Delayed menstruation in summer causes. What can cause missed periods other than pregnancy?

  • The date: 23.06.2020

Not all women have their periods at the same time. The cycle can be disrupted in young girls if their critical days began not so long ago. It will take a year or two for the cycle to settle. This is also possible in women before the onset of menopause. A delay can also occur after childbirth if the young mother continues to breastfeed her baby. In these cases, the timing of the delay in menstruation is different. Sometimes they stretch for several months. But, nevertheless, they are not considered deviations from the norm.

Delayed periods have always been a worrying sign. It means that something is wrong in the woman’s body, there was some kind of malfunction in the hormonal balance. Sometimes it's pregnancy. But there could be many other reasons as well.

You also need to remember that the duration of the menstrual cycle can be different. Not necessarily menstruation should come exactly after 30 days, some women have critical days every 28 days or every 25 days (from 25 to 33 days). A long cycle is a kind of norm, so we are not talking about a delay.

What delay is considered normal

How long can a delay in menstruation be normal if a girl is sure that she is definitely not pregnant? If critical days are “late” for several days (no more than 7), then you should not worry when:

  • There are no signs of pathology. How long can there be a delay in menstruation in a more or less healthy non-pregnant woman? Experts say that 2-3 days. A delay in menstruation for a girl for 2 days is the norm, it can appear due to sudden changes in air temperature outside or due to surges in atmospheric pressure. A delay in menstruation for a woman by 3 days is also not a reason to worry. It can be associated with constant stress, poor nutrition, overwork, etc. You should think about changing your lifestyle. Even a 4-day delay in menstruation is not a reason for panic, it can be caused by the same reasons.
  • There is a pathology, but it is not connected with the reproductive system. How long can a girl's period be delayed without pregnancy, and without serious health problems? 5 to 7 days. A delay in menstruation of about 5 days may occur due to colds, flu or other infections, inflammatory diseases. The patient cannot be called completely healthy, but you can not contact the gynecologist with such a delay. As soon as her body recovers, the cycle will improve. A delay in menstruation of 6 or 7 days can also be due to the fact that the girl had a cold, flu, tonsillitis, suffered bronchitis. If we talk about the norm, i.e. how many days can be a delay in menstruation - doctors believe that no more than a week, i.e. 5 to 7 days.
  • Pregnancy or the presence of any pathology. When a delay in menstruation lasts 10 days or more, this indicates the presence of various gynecological or endocrine (hormonal) diseases or the onset of pregnancy. In this case, you should immediately visit a gynecologist to prescribe treatment at the initial stage of the disease. Otherwise, over time, without proper treatment, complications may appear, for example, infertility.

Non-dangerous causes of delayed menstruation

A delay in menstruation for a week or a shorter period indicates that you need to reconsider your lifestyle. So, if a woman is on a strict diet, works too hard or overstrains physically, lives in a state of chronic stress, her body turns on defense systems. Our body is designed in such a way that in an unfavorable environment, it tries to prevent the occurrence of pregnancy, because. otherwise it will be difficult for a woman to bear and give birth to a child. Therefore, menstruation may be absent. How many days can there be a delay in menstruation caused by such reasons? For up to 1 month. But it is advisable to immediately take the necessary measures to improve your health, for example, to abandon the diet. Then the body can recover without treatment.

The main reasons for the short delay are:

  • malnutrition, lack of vitamins, snacks on the go, starvation;
  • constant lack of sleep;
  • heavy physical labor, excessive mental stress, overwork;
  • poisoning with various substances in hazardous production or living in a region with poor environmental conditions, intoxication with alcohol or tobacco;
  • problems with weight, both its lack and excess;
  • climate change after moving to another country;
  • transferred infectious diseases;
  • the presence of chronic diseases;
  • taking emergency contraceptives or stopping hormonal drugs (contraceptives).

Delay due to illness

How many days can a woman miss her period? Everyone is different, there are patients who do not have critical days for several months. You need to worry if the delay exceeds 5-7 days. Then you need to visit a gynecologist who will make a diagnosis.

Diseases that can cause delay:

  • Inflammatory diseases affecting the genitals. The symptoms of these diseases are abdominal pain and discharge.
  • Oncological pathologies of the genital organs.
  • Polycystic ovaries. With this disease, a woman gains weight, she has increased hair growth on her face, arms, back, her hair quickly becomes oily and irritability increases. It occurs due to an increase in the blood level of the male hormone testosterone.
  • Ovarian corpus luteum cyst. The reason for its appearance is a hormonal imbalance.

Such a problem may appear after an abortion, an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or when a woman is undergoing curettage of the uterus. In this case, not only hormonal changes are to blame, but also mechanical injuries that can occur during the procedure.

Not always a delay in menstruation is a pathology. But if the delay lasts more than 7 days and does not appear in a teenage girl, a woman after childbirth or before menopause, then you should visit a gynecologist and undergo an examination. The doctor will either report the good news about the upcoming motherhood, or discover the reason for the delay. It is desirable to eliminate it immediately.

Every woman should know the reason for the delay in menstruation, it’s good if the reason for this is the onset of pregnancy, but this is not always the case. A delay in menstruation of 7, 8, 9, 10 days can occur for a number of reasons, they can be either completely harmless, requiring no action, or extremely serious, which are unlikely to be resolved without a doctor. So, let's try to find out in more detail why the delay in menstruation is a week and what it may be connected with.

Causes of menstrual irregularities

In addition to pregnancy, there are many reasons why menstruation is delayed. You can divide them all among themselves into non-gynecological and gynecological. Let's find out about each of them.

Reasons for delaying menstruation by a week

A short delay in menstruation from 5 to 7 days for women of reproductive age is absolutely normal. Often this does not indicate the appearance of serious deviations. A 5-day delay in menstruation can occur as a result of mental or physical exertion, stress, a strict diet, or climate change. Also, the absence of a cycle for such a period can occur as a result of hormonal changes in adolescence or before the onset of menopause. Ovarian inhibition may be caused by the withdrawal of oral contraceptives or the use of emergency contraception. In this case, it will take up to 2-3 months to restore the cycle. Such delays can also occur due to recent childbirth, medications, or non-gynecological diseases. Be that as it may, even if the reason for the delay is clear, it is better to consult a gynecologist to confirm it.

10 days delay

If the delay in menstruation is more than a week, then this should certainly alert any woman. Similar cycle disorders can be the result of non-gynecological and gynecological problems. A delay in the cycle for a period of 10 days can be the result of diseases of a tumor and inflammatory nature, miscarriages, abortions and injuries of the genital organs. Such changes in the cycle most often occur as a result of adnexitis, oophoritis, polycystic ovaries, uterine fibroids and cysts of the corpus luteum. Also, the cause of such a failure can be climate change, severe stress, medication, including hormonal, endocrine disorders, past illnesses and intoxication of the body. Extra pounds and severe thinness can also affect the delay. Each of these causes requires an indispensable consultation with a doctor, as well as subsequent treatment aimed at eliminating the original cause and consequences.

Delay more than 2 weeks

The causes and diseases listed above can also cause a delay in the menstrual cycle for two weeks or more. Quite often, the reason for the delay in the menstrual cycle may lie in the abolition of oral contraceptives after their prolonged use, as well as as a result of taking hormonal emergency contraceptives. In addition, a prolonged absence of the menstrual cycle can also occur in girls who are in their teens - after menarche, the second menstruation may begin only a few months later. There is nothing wrong with this, since it takes a certain time for the cycle to settle down. In women after 40 years, such a delay may also indicate the approach of menopause. However, in any case, it is better to consult a doctor.

The normal duration of the menstrual cycle falls within the range of 21 - 35 days. If menstruation regularly comes on time, but there are occasional delays of 5 days, you should not worry. Short breaks can be the result of stress, illness, climate change, and other factors.

Long delays in the onset of bleeding signal physiological changes or functional failures of the body. If you do not take into account menarche, pregnancy and menopause, the causes of menstrual irregularities can be quite serious.

Why do women have a delay in menstruation: all reasons except pregnancy and menopause

If a patient complains to a gynecologist about irregular MC, she may be diagnosed with ovarian dysfunction. But this term is generalized and under it are hidden all the reasons for the constant delay in menstruation, except for pregnancy.

The current situation requires correction, so the doctor needs to figure out why a particular woman’s menstruation does not start on time.

Heredity

When menstruation is irregular, it is first necessary to study the genetic factor. To do this, the girl should ask the women of her family how their periods are going. If a mother, sister or grandmother shares her problems with the female part, the guilty factor will be revealed in the form of heredity.

stress

If a woman took a pregnancy test, and it showed a negative answer, you should remember if there were stresses and nervous tension in life. Problems at work, family worries, anxiety before an exam or an important event - all this leads to delays.

Acutely reacting to stress, the body begins to work so that the woman could not become pregnant. Preparations for the correction of MC in this case are useless. A job change, a conversation with a psychologist, a positive attitude and the ability to look at life easier will help to improve the situation.

Physical exercise

Wear and tear, overwork, chronic overwork and lack of sleep harm not only the reproductive system, but the entire body. Sports activities also make the onset of menstruation problematic.

But if a woman runs in the morning, periodically visits the pool, does morning exercises, dances, such activity will benefit her. Only excessive loads that take away all forces are unacceptable.

Climatic conditions

Staying in a different time or climate zone creates stress for the body, even if it is a pleasant vacation in an exotic country.


Prolonged exposure to the scorching sun, as well as frequent visits to the solarium, is dangerous for the body. Receiving an excess of ultraviolet radiation, it begins to work incorrectly in all directions, affecting the gynecological sphere.

Intoxication

Drug addiction, abuse of alcohol and smoking, work in hazardous chemical production and taking certain medications negatively affect reproductive functions.

If the doctor confirms that the causes (or more) were various forms of poisoning, it is necessary to review the lifestyle and course of treatment and consider the option of a new job with gentle conditions.

Being overweight or thin

Weight problems, like other internal factors, disrupt the stability of the MC. Excessive thinness or excessive fullness leads to delays in menstruation, for the reason that adipose tissue is actively involved in hormonal processes. Its excess contributes to the accumulation of estrogen, which makes menstruation irregular.


With a low weight (below 45 kg), the body works in extreme conditions, showing concern for survival. Pregnancy in an exhausted body is an undesirable phenomenon. The body tries to protect itself from it through a delay or complete absence of menstruation.

Thus, if a thin girl or a lady with too curvaceous forms reflects on why I have a delay in menstruation if I am not pregnant, she can be advised to adjust the weight. A thin woman should recover at least up to 50 kg, a fat woman should lose those extra pounds. The nutrition scheme should be designed so that vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, trace elements, and proteins are present in the daily diet. A moderate diet is recommended to be combined with light physical activity.

A delay in menstruation can be provoked by diseases such as chronic gastritis, pyelonephritis, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, duodenitis. Pathologies of the adrenal glands also affect the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Gynecological causes of delayed menstruation

When studying the question of why there is a delay in menstruation (all reasons except pregnancy and menopause), it is necessary to pay attention to gynecological diseases. Bleeding may begin later with the development of an oncological tumor or cyst.

The menstrual cycle loses its regularity for other reasons:

  • Adenomyosis.
  • Endometritis.
  • Polycystic.
  • Vaginitis.
  • Adnexitis.
  • Cervicitis.
  • Salpingoophoritis.
  • Polyps.
  • Endometriosis.
  • Hyperplasia or hypoplasia of the endometrium.
  • Infectious and inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system.

uterine fibroids

A tumor of a benign nature is formed in the uterus as a single or multinodular. Oncological elements are located inside the organ and on its surface. After a short bleeding, the next menstruation may be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks or a month.

endometriosis

The tissue of the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus) grows so much that it passes to the tubes, ovaries and captures the organs of the peritoneum.


Periods are delayed due to obstruction of the fallopian tubes clogged with abnormal tissue. However, endometriosis does not interfere with an ectopic pregnancy that develops in one of the fallopian tubes. On menstrual days, a woman has false periods, which are a bloody daub.

Additional symptoms in endometriosis and ectopic pregnancy include nausea, vomiting, pain on the side of the abdomen where the fertilized egg stopped.

Polycystic ovaries

The presence of multiple cysts on the surface or inside the ovaries is diagnosed as polycystic. Pathology may be asymptomatic. It is discovered by chance when the patient comes for examination with complaints of a prolonged absence of menstruation (more than 30 days).

endometritis

Inflamed uterine mucosa causes hypomenstrual syndrome. Regular menstruation with endometritis is not. Critical days come spontaneously with an interval of 5 to 8 weeks. With a complex form of the disease, menstruation occurs no more than 4 times a year.

endometrial hyperplasia

Due to hormonal disorders and diseases of the endocrine glands, the mucous layer of the uterus thickens abnormally. Patients note long delays, after which heavy periods begin.

polyps

Pathological growths on the legs are formed in the endometrium or on the cervix. The presence of polyps can be suspected by delays in monthly bleeding followed by profuse discharge. Without timely removal, polyps turn into malignant tumors.

Hypoplasia of the endometrium

The underdeveloped uterine mucosa is too thin to hold the egg, which is trying to fix itself on the wall of the reproductive organ. As a result, the pregnancy is terminated at the very beginning, without having time to manifest itself with characteristic signs. But at the same time, the critical days are late, and before them, the genital tract expires.

The development of hypoplasia has its own reasons:

  1. Hormonal disorders.
  2. Operations on the reproductive organs.
  3. Inflammatory processes of the small pelvis.

Salpingoophoritis

The disease is characterized by inflammatory processes that affect the uterus, ovaries, tubes. Causes ovarian dysfunction and delayed menstrual bleeding.

cervicitis

This is an inflammation of the cervix. It spreads to the uterus and appendages. Causes menstrual dysfunction.

It is impossible not to treat inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. They are dangerous for infertility and the development of tumors. Oncological changes can occur in the mammary glands. In addition to the delay in menstruation, it is necessary to pay attention to symptoms such as pain in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region, malaise, and unusual vaginal discharge.

Delayed periods in women over 40

Let's figure out what happens after 40 years of delayed menstruation in mature women. Closer to 45 years, the body begins to prepare for the onset of menopause. The ovaries produce fewer hormones, ovulation occurs less frequently, and menopause eventually occurs. It is preceded by a delay in menstruation and a change in the usual duration of critical days. Menstruation goes longer or vice versa, it becomes very.

If there is a pregnancy, a woman should consult a doctor and tell her how long the problem of delayed menstruation has been bothering her and ask what to do. First of all, the gynecologist will offer the patient to undergo a complete examination to determine if there is a tumor in the body or an endocrine or gynecological disease.


If a woman is 43 years of age or older, she may be recommended a home test to determine the level of follicle-stimulating hormone. The principle of working with it does not differ from tests designed to diagnose pregnancy and establish the date of ovulation. An outpatient FSH test will help determine premenopause.

At 44, if a woman does not know why there may be a delay in menstruation other than pregnancy and the extinction of reproductive function, it is necessary to remember which pills were taken, whether there were episodes of a long-term illness, and whether there were problems with the respiratory system. Menstruation is destabilized by antibacterial agents and Aspirin. To restore the body, the doctor will prescribe vitamin therapy. But this is the case when there are no symptoms of a real menopause.

Hormonal disorders associated with the extinction of the reproductive function are corrected with the help of hormonal drugs, physiotherapy procedures and ultraphonophoresis. Special gynecological massage for patients with delayed menstruation is done for diseases such as:

  • Spikes.
  • Bend / displacement of the uterus.
  • Stagnation in the pelvis.
  • Painful menses.
  • Pathologies of an inflammatory nature that have passed into the stage of chronicity.

The purpose of gynecological massage is to return the uterus to its normal position, improve blood supply to that part of the abdominal cavity where the internal genital organs are located, soften scars, restore tissue metabolism and lymph flow. Patients undergo at least 10 procedures. The duration of each session is 10-15 minutes.

The biggest delay in menstruation is how much?

Consider such a question as the maximum delay in menstruation without pregnancy (it is clear that during the development of the fetus there are no physiological bleeding for 9 months).

In young girls who do not have sex, delays are usually associated with hormonal changes in the body. Critical days come on time or are late for one and a half to two years. Further, the cycle should be rhythmic. After menarche, delays can be anything, but the main thing is that after 2 years the situation will improve.


The next stage is the postpartum period. The cycle resumes after 1.5 - 2 months. Those discharges that women see after the birth of a child are not menstrual. They are called lochia. But even if there is no menstruation after childbirth for 2-3 months, this is not considered a pathology. To make sure that everything is in order inside, and the body is not yet ready for monthly bleeding, a consultation with a gynecologist will help.

During lactation, menstruation does not go. The hormone prolactin is responsible for the production of breast milk. It also delays ovulation, without which the onset of menstruation becomes impossible. While mommy is breastfeeding the baby only and practices frequent attachment, prolactin is produced a lot. Usually periods are delayed by 3 to 6 months. However, there are also cases when there is no bleeding for 2-3 years. It is normal if a woman continues to feed her growing baby with her own milk.

The shortest delay of 1 - 3 or 5 days occurs in the anovulatory cycle. This means that in a particular month, the egg did not mature.

If it so happened that conception occurred, but the child was unwanted, the woman goes for an abortion. The uterus gets rid of the embryo and the question arises of how long a period can be delayed without pregnancy after an abortion (or spontaneous miscarriage if the embryo has not taken root).


Both situations provoke a powerful hormonal failure and a delay in menstruation for 10 to 14 days. If the critical days do not come longer, you need to consult a doctor and exclude complications.

At the age of 40 - 50 years, the lack of timely menstruation is due to a decrease in the production of sex hormones. The lack of estrogen and progesterone starts the mechanism of the extinction of the reproductive function. Delays in menstruation in women over 40 years of age are spasmodic, i.e. no bleeding for 2-4 months. or gradually increasing. The withering period lasts about 6 years.

Delayed menstruation: the main reasons

What is the menstrual cycle? How to understand that a delay in menstruation has begun?

Delayed menstruation is one of the most common complaints of patients in the gynecological office. Let's take a closer look at the physiology of a woman and, in accordance with the knowledge gained, we will try to get to the bottom of the cause of this pathology.

The first menstruation (menarche) occurs in girls at the age of 12-14 years, sometimes a little earlier or later. After the onset of menarche for 1-2 years, girls often experience a delay in the onset of menstruation and this is considered the norm, since in adolescence only the normal hormonal background of the body is set. If, after this time, there are still delays in menstruation, then this is already a reason to contact a gynecologist.

The menstrual cycle is the period of time from one menstruation to the next. Normally, these intervals should be the same. A new menstrual cycle should be counted from the first day of menstruation. Normally, its duration is 21-35 days. Most often - 28 days. If the menstrual cycle is lengthened for any reason, then this should be considered a delay in menstruation. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, there is a physiological increase in the hormone estrogen. There is an increase in the endometrium in the uterine cavity in order to "accept" a fertilized egg. At the same time, the maturation of the egg occurs in the ovary. Around the middle of the menstrual cycle, usually on day 12-14, a mature egg is released from the ovary. Ovulation occurs - the period when the onset of conception is possible. And in place of the egg, the so-called corpus luteum is formed, which is a derivative of progesterone. With a lack of progesterone, miscarriages often occur in early pregnancy. Fertilization of the egg occurs in the fallopian tube, the development of the fetus - in the uterus. If conception has occurred, then the cause of the delay in menstruation is the onset of pregnancy. If conception does not occur, then there is a drop in the level of progesterone and estrogen and the next menstruation occurs. Thus, we can conclude that the delay in menstruation, or rather its causes, most often lie in a violation of the hormonal background of the body (in the absence of pregnancy).

Delayed menstruation during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Fortunately, most often, the delay in menstruation is associated with the onset of pregnancy, and not with serious illnesses. The delay in menstruation is observed throughout the entire period of pregnancy. After childbirth, the reason for the delay in menstruation is an increased level of prolactin (the hormone responsible for lactation). If a woman is not breastfeeding, then the delay in menstruation will be minimal. Usually no more than 6-8 weeks. In the event that a woman is breastfeeding, a delay in menstruation can be observed throughout the entire lactation period, up to 2-3 years. But there are exceptions, when the delay in menstruation, even in a nursing woman, is no more than 1.5-2 months after childbirth. Each organism is individual.


Ovarian dysfunction. Is this the reason for the delay in menstruation?

Many doctors, when they hear that you often have a delay of 5 days or more, immediately diagnose “ovarian dysfunction”. Although, delayed menstruation and ovarian dysfunction are, one might say, synonymous. Ovarian dysfunction is a common condition seen in women with irregular menstrual cycles. But ovarian dysfunction itself can be caused by many reasons. Most often, these are pathologies of the endocrine system or diseases of the thyroid gland. Therefore, if there is a delay in menstruation, and the test is negative, then you should visit an endocrinologist and undergo the examinations recommended by him. Usually this is an ultrasound of the uterus, thyroid gland and adrenal glands, brain tomography.


Some gynecological causes of delayed menstruation.

A delay in menstruation can be caused not only by endocrine, but also by gynecological diseases. Pathologies such as uterine fibroids, inflammatory processes in the internal genital organs of a woman, adenomyosis, endometriosis, cancer of the cervix or uterine body, etc. can have a negative impact on ovarian function. Often delays in menstruation by 5-10 days with a negative pregnancy test are associated with inflammatory processes occurring in the ovaries themselves.


Polycystic ovary syndrome as a cause of delayed menstruation.

One of the most common diagnoses in women who often experience problems with missed periods is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This diagnosis is made on the basis of an external examination of a woman. That is, a woman suffering from this disease often has overweight, male pattern hair growth (hair growth above the lips, in the groin, on the legs, under the arms in excessive amounts), oily skin and hair. But even these signs can be argued. For example, many Eastern women who do not experience delays in menstruation have “excessive” hair growth. But this is their individual feature, not pathology. In addition to external signs, the main indicator of PCOS is an increase in the male hormone in the blood (testosterone). Due to its excess, a woman’s menstrual cycle is upset, but the worst thing is that this leads to infertility, since there is no ovulation with a high level of testosterone.

You should not be afraid of this. It's completely curable. In mild situations, the gynecologist may recommend taking a course of oral contraceptives (birth control pills). There are special oral contraceptives recommended for women with elevated testosterone levels. They help not only restore their hormonal levels, but also significantly improve their appearance and forget about delays in menstruation. The menstrual cycle, in most cases, becomes regular when taking oral contraceptives.

But if you do not have external signs of polycystic ovary syndrome, or there is no other symptom of them - a delay in menstruation and futile attempts to conceive a child for more than a year, then you should not "bother" much on this topic.

Other common causes of missed periods.

Often, a delay in menstruation with a negative pregnancy test is associated with deviations in body weight. In order to find out if your weight is normal, you need to calculate your BMI (body mass index). To do this, divide your body weight in kilograms by your height (in meters) squared. If the result is more than 25, then you are overweight, if less than 18, then you are underweight. If a monthly delay of 5 days, 10 days or more is associated precisely with weight, then after its normalization, the regularity of the menstrual cycle will also be restored.

Often, a delay in menstruation is observed in women engaged in physical work. The reason for the delay in menstruation in this case can be removed only by switching to an easier schedule or type of work.

Quite often, a delay in menstruation is observed in women who often experience nervous stress and are engaged in serious mental work. Delayed periods can occur when traveling to an area with a different climate, taking certain medications and even (in rare cases) oral contraceptives.


What threatens frequent delays in menstruation?

There is no danger in the very delay of menstruation. But the danger may lie in the reason that caused the failure of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, this situation should not be let out of control.

For example, if a delay in menstruation occurs due to an increase in the level of prolactin in the blood, and this, in turn, is associated with the formation of a microadenoma (tumor) in the brain, then this can lead to terrible consequences if treatment is not started on time.

The same applies to inflammatory diseases of the ovaries, uterine fibroids and other gynecological and endocrinological diseases.

Frequent delays in menstruation without the first signs of pregnancy may indicate serious disorders in the body. And if left untreated, it can even lead to infertility.

And, in the end, it is much easier for a woman who is sexually active to live with a regular menstrual cycle. When a delay in menstruation is detected, the first signs of pregnancy can be noticed in time. And in some diseases, early detection of pregnancy plays a huge role.

As you now understand, an irregular menstrual cycle is not some specific, serious disease. But you should still monitor the regularity of your menstruation. A delay in menstruation is almost always an indicator of some kind of trouble in the body.

- this is the absence of cyclic bleeding for more than 35 days in a woman of reproductive age who has not entered the menopause. There can be many reasons for such a violation of menstrual function, they are caused by physiological, organic and functional disorders.

As for the age at which the delay is observed, it can be different, starting from the period of puberty of the girl and ending with the period of premenopause. Statistics indicate that 100% of women have faced this problem at least once in their lives.

What are the reasons for delayed menstruation?

Naturally, the most common reason that the next menstrual cycle does not start on time is pregnancy. In addition, a woman's taste sensations change, morning sickness can be observed, and even painful sensations appear in the mammary glands. All these signs are associated with a change in the hormonal background in a woman's body after conception.

However, pregnancy is an obvious reason for the onset of a delay and it is not difficult to determine it using a special test.

If the result is negative, then other reasons should be considered, including:

    Increased emotional stress, for example, strong, study load before exams. Do not underestimate the impact of stress on a woman's body. It can cause serious malfunctions in the areas of the brain that are responsible for hormonal regulation. Under severe stress, menstruation can stop even for several years.

    Increased physical stress associated, for example, with increased sports training or difficult working conditions.

    Professional heavy sports.

    Refusal to take hormonal contraceptives. This delay is due to the fact that the functionality of the ovaries is reduced against the background of a long supply of hormones from the outside. A deviation from the norm in this case is the absence of more than 2-3 cycles.

    Taking drugs with a high content of hormones, which are used as methods of emergency contraception. For example, such means as Postinora, Escapeli, etc.

    Violations of the maturation of the follicle, which is expressed in its atresia or persistence.

    The period after childbirth, when the delay is due to hormonal changes due to the onset. The body in excess begins to produce prolactin, which contributes to the suppression of the functionality of the ovaries. A woman needs to know that if the baby does not receive a breast, then menstruation should begin after two months. If the mother feeds the child, then menstruation should be restored after the cessation of lactation.

    Viral infections, for example, SARS and.

    Exacerbation of chronic diseases:,. In addition, functional impairments, etc., may have an impact.

    Taking medicines. Antidepressants, corticosteroids, chemotherapy for oncological diseases can have an effect.

    Digestive disorders, which may be due to strict diets, diseases, overeating, metabolic failures, etc.

    Abortion. In this case, either hormonal disorders or mechanical damage lead to a delay.

    Ectopic or missed pregnancy. Both cases require immediate surgical intervention.

    Miscarriage in the early stages after conception.

    Marked weight loss. A disease such as anorexia can lead to a complete shutdown of the functionality of the ovaries.

    Alcohol abuse, drug use. Often, a delay in menstruation can occur in women who prefer beer to all alcoholic beverages.

    Hypothermia of the body, as well as its overheating, can provoke a delay in the next cycle.

    An increase in the level of prolactin in the blood, which can become a symptom of a brain tumor.

Reasons for delaying menstruation by 2-3-4-5 days


Failure in the menstrual cycle for a short period of time - up to 5 days or less, is considered the norm. However, if after this time the menstruation has not resumed, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

There may be several reasons for such a short delay, and most often they are explained by natural physiological processes occurring in the body. So, in the puberty period, when the formation of the cycle is still taking place, such breaks are not any deviation from the norm. Temporal fluctuations with delays of up to 5 or even 7 days can be observed for 1.5-2 years. After that, the menstrual schedule should return to normal. If this does not happen, then you should seek the advice of a doctor.

In addition, such a delay is a frequent companion of the premenopausal period, when there is a progressive slowdown in menstrual function. The rhythms of a woman's body change, as well as the timing of each cycle. At this time, delays in menstruation can be replaced by their complete absence.

Sometimes such time delays can also occur in women of childbearing age. Most often, women themselves are able to determine the reason for such a short delay - this is the onset of pregnancy, breastfeeding, refusal to take oral contraceptives, acclimatization and other natural physiological reasons. But if such violations become regular, then this indicates pathological processes occurring in the body and a doctor's consultation is necessary in this case.

According to doctors, a short single delay in menstruation for up to five days is a physiological norm and most often does not require special treatment. However, no one knows her body better than the woman herself. Therefore, if there is reason to be concerned about a delay of even a few days, then you should not put off going to the doctor.

Causes of a delay in menstruation for 10-15 days or more, the test is negative

Prolonged absence of the menstrual cycle is a delay of 10-15 days or more. If the pregnancy test did not give a positive result, then it makes sense to start worrying about your own health. Most often, such a prolonged absence of menstruation indicates the presence of any disorders in the body. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the cause of the delay and prescribe treatment.

Of course, the cycle can recover on its own if the delay was caused by stress or acclimatization.

But, if this does not happen, and the delay is 15 or more days, then this may be due to the following reasons:

    Oligomenorrhea, which is characterized by a weakening of menstruation. They are becoming not only scarce, but also rare. The interval can be from 15 days to six months. This pathology occurs in about 3% of women.

    Polycystic ovary syndrome, when multiple cystic formations begin to grow inside and outside them. It occurs in both young girls and older women.

    Endometriosis can delay the menstrual cycle.

    Alimentary causes caused by imbalance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, lack of vitamins, microelements supplied with food.

    Any major life change. Delays may appear against the background of the fact that adaptive and adaptive mechanisms work much worse with age. Even a short trip to the sea can have an effect.

    Taking medications, the number of which increases significantly as a woman ages. Any drug can provoke a delay, but most often at this age it is observed while taking antipsychotropic drugs, drugs to get rid of endometriosis - Zoladex, Diferelin, Buserelin, and also due to the use of Duphaston, Lanazol, Methyldopa, etc.

    Any diseases of the reproductive system, for example, polycystic ovaries, benign and malignant tumors, vaginal colpitis, etc.

Given these factors, a woman should seek the advice of a specialist if the delays become regular and exceed the physically acceptable limits of 5 days.

What are the dangers of constant delays in menstruation?


If a single delay in menstruation within physiologically acceptable limits is not a threat to a woman's health, then regular failures are fraught with danger. It lies in the fact that the cause that caused the delay will not be diagnosed and eliminated in time.

It is important to seek medical help for frequent cycle disorders, as:

    The delay may be caused by the growth of a microadenoma, a malignant brain tumor. Cycle disorders are caused by an increase in the level of prolactin in the blood.

    Inflammation of the uterus and appendages can cause not only delays, but also lead to anovular infertility, the formation of a purulent process, pelvic thrombophlebitis, parametritis. In addition, depletion of the follicular apparatus due to regular delays due to inflammation of the appendages often leads to an early menopause, at the age of 35 and younger.

    Any neglected female diseases threaten the development of complete infertility, and they can begin with the usual delays in menstruation.

    Polystosis of the ovaries, often manifested in delayed menstruation, can lead to the development of gestational diabetes, obesity and. As a result, the entire cardiovascular system suffers, up to blockage of the veins, heart attack and.

    Any hormonal disruptions not only disrupt a woman's well-being, but also cause miscarriages, uterine fibroids, are fraught with development, diabetes, and malignant cancerous tumors. In addition, in addition to delaying menstruation, hormonal disorders significantly worsen a woman’s quality of life (mammary glands appear, sleep is disturbed, sweating increases, etc.) and lead to changes in her appearance (obesity or thinness, underdevelopment of the mammary glands, increased hair growth on body, oily skin, etc.).

    Early menopause leads to premature aging of the skin, weakening of the body's immune forces, the development of atherosclerosis, premature extinction of reproductive function, an increased risk of developing diabetes, etc.

Due to the fact that regular violations of the menstrual cycle can cause serious health problems, women must definitely consult a gynecologist and other necessary examinations to determine the cause of the failure.

Popular questions and answers:


Can thrush cause missed periods?

Many women often trace the relationship between thrush or vaginal candidiasis and a delay in the menstrual cycle. However, the disease itself cannot cause the untimely onset of menstruation, although such phenomena often coincide.

The reason lies in the fact that thrush is often the result of stress, increased emotional stress, as well as many diseases of the body. A severe cold or an exacerbation of a chronic illness can cause both a delay in menstruation.

That is why the combination of these two pathological conditions for the female body is so often observed. But the thrush itself cannot unequivocally become the cause of the untimely onset of the cycle. However, a visit to the doctor in such situations is mandatory.

Can cystitis cause a delay in menstruation?

This question is quite relevant, since after suffering from cystitis, women often observe a delay in menstruation. This is due to the fact that cystitis provokes the development of inflammation in the pelvis and often becomes chronic. Naturally, all adjacent organs suffer: ovaries, tubes, uterus. As a result, their functionality is impaired and a woman experiences a delay after an illness.

In addition, ovarian dysfunction can have a direct impact on development, because it is known for certain that estrogen levels affect the functionality of the bladder. The lower the level of the hormone, the thinner its wall becomes, which means that it is more susceptible to various infections. As a result, due to hormonal disorders, a woman develops cystitis, the manifestations of which are difficult not to notice.

After treatment, there is a delay, which the woman associates with the disease, although in fact its cause, like the cause of cystitis, was a violation of hormone production. So, after an illness, a delay may occur, it can be caused by both chronic cystitis and a violation of hormone production.

Can a cyst cause a delay in menstruation?

The answer is definitely positive. The fact is that with cysts that form on the ovaries, a wide variety of violations of the menstrual cycle can occur, including its delay.

Especially often this situation is observed in young girls when they develop functional cysts of the corpus luteum, follicle, etc. Most often, a delay is observed even before the cyst itself is formed. That is, the delay precedes the cyst, disrupting the process of the menstrual cycle and contributing to its formation. Therefore, doctors often predict cystic growth after the appearance of such disorders.

As for the delay, as a rule, they do not exceed one week. Similar phenomena can be observed from month to month until the cyst is diagnosed and its treatment begins.

What to do if there is a delay in menstruation?


If there are regularly repeated delays in menstruation or the delay exceeds the maximum allowable physiological limits of five days, then you should consult a doctor. After finding out the reasons, the woman will be prescribed appropriate treatment. Most often, therapy is carried out with the use of hormonal pills. However, in no case should they be taken on their own, without medical advice. This is extremely dangerous for a woman's health and can disrupt the entire hormonal system, which means it can lead to serious health problems.

Among the most common hormonal drugs, doctors prescribe the following:

    Postinor. It is a drug used for emergency contraception. This remedy is used if it is necessary to induce the menstrual cycle as soon as possible. However, it is recommended only for regular menstruation, since its use can provoke cycle disorders, and if used very often, lead to infertility.

    Duphaston. They are used if the delay in the menstrual cycle is caused by insufficient levels of progesterone in the body. Only a doctor should adjust the dose, based on the studies. If there is no pregnancy, and the delay does not exceed 7 days, then postinor is prescribed for a period of 5 days. After this time, menstruation should begin two or three days later.

    Mifepristone can be used to induce menstruation early in pregnancy up to 42 days. However, it should never be used if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected. reception should be carried out under the supervision of a physician, since the indiscriminate use of mifepristone leads to a violation of the hormonal background.

    Pulsatilla. Another hormonal drug that can be prescribed for delayed menstruation. This is the safest remedy that does not lead to weight gain, does not affect the nervous system. However, it should not be taken by girls who have an irregular cycle.

    Non-ovlon, a drug that stimulates the onset of the menstrual cycle, is able to prevent acyclic bleeding. It contains estrogen and progestin. Most often, with a delay, two tablets are prescribed after 12 hours. However, before using it, a mandatory consultation with a specialist, since the drug has side effects and can disrupt the functioning of the reproductive organs.

    Progesterone is an injectable hormone. It is used to call menstruation, the selection of the dosage is carried out strictly individually. Increased intake of progesterone in the body can cause a lot of side effects, including excessive hair growth, weight gain, menstrual irregularities. Never more than 10 injections. The effect is based on stimulating the work of the glands located in the mucous membrane of the uterus. The tool has a number of contraindications, including: liver failure, breast tumors, etc.

    Norkolut, causes menstruation, as it contains norethisterone, which in its action is similar to the action of gestagens. And their lack often provokes failures in cycles and their delay. The course of treatment should not exceed five days, it is not used during pregnancy, as it threatens with miscarriage and bleeding. It has a large number of contraindications and side effects, so a preliminary consultation with a doctor is necessary.

    Utrozhestan. It is a means of suppressing estrogen and stimulating the production of progesterone, which determines its therapeutic effect. In addition, there is a stimulating effect on the development of the endometrium. The drug can be administered vaginally, which is its undoubted advantage, however, this remedy also has some contraindications.

Naturally, the use of hormonal drugs to induce menstruation is not a safe method. They must be taken correctly, as they can cause irreparable harm to health.

It should be understood that any intervention in the hormonal background must be justified. Each medicine is selected strictly individually and subject to clear medical recommendations. Only in this way can you preserve your own health and avoid negative consequences. But long delays should not be ignored either. Therefore, the most correct decision will be a trip to the doctor and the passage of reasonable and adequate therapy.


Education: Diploma "Obstetrics and Gynecology" received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Health and Social Development (2010). In 2013, she completed her postgraduate studies at the NMU. N. I. Pirogov.