Delayed menstruation: main reasons

Slight fluctuations in the menstrual cycle are completely normal. But if delays become regular, menstruation becomes irregular, becomes atypical or painful, or does not occur at all, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Pregnancy is not always the cause of delayed menstruation. Very often, irregular periods are an indicator of health problems. There can be many reasons that can lead to menstrual irregularities.

Non-gynecological reasons:

1. stress;
2. excessive physical activity;
3. climate change;
4. weight problems (strict diets, anorexia, obesity);
5. intoxication (alcohol, nicotine, chemicals);
6. endocrine diseases;
7. disorders of the brain and hypothalamus;
8. acute and chronic diseases;
9. taking medications (especially anabolic steroids, diuretics, antidepressants, anti-tuberculosis drugs);
10. taking oral contraceptives.

Natural reasons:

1. Pregnancy is the main reason for missing periods.
2. Lactation. During lactation, the amount of prolactin increases. The hormone blocks ovulation, so menstruation does not come. When a woman finishes breastfeeding, menstruation resumes.
3. Puberty. Failures, as a rule, are observed for a couple of years until the menstrual cycle is established.
4. Premenopausal period (perimenopause). It is observed in women over 45 years of age. This is a natural process that occurs in the female body. Moreover, each time the delay becomes longer, until menstruation stops completely.

Pathological reasons:

1. Polycystic ovary syndrome. This concept combines a number of pathological processes in which the production of hormones is disrupted. In this case, the body does not ovulate and infertility occurs.
2. Ovarian cyst (functional). If the cyst “lives” longer than expected, then a delay in menstruation occurs.
3. All kinds of gynecological diseases. For example, uterine fibroids, inflammation of the fallopian tubes or appendages, and some other diseases can significantly delay the onset of menstruation.
4. Various enametriosis and endometritis, adenomyosis, infectious and inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system.
5. Terminated pregnancy.

Delayed menstruation can also occur after termination of pregnancy or miscarriage. The reason is a hormonal imbalance, as well as the fact that during instrumental curettage of the uterus, an excessive amount of tissue can be removed, including that part of the inner lining of the uterus, which normally grows during the menstrual cycle and is released in the form of menstrual blood.

If your period is more than 10 days late, you should be wary. The first thing to do in this situation is to conduct a home pregnancy test. Regardless of the result, your second step is to consult a doctor.