Perhaps you are making pregnancy tests too early.
What is menstruation delay
Monthly delay is a situation where menstruation does not begin as a long time. Each woman has his own. To determine it, that is, to understand if there is a delay, two parameters are taken into account.
- Individual duration of the cycle. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a typical menstrual cycle (this is the name between the first day of the onset of these and previous or subsequent menstruation) lasts 28 days. However, cycles of 21–40 days are also options for the norm.
- The regularity of the cycle. In adults healthy women, menstruation, as a rule, occurs after a strictly defined number of days. For example, every 28 or every 35. Young girls who have menstruation have no more than 6 years ago, the cycle can be irregular. In one month, the blood on the gasket will be, let’s say, 25 days after the previous time, and in the other after 29. Such fluctuations are normal.
Now a simple example. Past menstruation began on you on March 3. Today is April 4. Is there a delay? There can be several answers.
If your cycle is 28 days, menstruation is late for 4 days. But if 35, there is no delay yet: according to your individual graphics, menstruation is expected only on April 7. And in the event that you are a young girl with an unknown, floating cycle, a delay in question.
If there are no menstruation for a long time, more than three months, doctors talk about amenorrhea. This condition is normal for pregnant women, nursing and women in menopause. Everyone else needs to be examined to find out for what reasons the menstruation does not begin.
But, let’s say, the thoughts of amenorrhea have not yet reached. And you, having discovered a delay for several days, just want to find out what it means. Lifehacker collected several options.
Why is there a delay in menstruation and what to do with it
Here are some of the most common reasons.
1. You are pregnant
This is perhaps the most popular reason for the delay in healthy women who have sexual life.
If you do not have sex, pregnancy can be excluded. Otherwise, wait a couple more three days (and better 5–7, if there is enough patience) and make a pregnancy test. In order not to wait, you can go to the laboratory and donate blood to the hCG – human chorionic gonadotropin. Such an analysis can record pregnancy 11 days after conception.
What to do
If the result is positive, go to the gynecologist as quickly as possible. Pregnancy can be ectopic, and this is a serious threat to your health and even life.
2. You have stress
Acute or chronic stress significantly affects the hormonal background, so the monthly cycle can become longer or shorter. And in some cases, menstruation is completely stopped.
What to do
The most obvious and simple advice is to try to calm down. Learn to breathe deeply, abstract, relax more, think about the good – there is a lot of relaxation techniques. If you understand that pulling yourself together on your own, contact a psychologist or psychotherapist.
But it is important to remember this. It is not at all a fact that the delay of menstruation is associated with stress. Other reasons cannot be excluded (the same pregnancy). Therefore, if menstruation does not return for several weeks, still consult with a gynecologist.
3. You lost too much
If the calories are not enough, the production of hormones, which are responsible for ovulation and start menstruation, stops.
What to do
Monthly delay against the background of insufficient weight (this can be determined by calculating the body mass index) – a serious reason to contact the therapist as quickly as possible. After the examination, the doctor can direct you to a nutritionist – he will help normalize w8. Or to a psychotherapist if you suffer from eating disorders.
4. You gained too much weight
The fat tissue that has accumulated in the body increases the production of estrogen – hormone, which also regulates the monthly cycle. Excess estrogen can make menstruation more rare or completely stop them.
What to do
Go to the therapist. The doctor will advise how to lose weight faster and safer. Perhaps you will receive a direction to a narrower specialist – a nutritionist.
5. You are overturned
Busting with physical exertion also causes stress. And stress, in turn, affects hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
What to do
If you suspect that the delay can be associated with intensive training, reduce activity. Professional athletes should consult a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. The expert will advise how to maintain physical shape without violating the menstrual cycle.
6. You accept contraceptives
Some oral contraceptives, contraceptive injections, and even the installation of an intrauterine spiral can lead to a complete cessation of menstruation.
In addition, menstruation is sometimes delayed against the background of accepting ordinary hormonal contraceptive agents. And after the abolition of such tablets, you will need time for the cycle to stabilize.
What to do
If you take contraceptive tablets or recently put a spiral, talk about a delay with your gynecologist. Follow his recommendations.
7. Menopause is approaching
Menopause – a natural part of aging in women. These are hormonal changes in which the ovaries stop making eggs, and menstruation are delayed, become irregular, and then completely stop.
Typically, menopause occurs from the ages of 45 to 55 years. However, in about 1 out of 100 women, this occurs up to 40.
What to do
Consult a gynecologist. In addition to the cessation of menstruation, menopause may have other unpleasant signs: dry vagina, sweating, sleeping and libido, regular sensations as if it throws into heat. The doctor will help make the symptoms less pronounced.
8. You have polycystic ovary syndrome
This is a condition in which cysts (cavities with non -passing eggs) are formed on the ovaries, and the level of the hormone androgen rises in the body. As a result, the syndrome of polycystic ovary can cause a cycle failure, and menstruation will become irregular.
What to do
Only a gynecologist can deal with polycystic. The doctor will listen to your complaints, conduct an examination and offer to do an ultrasound and pass a blood test. All this is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
If the syndrome is confirmed, you will be prescribed drugs. Sometimes, to restore ovulation and a disturbed monthly cycle, a surgical operation is necessary.
9. You have a different disease
The delay of menstruation can be caused by:
- Premature ovarian failure. This is a disease in which, in theory, it is still far from menopause, but the ovaries are already ceasing to work out the eggs normally.
- Diseases of the endocrine system. For example, diabetes or thyroid disorders.
- Celiac disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the intestines inadequately reacts to gluten (gluten) – proteins contained in the seeds of cereal plants. Due to the celiac disease, the intestinal walls are inflamed, which prevents the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients. The deficiency of vitamins and minerals can also lead to a violation of the monthly cycle.
What to do
If it seems to you that you have excluded almost all the reasons for the possible delay, and there are still no menstruation, go to the gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and examination to exclude possible diseases. If necessary, he will send you to another specialist, for example an endocrinologist or a gastroenterologist.
10. You take some medicines
Any hormonal drugs can influence the menstrual cycle.
What to do
If you are prescribed such medicines and against their background began delays in menstruation, talk about this with the attending physician. Perhaps he will offer you an alternative – a drug that will not violate the menstrual cycle.
What is menstruation delay
Monthly delay is a situation where menstruation does not begin as a long time. Each woman has his own. To determine it, that is, to understand if there is a delay, two parameters are taken into account.
- Individual duration of the cycle. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a typical menstrual cycle (this is the name between the first day of the onset of these and previous or subsequent menstruation) lasts 28 days. However, cycles of 21–40 days are also options for the norm.
- The regularity of the cycle. In adults healthy women, menstruation, as a rule, occurs after a strictly defined number of days. For example, every 28 or every 35. Young girls who have menstruation have no more than 6 years ago, the cycle can be irregular. In one month, the blood on the gasket will be, let’s say, 25 days after the previous time, and in the other after 29. Such fluctuations are normal.
Now a simple example. Past menstruation began on you on March 3. Today is April 4. Is there a delay? There can be several answers.
If your cycle is 28 days, menstruation is late for 4 days. But if 35, there is no delay yet: according to your individual graphics, menstruation is expected only on April 7. And in the event that you are a young girl with an unknown, floating cycle, a delay in question.
If there are no menstruation for a long time, more than three months, doctors talk about amenorrhea. This condition is normal for pregnant women, nursing and women in menopause. Everyone else needs to be examined to find out for what reasons the menstruation does not begin.
But, let’s say, the thoughts of amenorrhea have not yet reached. And you, having discovered a delay for several days, just want to find out what it means. Lifehacker collected several options.
Why is there a delay in menstruation and what to do with it
Here are some of the most common reasons.
1. You are pregnant
This is perhaps the most popular reason for the delay in healthy women who have sexual life.
If you do not have sex, pregnancy can be excluded. Otherwise, wait a couple more three days (and better 5–7, if there is enough patience) and make a pregnancy test. In order not to wait, you can go to the laboratory and donate blood to the hCG – human chorionic gonadotropin. Such an analysis can record pregnancy 11 days after conception.
What to do
If the result is positive, go to the gynecologist as quickly as possible. Pregnancy can be ectopic, and this is a serious threat to your health and even life.
2. You have stress
Acute or chronic stress significantly affects the hormonal background, so the monthly cycle can become longer or shorter. And in some cases, menstruation is completely stopped.
What to do
The most obvious and simple advice is to try to calm down. Learn to breathe deeply, abstract, relax more, think about the good – there is a lot of relaxation techniques. If you understand that pulling yourself together on your own, contact a psychologist or psychotherapist.
But it is important to remember this. It is not at all a fact that the delay of menstruation is associated with stress. Other reasons cannot be excluded (the same pregnancy). Therefore, if menstruation does not return for several weeks, still consult with a gynecologist.
3. You lost too much
If the calories are not enough, the production of hormones, which are responsible for ovulation and start menstruation, stops.
What to do
Monthly delay against the background of insufficient weight (this can be determined by calculating the body mass index) – a serious reason to contact the therapist as quickly as possible. After the examination, the doctor can direct you to a nutritionist – he will help normalize w8. Or to a psychotherapist if you suffer from eating disorders.
4. You gained too much weight
The fat tissue that has accumulated in the body increases the production of estrogen – hormone, which also regulates the monthly cycle. Excess estrogen can make menstruation more rare or completely stop them.
What to do
Go to the therapist. The doctor will advise how to lose weight faster and safer. Perhaps you will receive a direction to a narrower specialist – a nutritionist.
5. You are overturned
Busting with physical exertion also causes stress. And stress, in turn, affects hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
What to do
If you suspect that the delay can be associated with intensive training, reduce activity. Professional athletes should consult a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. The expert will advise how to maintain physical shape without violating the menstrual cycle.
6. You accept contraceptives
Some oral contraceptives, contraceptive injections, and even the installation of an intrauterine spiral can lead to a complete cessation of menstruation.
In addition, menstruation is sometimes delayed against the background of accepting ordinary hormonal contraceptive agents. And after the abolition of such tablets, you will need time for the cycle to stabilize.
What to do
If you take contraceptive tablets or recently put a spiral, talk about a delay with your gynecologist. Follow his recommendations.
7. Menopause is approaching
Menopause – a natural part of aging in women. These are hormonal changes in which the ovaries stop making eggs, and menstruation are delayed, become irregular, and then completely stop.
Typically, menopause occurs from the ages of 45 to 55 years. However, in about 1 out of 100 women, this occurs up to 40.
What to do
Consult a gynecologist. In addition to the cessation of menstruation, menopause may have other unpleasant signs: dry vagina, sweating, sleeping and libido, regular sensations as if it throws into heat. The doctor will help make the symptoms less pronounced.
8. You have polycystic ovary syndrome
This is a condition in which cysts (cavities with non -passing eggs) are formed on the ovaries, and the level of the hormone androgen rises in the body. As a result, the syndrome of polycystic ovary can cause a cycle failure, and menstruation will become irregular.
What to do
Only a gynecologist can deal with polycystic. The doctor will listen to your complaints, conduct an examination and offer to do an ultrasound and pass a blood test. All this is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
If the syndrome is confirmed, you will be prescribed drugs. Sometimes, to restore ovulation and a disturbed monthly cycle, a surgical operation is necessary.
9. You have a different disease
The delay of menstruation can be caused by:
- Premature ovarian failure. This is a disease in which, in theory, it is still far from menopause, but the ovaries are already ceasing to work out the eggs normally.
- Diseases of the endocrine system. For example, diabetes or thyroid disorders.
- Celiac disease. This is an autoimmune disease in which the intestines inadequately reacts to gluten (gluten) – proteins contained in the seeds of cereal plants. Due to the celiac disease, the intestinal walls are inflamed, which prevents the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients. The deficiency of vitamins and minerals can also lead to a violation of the monthly cycle.
What to do
If it seems to you that you have excluded almost all the reasons for the possible delay, and there are still no menstruation, go to the gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and examination to exclude possible diseases. If necessary, he will send you to another specialist, for example an endocrinologist or a gastroenterologist.
10. You take some medicines
Any hormonal drugs can influence the menstrual cycle.
What to do
If you are prescribed such medicines and against their background began delays in menstruation, talk about this with the attending physician. Perhaps he will offer you an alternative – a drug that will not violate the menstrual cycle.