstruation and a negative test? four

A negative test with a delay is a reason to contact your gynecologist. Do not rush to do the test on the day of the expected menstruation - wait 2-3 days. This period is considered harmless - a slight deviation in the date of menstruation is a variant of the norm. It is better to do two pregnancy tests from a different manufacturer. Then the probability of obtaining a false negative result will be practically reduced to zero.

Do not try to induce menstruation using dangerous and untested methods of traditional medicine - this can lead to bleeding and increased signs of the underlying disease. The duration of the menstrual cycle is under the control of sex hormones, which can only be affected by special preparations. They should be selected by a doctor - and only on the basis of laboratory diagnostics, determination of the level of hormones in the blood and the results of an ultrasound examination. With timely appeal for help, cycle disorders can be easily corrected.

So, if you have a negative pregnancy test and no periods, make an appointment with a gynecologist to dispel all doubts and start treatment in a timely manner, if any violations are found. Every woman should maintain her health for as long as possible, because this is the key to her femininity, beauty and physical activity.

• 1. Serova T. A. Women's health: the menstrual cycle and hormones in classical and alternative medicine //Rostov n/D: Phoenix. - 2000. S. 416.
• 2. Curtis G., Schuler D. Guide to pregnancy. From conception to childbirth. // Moscow / Ed. Eksmo - 2006 P. 320
• 3. Baranaeva N. Yu. Normal menstrual cycle and its disorders // Concilium Provisorum. - 2002. - Vol. 2. - No. 3. - S. 21-25.
• 4. Serov V., Prilepskaya V. N., Ovsyannikova T. V. Gynecological endocrinology. - M: MEDpress-inform, 2004. S. 528

The normal duration of the menstrual cycle is in the range of 21 to 28 days. If the cycle is longer, it is considered a delay. Why does it arise? Let's try to figure it out.

Every girl should know how to correctly calculate the duration of her cycle. But, for some reason, many do not know how to do this and calculate the cycle from the last day of menstruation to the first. In fact, the calculations are made differently: the duration of the cycle is calculated from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation. And if there is a delay in menstruation, it is important to find out why it can be.

In general, the causes of delayed menstruation are divided into natural and pathological.

Delayed periods: causes other than pregnancy

So, you missed your period, but the test came back negative? So pregnancy is excluded. What could be the factor for the development of this condition? As already mentioned above: pathological and natural causes.

Physiological or natural causes of delay include:

1. Puberty. There are no reasons for the delay in menstruation in adolescents, as such. Just during puberty, the delay is an absolutely normal condition and does not require a visit to the doctor. It is observed about 2 years after the first menstruation.
2. Preclimax. This condition occurs after 45 years and is evidence of the approaching menopause.

Pathological causes of delayed menstruation include the following:

1. Diseases from the field of gynecology, as well as pathologies of the endocrine system. For example, PCOS, adnexitis, fibroids, endometritis, cervical cancer, impaired thyroid function, diabetes mellitus, kidney dysfunction, poorly placed IUD, sunburn, ovarian defects, etc.
2. abortion. Artificial termination of pregnancy is a factor due to which hormonal failure occurs. If a large amount of uterine tissue was removed during curettage, she needs to recover. Therefore, in this case, there may be a delay of about three weeks.
3. Cancellation of hormonal drugs. After it, ovarian hyperinhibition is usually observed, as a result of which menstruation is absent for 2-4 months.
4. Taking medicines. In particular, antidepressants, diuretics and cytostatic drugs, antibiotics.
5. Obesity or, conversely, excessive thinness. Both conditions can result in a long delay.
6. Significant physical activity. They deplete the girl's body, so it begins to produce hormones that delay menstruation.
7. Stressful situations, acclimatization, change of scenery. Any stressful situation can negatively affect the body. It disrupts the production of hormones that are responsible for reproductive function, and because of this, menstruation stops.
8. Chronic alcoholism or drug addiction, diseases that destroy the immune system and lead to hormonal imbalance.

Delayed menstruation after childbirth

After the birth of a child, the delay in menstruation is quite justified. Usually, immediately after childbirth, the mother begins to breastfeed the baby, and during this period, the production of prolactin, a hormone that stops ovulation, is carried out. After the end of feeding, menstruation is completely restored within 1-2 months.

Permanent delays of monthly causes

Why can a girl have a constant delay in menstruation? Usually it occurs due to the use of hormonal drugs that increase the duration of the cycle. The drugs block ovulation and prevent fertilization from happening. After taking the last pill, literally the next day, menstruation should begin. If it does not start within two days, the drug must be changed.

Also, a regular delay can occur due to polycystic ovary syndrome, which prevents the normal production of hormones.

That is, the question of why a girl has a delay in menstruation every month can be answered unequivocally: due to pathological processes in the body. You should consult a doctor.

Reasons for delaying menstruation by a week

A slight delay in menstruation, about 5-7 days, is normal. Therefore, it is not always necessary to look for reasons for a delay in menstruation for a week, especially if it happened once. Such a delay can occur due to stress, excessive exercise, diet or acclimatization. Of course, if you have a large delay in menstruation, or if it occurs regularly, you need to find the causes of this condition. For this, be sure to consult a doctor. He will prescribe an examination and help identify the pathology, if any. Thanks to a timely visit to the doctor, it will be possible to cure the cause of the delay effectively and quickly.

The reason for the delay in menstruation can be a lot: stress, sudden change of time zone, acclimatization, hormonal failure, disorders and dysfunctions of the female genital organs, starvation diets, anorexia and nervous exhaustion. The most common and at the same time favorable reason for delayed menstruation is pregnancy.

The allowable delay in menstruation is approximately five days. If at the end of this period the menstruation did not come, you should seriously think about your situation and health. The most rational way to find out the cause of the delay is to visit a doctor. This will not only allow you to accurately confirm or exclude the onset of pregnancy, but also to understand the problem of your reproductive system and female organs. Why is there a delay in menstruation?

1. Pregnancy

   The delay in menstruation may be for this reason. Early signs of pregnancy are usually also accompanied by swelling and modification of the mammary glands, a change in taste preferences, an exacerbation of the functions of olfactory receptors, and mild nausea. If you have noted such signs in yourself, you still need to contact a antenatal clinic, take an hCG test and undergo an examination. The symptoms of normal and ectopic pregnancy practically do not differ from each other, so the second option should be excluded for the benefit of one's own life and health.

2. Abortion

   If you had to terminate your pregnancy for any reason, it is important to know that this has led to a serious hormonal imbalance. This may not be the only reason - during a surgical abortion, part of the endometrial tissue is removed from the walls of the uterus, which grows throughout the cycle and is released along with menstrual blood. After an abortion, menstruation can occur on the 40th day. However, you should be aware that this is not a normal physiological response of the body, so a woman who is faced with such a problem needs to be urgently examined and start hormonal treatment.

3. Taking contraceptives

   Many gynecologists associate cycle instability with the use of hormonal contraceptives. The fact is that birth control pills are designed to suppress ovulation. In turn, such a sharp intrusion into the normal functioning of the female reproductive system can cause the so-called "ovarian hyperinhibition." If ovarian dysfunction is confirmed, the patient is prescribed other oral contraceptives, or canceled altogether. In especially severe cases, artificial stimulation of the pituitary gland and the work of the egg is used to restore the woman's normal cycle.

4. Stress and shock
5. Eating Disorders

   Sharp weight loss and a diet in which the body receives a meager amount of vitamins and nutrients also provokes stress and hormonal imbalance in the female body. Weight loss may be due to previous events, or may be the result of a strict diet. Amenorrhea is observed in almost every girl and woman suffering from anorexia nervosa.

   Gynecologists have a certain term - critical menstrual mass. Usually at this weight, the first menstruation occurs in adolescents. If an adult woman has brought herself to this limit, this may be accompanied by a prolonged absence of menstruation and require immediate treatment. It should be noted that delays are also characteristic of sharp jumps in weight in the opposite direction, in particular, with bulimia.

6. Gynecological diseases

   Failure in the female menstrual cycle can be caused by various diseases of the female genital organs. Among them are inflammation of the appendages, uterine fibroids, and polycystic ovaries. To exclude this fact, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist if your delay is more than 10 days and you are sure that you are not pregnant. Ignoring the treatment of these diseases can lead to terrible complications, the leading position among which is female infertility.

7. Excessive physical activity

   Sports, especially strength training and weight lifting, can delay your period by several days. Usually amenorrhea in this case barely reaches the acceptable limit and ranges from 1 to 5 days. If after this period there is no menstruation, you should consult a doctor to find out the true cause.

Women who have a regular sex life should especially carefully monitor their cycle. As you can see, the delay in menstruation is not some special and unambiguous disease, but it requires an examination of the body, since it always signals any problems and dysfunctions, with the exception of pregnancy. Often occurring amenorrhea indicates serious disorders in the functioning of the body. And since it is you who are responsible for your health, it is important to be examined and begin treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, a "harmless" symptom can cause severe complications, including reproductive dysfunction and infertility.

Any woman begins to worry if she has a delay in menstruation. Someone looks forward to a long-awaited pregnancy, some fear for their health. In any case, do not panic and lose self-control. Why can it happen and what to do if there is a delay in menstruation? Let's try to figure everything out.

Menstrual cycle and missed period

Every woman has a different menstrual cycle. The period from the beginning of menstruation to the next menstrual bleeding, equal to 26-32 days, is considered normal. Please note that the duration of the cycle is the same every month. The absence of menstrual bleeding at the expected time is considered a delay.

If menstruation came 1-2 days later than the expected date and arose for the first time, do not worry. Such a short delay can be caused by a little stress, sudden changes in the weather and other external factors that do not indicate a serious malfunction in the woman's body or pregnancy. However, with regular monthly delays in the menstrual cycle, a specialist consultation is necessary.

In addition, a delay in menstruation is observed during pregnancy, with a corpus luteum cyst, in the anovulatory cycle, with other diseases of the reproductive and endocrine systems, if a woman takes oral contraceptives, has experienced stress or climate change.

What to do if there is a delay in menstruation?

Step 1. Pay attention to the circumstances of the delay

The circumstances of the delay in menstruation are very important and will help determine its cause. To do this, you need to answer the question: the delay occurred for the first time or happens regularly. Many diseases, including the common cold, as well as nervous strain and stress, have a huge impact on the hormonal background of a woman.

The slightest fluctuations in hormone levels can lead to shifts in the onset of menstruation. The menstrual cycle is a significant indicator of a woman's health, but one month of close observation will tell little about even an experienced obstetrician.

Step 2. Take a pregnancy test at home

If a healthy woman who is sexually active does not have her period on time, there is a high chance of pregnancy. In order to determine if there is a pregnancy, you need to do hCG test. It is available to everyone and has a fairly high accuracy. The article describes the procedure itself in more detail.

Determining pregnancy with a test

In the first days of a delay, one of the tests sold in all pharmacies can be used to detect pregnancy. Simple test strips for detecting pregnancy work on the principle of detecting traces of the hCG hormone in a woman's urine: one red strip that appears after a short-term contact with urine means no pregnancy, two strips - fertilization of the egg and fetal development.

This method of determining pregnancy is quite accurate, but sometimes tests show false or questionable results. If the strips on the test are blurred, you should buy a new test, preferably from a different manufacturer, and repeat the test. You can purchase a "jet" test, which costs a little more than a strip test, but it is more sensitive and gives an accurate result compared to conventional tests.

Although most manufacturers claim that the tests can detect pregnancy as early as a week after the fertilization of the egg, testing is recommended only if there is a slight delay in menstruation. Then the level of hCG will be sufficient to determine a possible pregnancy.

Test results

If the test is positive, you are probably pregnant. Go to the gynecologist. He will register you, send you to an ultrasound to determine the localization of pregnancy (uterine or ectopic), as well as its viability (presence / absence of a heartbeat). Ultrasound at any stage of pregnancy, including early, is absolutely harmless. Much more dangerous are the extra days lived with an undiagnosed frozen or ectopic pregnancy.

Please note that in the first days of a delay in monthly pregnancy tests may show a false (negative) result. Wait 2-3 days (the instructions more precisely indicate how long to wait). If the second test is negative, go to the doctor.

Is it worth contacting a gynecologist with a positive test result?

Many women who test and test positive postpone their visit to a later date. This is a completely wrong tactic. After all, a positive test not only indicates the presence of pregnancy, but only a gynecologist can judge the development of the fetus. A positive test result does not exclude the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy!

Such an unfavorable development of pregnancy occurs if obstacles appear in the form of adhesions in the fallopian tube on the way of an egg fertilized outside the uterine cavity. Another cause of ectopic pregnancy is the too slow progress of the embryo to the uterine cavity. Ultimately, its size exceeds the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the developing egg is introduced into the mucous membrane of the tube, which subsequently leads to its rupture.

!!! Important: a timely visit to a gynecologist will avoid the risk of further development of an ectopic pregnancy, and the prescribed studies will help determine an undiagnosed missed abortion when the fetus stops developing.

Step 3. Visit a gynecologist

At the appointment, the doctor will listen to complaints, collect an anamnesis, find out what could affect the menstrual cycle, if necessary, conduct an examination and prescribe additional studies. These include an ultrasound and a blood test for beta-hCG.

Laboratory blood test for a specific hormone

More reliably determine pregnancy allows a blood test for the hormone beta-hCG, made in the laboratory. To determine the level of beta-hCG in the laboratory, blood is taken from a vein. According to the response received after a short period of time, one can judge the onset of pregnancy. The impossibility of carrying out this method at home and the time spent on passing the analysis are justified by its reliability and accurate results. A blood test for beta-hCG can be done without waiting for a delay in menstruation.

Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs

Ultrasound is the most comprehensive method for detecting pregnancy. An ultrasound examination is performed through the anterior wall of the abdomen (transabdominally) and vaginally using a probe inserted into the woman's vagina. It is worth noting that the second type of study gives a more complete picture of the state of the uterus and the localization of pregnancy.

!!! Important: Ultrasound, transabdominal and transvaginal, is completely harmless to the fetus. It is worth remembering that ultrasound determines pregnancy only after 2.5-3 weeks from conception.

Thickened mature endometrium and the presence of a corpus luteum in the ovary, determined by ultrasound of the female organs, indicate the second phase of the cycle. If such a picture is combined with a negative analysis for B-hCG, menstrual bleeding will come in the near future. If the result is doubtful, the study is repeated after 2 days. With a developing pregnancy, the level of B-hCG will increase by 2 times.

If the ultrasound did not determine the signs of the second phase, there is no talk of pregnancy or menstruation in the near future. The cause of the delay should be sought in ovarian dysfunction or a violation of the general hormonal background.

!!! Important: only a gynecologist, thanks to the collected history and prescribed studies, can confirm or refute pregnancy with confidence.

Additional Research

If the ultrasound determines the picture of the mature second phase of the cycle, including a thick mature endometrium and a corpus luteum in the ovary, then the patient needs to donate blood for beta-hCG.

If the test is negative, wait for your period, it will be soon. If doubtful- will have to be retaken in 2 days. Developing uterine pregnancy will give an indicator of 2 times.

If, with the help of ultrasound, the doctor did not determine the picture of the second phase, we are not talking about pregnancy, and it is far from menstruation. It's about ovarian dysfunction. The gynecologist will deal with her. He will advise what is the best thing to do: wait or help with vitamins, hormones, herbs, etc.

Delayed menstruation with excluded pregnancy

So no pregnancy. Why, then, there was a delay in menstruation? There are a lot of reasons for this (both not related to the diseases of the woman, and signaling serious health problems).

Conditions not associated with diseases

A delay in menstruation can be caused by the following conditions that are not associated with diseases:

• - Violation of good nutrition (starvation, debilitating diets);
• - Violation of fat metabolism (obesity, underweight);
• - physical exhaustion due to heavy loads on the body;
• - a sharp change of place of residence with other climatic conditions;
• - strong psychological shocks, stresses;
• - taking various medications (including various kinds of oral contraceptives);
• - the postpartum period, when the mother breastfeeds the baby (the hormone prolactin is produced, which promotes the release of milk and stops menstruation).
  

Factors provoking a delay in menstruation should be excluded in a timely manner in order to avoid more serious consequences. Adjustment of nutrition and physical activity, emotional stability contribute to the restoration of a normal menstrual cycle. In turn, the gynecologist may prescribe a course of vitamins, herbal treatment or hormone therapy.

Diseases that lead to a delay in menstruation

A delay in menstruation can be the first sign of a rather serious ailment that requires urgent medical intervention. Violation of the general hormonal background in the body of a woman, which will result in a delay in menstruation, occurs for several reasons:

• 1. Polycystic ovaries. One of the most common causes of delay. A distinctive feature of polycystic ovaries is the presence of foci of increased male pattern hair growth (antennae, abdomen, back and arms);
• 2. Oncological diseases. Delayed menstruation in combination with pain in the lower abdomen give reason to assume the presence of fibroids and other neoplasms in the uterus, oncological pathology of the cervix;
• 3. Early menopause. A pathological condition that develops against the background of hormonal failure and problems in the endocrine system;
• 4. Inflammatory processes. Pain and absence of menstruation may indicate endometriosis (inflammation of the uterus) and inflammatory processes in the uterine appendages;
• 5. Endocrine diseases. Dysfunction of the ovaries, thyroid gland and adrenal glands is detected by ultrasound of the above organs. Brain tomography is also performed. In any case, consultation with an endocrinologist is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis with a delay in menstruation and the absence of pregnancy.

Step 4: Don't self-medicate

And do not look on the Internet and various disease guides for signs that are very similar to your symptoms. Self-medication can be dangerous to your health and life. Contact a specialist and visit a gynecologist about once every six months for a preventive examination.