How many days can a woman have a delay in her period: what is considered normal and abnormal during a regular cycle?

When menstruation does not come during the next cycle, women most often suspect pregnancy. But there are times when the test is negative, but the regulations still do not begin. Why don't my periods come? The reason can be found out from a gynecologist who will conduct a medical examination and prescribe tests. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice other strange symptoms. This will help establish the correct diagnosis.

Menstrual cycle in a woman

To understand why a delay in menstruation occurs and how long it can be, you need to understand the characteristics of a woman’s menstrual cycle and know its duration. A cycle of 28 days is considered normal, but it can last from 21 to 35 days. If your cycle is irregular, the length of time between periods varies each month.

The beginning of the menstrual cycle is considered to be the first day of menstruation. Bleeding can last 3-7 days, and the duration of phase I (follicular), during which follicles mature in the ovaries, averages 11-14 days. Having reached maturity, the largest follicle ruptures under the influence of the release of hormones, the mature egg is released and begins to move towards the uterine cavity. Under the influence of estrogen and progesterone, the uterine epithelium changes structure for possible implantation of the zygote.

In the absence of fertilization, the female reproductive cell dies. On average, after 14 days, the endometrial layer of the uterus is shed, and a new menstruation begins.

Cycle calculation

Normally, the cycle length is 21-37 days. As a rule, for most girls it is 28 days. The duration of menstruation itself is approximately three to seven days. If you have missed your period for two or three days, no treatment is required. Since such a phenomenon is not a pathology. But if menstruation does not occur even seven days after the required period, then you need to consult a doctor.

How to calculate the cycle? The period of time between the first day of your period and the first day of your next period is the length of your cycle. In order not to make mistakes in the calculations, it is better to use a calendar on which to mark the beginning and end of menstruation.

Reasons for missed periods

It is believed that a common cause of delay is pregnancy, but the regularity of menstruation is also affected by diseases of the reproductive system, inflammatory processes, and changes in the balance of hormones. The following may also cause a delay:

• colds, sore throat, flu before menstruation;
• climate change;
• taking antibiotics, emergency contraception, discontinuing OCs;
• unbalanced and dietary nutrition;
• physical activity, overwork;
• first sexual intercourse.

Gynecological diseases

Diseases of the reproductive system affect the normal functioning of its organs, which manifests itself in a change in the duration of the cycle (acceptable delay is 7-10 days).

The main diseases that cause delay:

• Endometritis is inflammation of the lining of the uterus. In this case, the delay is long - more than 1-2 months.
• Cervicitis is inflammation of the cervix as a result of bacterial penetration. In the absence of therapy, inflammation spreads to the uterus and appendages.
• Myoma is a benign neoplasm in the uterus. The cycle may increase or decrease.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome – formation of cysts. Menstruation may be absent for more than a month.
• Endometriosis is the proliferation of cells in the inner layer of the uterus, accompanied by inflammation of surrounding tissues and pain. If left untreated, it leads to infertility.
• Salpingoophoritis is inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It leads to disruption of the integrity of the epithelium of the fallopian tubes, as a result of which they become fused with the ovaries.

Diseases associated with hormonal imbalance

Regular cycles are directly influenced by hormones. If a hormonal imbalance occurs, the rhythm of the process is disrupted. Experts identify the following diseases that disrupt hormone synthesis:

• Hypothyroidism. The production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine is reduced, which stops the synthesis of sex hormones and, as a result, leads to ovarian dysfunction and infertility.
• Adenoma. Tumor in the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, mammary gland. Accompanied by rapid weight gain, as a result of which hormonal levels change.

Also, the cause of delayed menstruation can be:

• Ovarian dysfunction. They stop producing female hormones in the required volume.
• Hyperprolactinemia. A syndrome characterized by increased production of prolactin, which impairs ovarian function and can lead to infertility.

Puberty and climacteric syndrome

During puberty, delays are allowed and considered normal. Disruptions occur in the menstrual cycle due to unstable hormonal levels. The first periods begin in girls aged 12-14 years. In the first 1-2 years, periods are irregular. Over time, the balance of hormones is restored, and the cycle returns to normal. If the cycle is not established over a long period, you should visit a gynecologist to be examined for possible pathologies.

With age, the reserves of follicles in the ovaries are depleted, they work more slowly, so ovulation occurs later or is absent. This period is called menopausal syndrome. This happens at the age of 45-50 years.

Women who lead an unhealthy lifestyle or live in unfavorable environmental conditions may experience menopause earlier. The early stage of menopause is characterized by constant delays of at least a week in menstruation.

Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum period and lactation

During pregnancy, the level of the hormone progesterone increases, which changes the structure of the endometrial epithelium and cervical mucus, so menstruation cannot occur. How long can there be a delay to determine pregnancy? HCG begins to be produced in the first hours after fertilization of the egg. However, the concentration in urine required to determine conception is achieved only after a week's delay.

If the fetus is implanted outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy), there may also be a delay. In this case, it is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding at any time of the cycle, nausea and general weakness.

After childbirth, the body takes a long time to recover. The first menstruation usually begins 1-2 months after the birth process, provided that the woman is not breastfeeding. During lactation, the hormone prolactin is produced, which suppresses the functioning of the ovaries.

After an abortion of any kind and miscarriage, the delay can last up to 43 days. It all depends on the speed of restoration of the uterine mucosa and the restructuring of hormonal levels.

Stressful situations in a woman's life

Severe nervous tension leads to disruption of the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex, which regulate sexual function. Until the woman’s nervous system recovers, there will be delays.

The body can experience stress not only due to psychological factors. This condition can be caused by sudden changes in diet, climatic conditions, and level of physical activity.

Possible reasons

As already noted, if menstruation is delayed longer than the permissible period, then it is necessary to undergo examination. Now it’s worth taking a closer look at the reasons for this cycle disruption:

1. Lack of ovulation. This can occur during an anovulatory cycle, when the functioning of the ovaries is impaired. For example, due to polycystic disease, in which several follicles begin to mature at once, but none of them eventually ovulate.
2. Hormonal imbalance, which often occurs when taking birth control pills. If oral contraceptives are chosen correctly, the cycle will be restored very quickly. When stopping the pills, menstruation may not begin for a long time or may be significantly delayed , and the cycle will not be restored the longer the longer the pills have been taken. It takes time for the reproductive system to begin producing hormones again in the quantities necessary for the process of ovulation and endometrial growth.
3. Inflammation of the ovaries, adnexitis. These diseases suppress ovulation and disrupt the functioning of the reproductive system as a whole.
4. Gynecological diseases. These include endometritis, endometriosis, uterine polyps and fibroids, malignant tumors, as well as sexually transmitted diseases.

A regular menstrual period, like a litmus test, reflects a woman’s reproductive health, therefore one cannot ignore the body’s signals and wait for the cycle to recover, especially with long delays. After all, the cause may be pathology, and the sooner treatment is started, the more likely a quick and positive result is.

Acceptable periods of delayed menstruation

The norm for a woman to miss her period is 2-3 days. If such deviations are not observed every month, this should not be a concern. The specified interval is considered a normal situation, since the delay is caused by natural factors. When your period is delayed by 5-7 days, it’s also not scary if it happens once.

It is imperative to inform the doctor when the delay is maximum (that is, exceeds the specified period), and the woman is not pregnant, or the situation occurs monthly. How long can a period be delayed without pregnancy by day? It all depends on the factors that influenced the appearance of the deviation:

• Up to 3 days. Associated with temperature changes, stress, stress, disruption of daily routine, diet, etc.
• Within 5 days. It is normal if a woman had a viral disease, as a result of which she took antibiotics.
• Up to a week. This is the maximum for natural delay. You need to visit a gynecologist if your period is late in more than one cycle. Sometimes it is enough to cure current illnesses (flu, ARVI, etc.).
• 10 days. It is necessary to undergo an examination and have an ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
• The longest is up to a month. If there is no pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo examination by a gynecologist and consult an endocrinologist. The treatment regimen will depend on the identified diseases.

Reasons for delayed menstruation without pregnancy: harmless and dangerous to health

The woman’s further actions will depend on how many days the delay in menstruation continues. If this period was a week or less, then you should reconsider your lifestyle. The fact is that the body reacts to physical and mental stress by activating protective systems.

This happens in order to prevent pregnancy in unfavorable conditions for the body. And protection is manifested in the absence of menstruation, even in the case when there is no pregnancy.

A short delay in critical days can be caused by the following reasons:

• diets or hunger strikes, unhealthy diet;
• sleep problems;
• hard physical labor;
• chronic fatigue;
• obesity or rapid weight loss in a short period of time;
• infectious pathologies or chronic diseases;
• sudden climate change;
• long-term use of strong medications.

As medical practice shows, most often a delay without pregnancy of 3, 5 or 7 days appears due to stress, which has already become the norm for a modern woman.

If there is a delay of more than a week, you must go to the hospital, where the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis. The causes of this condition may be inflammatory processes, pathologies of the genital organs, or polycystic ovary syndrome. As a result of hormonal imbalance, there is a high probability of developing an ovarian corpus luteum cyst.

Diagnostic methods

To identify possible factors that led to the absence of menstruation, the gynecologist first conducts a survey. The doctor will help determine how many days menstruation may be delayed in a particular case, and will tell you what the longest delay may be. When the delay is long and repeated regularly, additional diagnostic methods are prescribed:

• blood test to determine hormone levels;
• Ultrasound – to detect the presence of pathologies in the ovaries, uterus;
• CT and MRI – to diagnose the condition of the pituitary gland, the presence of tumors in the ovaries.

If pathologies that are not related to the reproductive system are detected, the woman will be referred to an appropriate specialist (endocrinologist, nutritionist, psychologist, etc.).

Treatment

First of all, the disease that led to the failure of the monthly cycle is treated. As preventive measures, doctors usually recommend to patients:

• Healthy food;
• eat foods rich in iron and protein three to four times a week;
• sleep at least eight hours a day;
• quit smoking and other bad habits;
• take vitamins.

When teenage girls experience problems with their cycles, doctors often use vitamin therapy. The patient is prescribed to take ascorbic and folic acid.

For anemia, women are prescribed iron supplements.

If, in addition to the fact that a girl’s cycle is disrupted, she is diagnosed with infertility, then drugs such as Pergonal and Choriogonin are prescribed to stimulate the development of follicles.

When a patient has severe bleeding, but a bleeding disorder has been ruled out, doctors may prescribe hemostatic drugs. ε-aminocaproic acid is also prescribed.

Even with heavy bleeding, plasma infusion is performed. Sometimes even an infusion of donor blood is practiced.

The last resort for severe bleeding is surgery.

Hormonal drugs and antibiotics are also prescribed.

What to do if your period is late?

If delays in menstruation have become the norm, you must first get rid of the influence of various negative factors. Usually it is enough to follow a daily routine, watch your diet, lose weight, not worry about every issue, and avoid excessive stress. If the cause of the disorder is fatigue and nervous exhaustion, you should learn to relax, take relaxation courses, and visit a psychologist.

If you have viral diseases, you should consult your doctor and take prescribed antiviral drugs in accordance with the treatment regimen. If the problem is hormonal imbalance, a course of hormonal therapy is required.

The treatment regimen and duration of treatment for diseases of the female reproductive system depend on the type of disease. Hormone replacement therapy, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed. In some cases, surgical intervention is necessary, for example, in the presence of neoplasms.

There are folk remedies to stimulate menstruation and normalize the cycle. However, they must be used carefully, not forgetting the possible consequences if the cause of the delay is pathology. At home you can use:

• fresh viburnum berries, cranberries, rosehip or nettle infusion - replenish vitamin deficiencies;
• infusion of valerian root - will help if the cause is stress;
• a decoction of elecampane, parsley, wormwood - these products are contraindicated for pregnant women, so before use you need to make sure there is no pregnancy;
• black cumin oil – normalizes the production of female hormones;
• vegetable oils – antiseptics, regulate metabolism;
• ascorbic acid – for the synthesis of hormones.

Adolescence and weight problems

Why was there a delay in menstruation or a cycle failure? There can be many reasons. During adolescence, the cycle often fails. This problem is quite common among girls. Since their hormonal levels are just beginning to be established. If more than two years have passed since your first menstruation, and the problems continue, then you should definitely go to a gynecologist.

Another reason for the failure of menstruation is severe weight loss (or, conversely, obesity). The body perceives fasting and extreme dieting as a sign that hard times have come. Therefore, it turns on natural defenses, resulting in a delay in menstruation. Rapid weight gain also negatively affects the body. As a result, the cycle may be disrupted.

Reasons for a delay in menstruation for a period of 3, 4, 5 and up to 6, 7 days

If such a situation occurs when the delay of menstruation does not go away for 3, 4, 5 days, when menstruation still does not begin after 5 days, and panting in the lower abdomen, pain in the lower abdomen, habitual discomfort, changes in mood and other symptoms of PMS do not go away , then many women begin to worry about their health. Every woman should know that a non-special delay in menstruation, the onset of menstruation, the appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina for 5, 6, 7 days or a delay in menstruation for 1 week can be caused by such health problems as: climate change, a consequence of surgery, excessive physical activity. stress, severe negative emotional shock, experienced severe stress or shock, a consequence of taking certain medications and medications. Also, the reasons for the delay of menstruation before the onset of PMS symptoms can be a woman’s excess weight, and problems can also occur in those women whose weight is insufficient, for example, if they are excessively thin. If scarlet discharge appears during menstruation, then you can read more about this problem in the article: scarlet blood during menstruation, menstruation, causes of scarlet discharge, scarlet blood.

Failure of the monthly cycle. Possible complications

Remember that your health depends only on you! Therefore, you should not take lightly the fact that disturbances in the monthly cycle occur. Since such problems can lead to infertility. Frequent intermenstrual bleeding causes disability and fatigue.

Late detection of the pathology that caused the failure of menstruation can lead to very serious problems and death. Although this could have been avoided if he had consulted a doctor in time. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a qualified physician.

Female physiology

When a girl begins puberty, she menstruates every year/month. The year of puberty begins differently for all girls and depends on the conditions to which the body is exposed.

For many, the year of the beginning of menstruation falls at the age of 10, for some the year falls at the age of 15 - it’s all individual.

From the first day of the month, menstruation becomes for a woman part of the physiological processes that should occur every month. Menstruation occurs regularly, every month until menopause begins or until the woman becomes pregnant.

If pregnant, she will not have periods for the entire 9 months of pregnancy and for some time after giving birth. There will be discharge after childbirth, but it is called postpartum lochia and lasts a week, or even a month.

Of course, the regularity of menstruation every month/year directly depends on many factors (external and internal).

If menstruation does not last for a long time, then, of course, a woman should pay attention to the reasons that could provoke a delay. The hormonal background is very sensitive, it is responsible for the onset of menstruation every year/month.

Diagnostics

At the first visit and contact the doctor, the woman’s complaints are examined. To identify the main cause of the condition, when menstruation regularly interrupts and starts again, a specialist analyzes all the symptoms. In addition to the atypical course of menstruation and cycle irregularities, women often complain of surges in blood pressure, inability to conceive, sudden weight loss or, conversely, weight gain, weakness, and increased fatigue.

Diagnosis requires examination of the external genitalia. If necessary, an ultrasound is performed to identify abnormal locations and developmental defects. In addition, an ultrasound examination makes it possible to determine the condition of the endometrium, follicular apparatus, and uterus.

To determine the cause and find out why menstruation occurs at intervals, a woman must undergo tests. The diagnosis is confirmed after the doctor has a complete set of results and conclusions of all studies performed.

What to do if there is a delay?

Since the norm for a healthy woman to miss her period does not exceed 5 - 7 days, you can safely wait.
If after 7 days your period has not started, you need to run to the pharmacy for a test. Next, regardless of the test result, you need to contact a gynecologist: either to confirm pregnancy or to identify the reasons for such a long delay. Depending on the results of the diagnostics and tests, the doctor will prescribe treatment or vitamin preparations to restore the body. In many cases, the delay occurs due to overwork and stress. Here the only cure is proper rest and sleep.

What affects the course of menstruation

The menstrual cycle in women is a clear and well-functioning mechanism, but it can also fail. Only in some cases is a delay in menstruation considered normal, and in others a pathology.

And in general, is there a norm for delaying menstruation and how many days is it?

So, let's figure out what situation should alert you and how many days of delay is considered normal.

The work of the ovaries is controlled by the main hormonal gland of the body - the pituitary gland. Under the influence of various factors, it can adjust the functioning of a woman’s reproductive system in order to adapt to emerging conditions. The following points may affect the course of menstruation:

• Nervous overstrain. Stress, overwork, job changes, conflicts - all this affects the functioning of a woman’s endocrine system. It begins to malfunction, causing deviations from the schedule of the arrival of menstruation and their pathological course. In this case, the norm for delaying menstruation is no more than a week.
• Climate change. A woman’s body finds itself in a new living environment, to which it needs to adapt. A delay in menstruation within normal limits will not in this case be a signal of any serious pathology. The pituitary gland sends appropriate signals to the hormonal system, which can cause a delay in periodic bleeding. This is especially true if you find yourself in extreme living conditions. Normally, the delay in menstruation is no more than a week.
• Poor quality and irregular nutrition. Fatty, carcinogenic foods, snacks on the go, etc. – all this contributes to disruption of the digestive system and the body as a whole. Low-quality food and overeating can increase the load on the body and provoke disruptions in the course of menstruation or their absence altogether.
• Bad habits. Smoking, drinking alcohol and tonic drinks have a slow destructive effect on a woman’s body. Provoking not only pathologies of the reproductive organs, but also a deterioration in a woman’s appearance.

Smoking and alcohol negatively affect the cycle

• Taking medications. Regular use of hormonal drugs, antibiotics and other drugs can disrupt a stable cycle and lead not only to a delay in menstruation, but also to the occurrence of pathological processes in a woman’s body. A normal period delay will be no more than 5 days.
• Colds and flu. Colds can lead to the development of chronic diseases of the endocrine system and negatively affect reproductive function. However, as practice shows, such cases are quite rare.

Disruptions in the menstrual cycle provoke the following diseases:

1. Inflammation of the reproductive organs. This may include inflammation of the uterus, ovaries, and appendages. Typically, these disorders are accompanied by significant pain and profuse bleeding.
2. Oncology. Oncological processes provoke not only a delay in menstruation, but also a change in the amount of blood released and its consistency. Also, one of the main signs of the presence of oncology in the reproductive organs is intermenstrual bleeding.
3. Cystic process. Most often, cysts form in the ovaries due to failures in the process of follicle maturation and the formation of the corpus luteum. In this case, not only delays may occur, but periods may also appear earlier than expected.
4. Ectopic pregnancy. This is a dangerous condition for any woman, threatening not only her ability to have children, but her life itself. It is often accompanied by increasing pain, so if such symptoms appear, you should immediately visit a specialist.
5. Obesity or excessive thinness. Such transformations with a woman’s body arise against the background of psychological problems. Severe obesity, as well as extreme thinness, can have a negative impact on the functioning of the reproductive organs and cause not only a delay in menstruation, but also their complete absence.

There are many factors that lead to a delay in the menstrual cycle. Each case requires different therapy to restore the body.

1. Ovarian dysfunction.

This reason is the most common. This is what many gynecologists point to. However, it must be taken into account that dysfunction is an irregular cycle. The doctor only establishes the fact, and the reasons themselves that cause dysfunction may be different.

1. Physical activity and constant stress.

Constant nervous tension and stress are one of the most common reasons that cause a delay in regulation. Exams, scandals in the family, heavy workloads, overwork, a difficult atmosphere at work - all this has a bad effect on the female body. As a result, the body believes that it is impossible to give birth under such conditions, so it stops menstruation.

The cycle will return to its previous level when the psychological atmosphere improves and the woman is not so worried. It is recommended to consult a psychologist and take sedatives. You definitely need to be calm and happy. By the way, physical activity causes the same effect. Of course, playing sports is very useful, but there is no need to work hard in the gym.

1. Changing of the climate.

Changing climate conditions also lead to delays. This happens when a woman goes on vacation or a business trip at a long distance from home. Climate change causes stress on the body as it is accustomed to different conditions. If a woman stays in the sun for a long time, then the regulation may also be delayed. Frequent visits to the solarium cause the same effect. Ultraviolet radiation is very dangerous for the skin.

1. Excess weight or lack thereof.

The vicious circle is excess weight and hormonal changes. All this can lead to irregular menstruation. Not only extra pounds can cause this effect, but also their lack. So, you definitely need to monitor your body weight and not lose too much weight. If the weight of an adult woman drops below 45 kg, then the body will consider that these are unfavorable conditions for conception and birth of a child, since the woman will not be able to bear it, and the body begins to change the cycle.

1. Intoxication.

Very often, poisoning or intoxication causes such an adverse effect. All harmful substances will have a bad effect on the reproductive system, so you need to be careful about what medications you take and what foods you eat.

How many days a period can be delayed due to gynecological reasons, no doctor can answer, since for each woman this period will pass differently.

Diagnosis of menstrual cycle disorders

Diagnosis of menstrual cycle disorders consists of the following stages:

• interviewing the patient;
• gynecological examination;
• taking all smears;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity or pelvis;
• determination of hormone levels in the blood;
• MRI (detailed examination of the patient for the presence of pathological changes in tissues and neoplasms);
• hysteroscopy;
• urine and blood tests.

The combination of these methods makes it possible to identify the reasons that caused the monthly cycle to go wrong and eliminate them.

Pregnancy and childbirth

The most common, natural and safe cause of delay is, of course, conception.
As you know, none of the existing contraceptives and methods of protection provides a 100% guarantee, so you should never dismiss this option. In addition to a delay in menstruation, some other indirect signs may also indicate pregnancy: changes in sensitivity and “swelling” of the breasts, changes in basal temperature, irritability, nausea, etc. Although these signs may not be present. After childbirth, a woman’s body needs time to recover and prepare for a new cycle. The standard rate of missed periods after childbirth depends on the feeding period. During lactation, the body produces the hormone prolactin, which suppresses the functioning of the ovaries. After weaning the baby, menstruation should return within 1 to 2 months.

After termination of pregnancy, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, delays are also possible, which can last from several days to several weeks. Therefore, after such drastic changes in a woman’s body, constant monitoring by a gynecologist is necessary until the cycle is completely restored.

Non-gynecological reasons for the suspension of menstruation

Very often, a delay in menstruation is caused not only by pregnancy or gynecological diseases, but also by various hidden processes in the body. How long can your period last in this case? Everything happens differently for each person, and the delay in regulation will also be different.

1. Non-gynecological diseases.

The function of regulating the menstrual cycle is assigned to the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. So the reason in some cases lies in the dysfunction of these parts of the brain, which can be caused by injury, illness, insufficient blood circulation and other factors.

Diabetes mellitus, diseases of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland and other organs of the endocrine system can also cause such deviations and change such a criterion as the rate of menstruation delay. Most often, in such cases, other accompanying symptoms occur, which indicate a deterioration in the patient’s condition.

1. Use of medications.

The drugs also cause delays in menstruation; a similar effect from some medications is considered normal. For example, these could be antidepressants, anabolic steroids, drugs with anti-tuberculosis properties, diuretics, etc. But even in this case, you need to consult a doctor. It is advisable to replace such medications with others that will not cause a similar effect.

The permissible delay of menstruation is different for each female body.

A woman's menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. It should be said that the hormonal system is very vulnerable and is easily influenced by even the most minor adverse factors, which can result in the absence of menstruation.

So, the reasons for a delay in menstruation:

• increased physical activity;
• excessive emotional stress;
• traveling with changes in climate and time zones;
• reaction to shock, resentment, grief, breakup with a loved one;
• illness;
• overweight or underweight;
• use of “fire contraception”;
• approaching menopause;
• pregnancy.

Pregnancy is the most likely reason for the absence of menstruation in women who have not used contraceptives. Modern pregnancy tests give a positive result already on 1-2 days of delay.

When is delay normal?

If menstruation does not occur on time, women begin to worry about this and suspect either pregnancy or some kind of pathology.

Pregnancy is the only thing for which a woman’s entire reproductive system works. And delays in menstruation for the entire period of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding are considered a physiological norm.

It is accepted that healthy women may experience delays of menstruation by 1-2 days several times a year. And this is a normal situation. Usually it is associated with minor stress factors, after the disappearance of which everything returns to normal.

Women who have not given birth are more likely to experience delays in menstruation than women who have given birth. Everything will get better after the first birth. The female body will fulfill its mission of giving birth to offspring and will work at full capacity, without interruption.

It is very important to understand that the female cycle does not immediately become regular and stable. Irregularity and instability are especially characteristic of the period of formation of menstruation, or, conversely, before their cessation.

Why is this happening? The onset of the first menstruation in a teenage girl does not mean at all that her reproductive system is mature and ready to work correctly. In adolescence, there is still no clear hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle, and the ovaries function poorly. Therefore, a delay in menstruation in adolescents, even for several months, is quite common and is not considered a serious problem.

A premenopausal woman may also experience menstrual irregularities in the form of delayed periods. This is due to a decrease in hormonal levels and loss of ovarian function.

If a girl’s menstrual cycle is not particularly regular, then she may not pay attention to slight delays in regulation, but the situation is completely different for women with a regular cycle. For them, any deviation from the norm can become a reason for panic; in order to prevent this, you should know the delay standards, that is, permissible deviations from the established cycle:

• 1-3 days is an acceptable delay in menstruation, which in most cases is considered normal and does not require special attention. The absence of menstruation for such a short period of time can be caused by slight hormonal fluctuations, as well as the peculiarities of the nervous system;
• 4-7 days – such a delay is also allowed. If a woman’s health is normal, there is no need to see a doctor. Menstruation delays of this duration occur due to stress, colds and changes in diet. This may also mean that the egg was fertilized, but could not implant in the uterine cavity, which led to pregnancy failure;
• 8-30 days - a delay within such limits can be considered normal only when pregnancy occurs. To make sure of this, it is enough to take a regular pregnancy test or take a blood test for hCG, which begins to rise sharply after conception. If the egg is fertilized 8-12 days after ovulation, then a woman may mistake implantation bleeding for menstruation, which accompanies the attachment of the zygote to the endometrium. If there is no pregnancy, then the absence of regula may mean inflammation of the uterus and appendages, the presence of cancer or ovarian dysfunction;
• 2-6 months is the maximum delay in menstruation, which may indicate the onset of early menopause due to genetics, stress, endocrine diseases, as well as problems with the nervous or reproductive systems. The longest period of absence of menstruation during menopause is 1 year.

Stressful situations

When considering stress as the main cause of menstrual irregularities, the question of what rate of period delay is considered safe by experts still has the same answer - 5 days or more.
Due to severe nervous shock, the functioning of the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex, which control the woman’s reproductive system, is disrupted. The result will be a disruption of the cycle for an indefinite period - until the nervous system recovers. Stressful situations can also include physical and psychological fatigue: constant nervous tension due to problems in the family or at work is a common cause not only of menstrual irregularities, but also of many other diseases.

Unusual physical activity, changes in diet, diet - all this is also stress for the body, which can react in a completely unexpected way, delaying menstruation.

In what cases can a delay be normal?

A delay in menstruation is considered normal in cases associated with hormonal changes.

These include:

• The period after the first menstruation and before menopause. In young girls, the cycle is established over 1.5-2 years. During this period, delays of up to 6 months are possible. In the premenopausal period (40-50 years), the absence of menstruation is associated with a decrease in the production of sex hormones: progesterone and estrogen. Reproductive function fades. Delays can increase gradually or be spasmodic (2-4 months without bleeding). This period lasts about 6 years.
• Taking hormonal drugs. Canceling oral contraceptives and taking two courses of pills without a break cause a delay in menstruation.
• Postpartum period. A large wound forms in the uterus due to the separation of the placenta. Normally, bleeding continues for 1.5-2 months, constantly decreasing. Often the menstrual cycle resumes immediately, but in some cases it takes the body 2-3 months to restore it - this is also a variant of the norm. To make sure that no infection or inflammation has developed, you need to visit a gynecologist.
• Lactation. Lactation in a woman’s body is maintained with the help of the hormone prolactin. It also delays the onset of ovulation and menstruation. The more often a woman breastfeeds, the more milk is required and the more intense prolactin is produced. Most often, periods are delayed for 3-6 months, but they may be absent for 2-3 years (the entire lactation period).
• Abortions and miscarriages. These conditions are accompanied by hormonal imbalance, and therefore may be accompanied by a delay of menstruation by 10-14 days. If you miss your period for a longer period, you should consult a doctor, as complications are possible.
• Anovulatory cycle. A month in which the egg does not mature may be accompanied by a delay of menstruation by 3-5 days.

There is an opinion among girls that menstruation may be delayed after the cycle in which the first sexual intercourse occurred. In fact, if pregnancy has not occurred, there is no reason for a long, more than 3-5 days absence of bleeding. A slight disruption in the schedule can be caused by a stressful condition.

How and by what is the menstrual cycle regulated?

Any woman, when a delay occurs, begins to get very worried, phrases spinning in her head:

• Why don't I have my period?
• what to do?
• Who to contact?

In order to understand why menstruation comes/doesn’t come, to know what to do, you need to have some understanding of female physiology, to understand why menstruation comes every month/every year.

All processes occurring in the human body are regulated by the cerebral cortex. The entire well-functioning system of the reproductive system of the body consists of the main functional organs:

1. hypothalamus and pituitary gland;
2. ovaries;
3. uterus.

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are 2 components of the brain responsible for the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Working together, these 2 organs secrete special enzymes that have a direct effect on the ovaries, uterus and other glands of the female reproductive system.

The menstrual cycle occurs in 3 stages: In the first half of the cycle, the body prepares for pregnancy. Phase 2 of the menstrual cycle - the follicle with the egg matures in the ovaries, and the inner walls of the uterus become overgrown with a layer of endometrium. The egg released from the follicle after ovulation is sent through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity. During movement, the egg is fertilized or not fertilized in the fallopian tube, stage 3 occurs:

1. If fertilization has occurred, the egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, pregnancy occurs and then menstruation does not occur.
2. If fertilization does not occur, the egg, while in the fallopian tube, is destroyed within 24 hours. And the uterus, in turn, rejects the endometrial layer, and menstruation begins.

This is exactly how menstruation occurs every month and every year, unless fertilization has occurred and pregnancy has not occurred. If pregnancy occurs, then you can forget about menstruation for more than one month.