Regular menstrual cycle is evidence of the he alth and normal functioning of the female body. Every woman who is attentive to herself and follows the cycle can accurately name the day the next discharge begins. At the same time, even a slight deviation (for 1-2 days) can seriously disturb. A number of questions immediately arise. What delay in menstruation is considered normal? Should I be worried about this? What is the reason for the delay?
Norm of late period
Without seeing the characteristic signs of monthly discharge, confirming the absence of pregnancy, that is, menstruation, every woman begins to look for confirmation or refutation of her guesses. Different sources give different answers to this seemingly simple question: "How long is the normal delay?"
The rate of delay in menstruation, according to medical publications, varies from 1 to 7 days. Moreover, the main evidencewhat you should not worry about is the well-being of a woman during the absence of menstruation. If from the first day of the delay there are any troubles (pain, weakness, irritability, nausea, etc.), then you do not need to wait for the end of the "safe" period (5-7 days), you should consult a doctor. Together you can identify the cause of both delays and poor he alth.
Causes of irregular menstruation
It is worth noting that the rate of delayed menstruation is still an individual indicator: the same reasons can affect well-being in different ways and, as a result, the cycle of different women. But, one way or another, common features can still be identified. Revealing the cause of the menstrual irregularity, the specialist pays attention to the woman's age, lifestyle, concomitant diseases, the likelihood of pregnancy, medication, etc.
The most likely causes of missed periods in women of childbearing age:
- pregnancy;
- stress;
- hormonal disorders;
- cardinal changes in nutrition;
- climate change;
- physical activity;
- infectious diseases;
- abortion.
As you can see, there are many reasons, and each can have many more of its own characteristics. Most of them do not pose any danger to the body (except for infections and hormonal disorders), if they are not aggravated.
Special mention should be made of disorders in adolescents and women with the so-called climactericsyndrome. In both cases, there is a change in the hormonal background, as a result of which the rate of delay in menstruation can reach several months.
Pregnancy and childbirth
The most common, natural and safest cause of delay is by far conception. As you know, none of the existing contraceptives and methods of protection gives a 100% guarantee, so you should never dismiss this option. In addition to a delay in menstruation, some other indirect signs can also indicate pregnancy: a change in sensitivity and "swelling" of the breast, a change in basal temperature, irritability, nausea, etc. Although these signs may not be.
After childbirth, a woman's body needs time to recover and prepare for a new cycle. The standard rate of delayed menstruation after childbirth depends on the feeding period. During lactation, the body produces the hormone prolactin, which suppresses the work of the ovaries. After weaning a baby, periods should return within 1 to 2 months.
After an abortion, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, delays are also possible, which can last from several days to several weeks. Therefore, after such cardinal changes in the body of a woman, constant monitoring by a gynecologist is necessary until the cycle is fully restored.
Norm of late period for teenagers
During puberty girlsThe menstrual cycle can be very different from the norm. In most cases, this is not a violation, and after the restoration of hormonal balance, the cycle is restored. The natural time for the appearance of the first menstruation in girls is considered to be the period from 11 to 15 years, and within the first two years after the start, the cycle should be restored. If this does not happen, then you should contact a gynecologist and endocrinologist, as pathological disorders in the functioning of the ovaries and uterus are possible.
Vaginal bleeding every 28 to 35 days is a sign that a girl's reproductive system is working properly. Moreover, the number of days between discharges should be constant. For most women, the "dry" period lasts 28 days. The short cycle is 21 days, and the long cycle is 30-35 days. If the number of these days is constantly changing, then this indicates a hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal changes
A common cause of menstrual irregularities are hormonal changes in a woman's body. In this case, the concept of "the norm of delaying menstruation" is generally absent, since this state is not the norm at all. Even if the delay does not exceed the accepted standards, but is repeated constantly and is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, a trip to the gynecologist is a necessity. The cause of the disruption of the cycle may be a serious disease of the internal organs, such as polycystic ovaries. And the sooner it is detected, the sooner it can be cured.
To hormonal imbalance andThe cycle can also be caused by irregular intake of oral contraceptives (OC) and some other drugs. In this case, the rate of delay in menstruation after the abolition of OK or other drugs can be several weeks. The cycle should recover within 2 - 3 months.
Stressful situations
When considering stress as the main cause of menstrual irregularities, the question of what rate of delayed menstruation is considered safe by experts has the same answer - 5 days or more. Due to a strong nervous shock, the work of the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex, which control the reproductive system of a woman, 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 overwork: 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.
Unaccustomed physical activity, change in diet, diet - all this is also stress for the body, which can react in a completely unexpected way, delaying menstruation.
Climacteric syndrome
Over time, the work of the ovaries slows down, ovulation every month comes later until it stops completely. This is called menopausal ovarian dysfunction and appears in absolutely all women when they reach a certain age. The syndrome usually begins onset at age45 - 50 years, however, these figures are not the rule. Due to the unfavorable environment, constant stress and poor lifestyle, there have recently been cases of menopause in women after 30.
Irregular menstrual cycle is one of the first, but not the only signs of menopausal ovarian dysfunction. The period of premenopause is characterized by frequent mood swings, irritability, jumps in blood pressure, etc. The level of sex hormones decreases, resulting in a change in the rhythm and duration of menstruation. At the same time, the norm for delaying menstruation has not been established: for some, everything stops after 3 months, while for others it gradually fades away over several years.
What to do if there is a delay?
Since the norm of a delay in menstruation in a he althy woman does not exceed 5 - 7 days, you can safely wait. If, after 7 days, menstruation has not begun, you need to run to the pharmacy for a test. Further, 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 is due to overwork and stress. Here the only cure will be proper rest and sleep.
When to sound the alarm?
The first sign of many disorders and diseases of the female body may be a delay in menstruation. Norm,how many days of delay are safe and other similar questions to ask your doctor during a routine examination, having previously told about your concerns. Unfortunately, we too often forget to mention any changes, considering this fact not worthy of attention. Although constant delays, even for 2-3 days, combined with heavy or, conversely, meager periods, indicate serious changes in the normal functioning of the woman's reproductive system.
Among the diseases that can manifest themselves in this way are inflammatory, tumor, hormonal diseases, polycystic ovaries, corpus luteum cyst and some others. If such processes are not stopped in time, they can lead to infertility, cancer and other serious consequences.
