The Reason of Menstrual Delays – What to Do in Menstrual Delay
What is Menstrual Delay?
Every woman without any health problems has a menstrual cycle (menstrual period) for 21 to 35 days, or an average of 28 days a day. Deviations outside of this cycle (minimum 7 days) are called menstrual delay.
A menstrual period lasts about 2 to 7 days. The harmony of hormones in the body is the most important factor that shapes the regularity of the menstrual period.
With the conception of the person, the menstrual bleeding also stops and the cessation of bleeding for 7 days or longer is defined as menstrual delay.
While irregularities experienced 2-3 times a year can be considered normal, in case of more than 3 cases, it is recommended to consult your physician and investigate the reasons.
Reasons
What are the Causes of Menstrual Delay?
There are many different reasons that can cause a delay in menstruation. We can list the most known ones as follows:
Pregnancy: It is one of the reasons that cause menstrual delay. Women who have an unprotectedly active sexual life may experience menstrual delay due to pregnancy.
Intense Exercise Programs: If you increase your exercises and still reduce the amount of calories you consume daily, you may face the problem of menstrual delay.
Chronic Diseases: Chronic diseases that last more than a year or have a lifelong effect on menstrual irregularities are also directly effective.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Excessive production of male hormones by the cysts on the eggs may cause menstrual delay. While the excess of male hormone causes the cysts to increase, cysts trigger male hormones and this vicious cycle continues. The treatment for this is through medication.
Weight Loss or Excessive Weight Gain: If your weight is below 10% of your normal weight, the working principle of your body changes and this affects the ovulation negatively. Women who are overweight and even obese, the problem of menstrual delay also arises. Excess weight causes hormonal changes and this triggers menstrual delay.
Breastfeeding, Postpartum Period: During the breastfeeding and postpartum period, the person may not have menstruation or experience various menstrual delays. With the conclusion of the breastfeeding period, the person’s menstrual cycle returns to its normal order.
Birth Control Drugs: Women who use birth control pills often face menstrual irregularities. It may take up to 6 months for the menstrual irregularity to recover after the medications taken at regular intervals are discontinued.
Stress Factor: The hypothalamus region of the brain regulates the menstrual period. Situations experienced during the stress period affect the brain and cause menstrual delay.
Thyroid Disorders (Goiter): The person’s Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism can also cause a delayed menstrual effect.
Early Menopause: Menopause usually occurs in women between the ages of 45-55. At the age of 40 and even earlier, the number of peri-menopausal eggs decreases, causing menstrual irregularity.
The most common cause of menstrual delays is pregnancy. The unexpected changes in a woman’s daily life or the factors during the transition of the seasons can be counted among the causes of menstrual delay. Major traumas and surgeries create stress for the patient both psychologically and hormonally. Therefore, menstrual delay is very common in the first stages after surgery.
What are the Symptoms of Menstrual Delay?
Having intense abdominal and back pain
You have the potential to become pregnant
A home pregnancy test showing that you are pregnant
Missing two regular periods and not knowing the underlying cause.
Not seeing your period until the age of 16
Until the age of 14, your breasts do not grow or your pubic hair does not develop.
