Women who are sexually active should monitor the state of their menstrual cycle in order to notice the slightest deviations in its cyclicity, which can warn of a problem in the body, cause harm to health and inhibit reproductive function. Let's consider what delay in menstruation is acceptable for recognition during pregnancy or any pathology.
Normal menstrual cycle
The classic menstrual cycle of a healthy woman lasts 28 days. On the first day of a new period, discharge appears. Normally, the regulation lasts 3–5 days, on the 14th ovulation occurs, then the corpus luteum phase, which again gives way to menstruation.
Every month, the length of the cycle, which is measured by the number of days between menstruation, should be the same.
The number of days in the cycle other than 28 is allowed, the main thing is the regularity of the menstrual period. However, menstruation may be delayed, for how long it depends on the reason. This lasts from 1–2 days to a week or even several months.
A short delay may be evidence of stress, climate change or some other reasons. For example, it has been proven that if you regularly work in the same company (work team), all women’s periods begin at approximately the same time.
If there is a delay in menstruation, then the length of the cycle is calculated from the moment of the actual onset of menstruation. In the case when the cycle was immediately restored and the period came on time, there should be no concerns about health.
When long delays may be normal
- Normally, girls after the onset of their first menstruation and women before the onset of menopause are most susceptible to menstrual irregularities. Then the permissible delay in menstruation can be up to six months. For young girls, it is worth remembering that the cycle should be stable for 1–2 years.
- Girls are most concerned about the question of whether there could be a delay in menstruation after the first time. Indeed, the first sex can cause cycle deviations. This can be explained by extreme anxiety or stress. However, normally the discrepancies should not exceed several days from the established cycle.
- Or if a woman or girl artificially causes a delay in menstruation.
How many days is it acceptable to delay menstruation?
Doctors say that the acceptable norm for how many days a period can be delayed is 3-5 days. If menstruation does not occur longer than the specified period, there is a possibility of a pathological process. The beginning of the next cycle will be considered the moment the discharge appears. If the duration of the cycle becomes the same, we can assume that it has recovered.
When the cycle length is 28 days, the period was planned on March 1st, and began on the 5th, this means that the delay was 4 days. If the next menstruation occurs on April 2, then it is considered that the cycle has been restored. Some mistakenly expect discharge on March 29, and if it does not occur, they worry, despite the fact that everything is normal.
To make tracking easier, you can use mobile apps with a women's calendar. With their help, it is easy to notice changes in the cycle, and knowing what length of delay is considered normal, you can control the menstrual period.
If it is not possible to use such an application, then notes are made in a regular calendar, the main thing is to regularly monitor the menstrual cycle.
Even if the delay is acceptable, it fits into the norm for a delay in menstruation, but it happens regularly (more than twice a year), you need to inform your gynecologist about this. In this case, there is still a violation of the cycle, which means it is necessary to find out its causes. It is imperative to consult a specialist if your period is late for 9-10 days or more.
Stimulation of menstruation at home: is it possible to induce menstruation if it is delayed?
For a girl who is not ready to become a mother, even a negative test when her period is delayed can cause panic and fear. And at this moment it is absolutely not important why the delay in menstruation befell her and whether this is considered the norm, because all she can think about is restoring her usual cycle and returning to normal life.
If the cause of this condition is not pregnancy, then you can induce your period yourself at home using the following methods:
- prepare a decoction of bay leaves - pour 10 g of the plant with two glasses of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, pour into a thermos and leave to infuse for 3 hours. Use 1 tbsp up to 4 times a day. spoon;
- drink chamomile tea - take 2 tea bags for 500 ml of water. 2-3 hours after brewing, you can start drinking 0.5 glasses twice a day;
- hot bath - increases body temperature, causing blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to decrease. Discharge may appear immediately after a hot bath.
When patients ask questions about how to induce menstruation, doctors may recommend making love with their partner. The fact is that during sexual intercourse, blood actively flows to the pelvic organs, blood flow increases, which can cause the coveted first day of the cycle.
You should not resort to any procedures without the permission of a doctor and an examination by a gynecologist, because disruptions in the female cycle can be associated with pregnancy, even if the tests show one line.
A year's delay in menstruation is a serious phenomenon and is associated either with carrying a baby or with serious illnesses. If the norm is exceeded, which is 2-7 days, examination in the hospital is mandatory.
How long can there be a delay without pregnancy?
The period of permissible delay increases in the event of pregnancy and breastfeeding. The maximum period may not last the entire period of lactation, when the female body produces the hormone prolactin, which suppresses the maturation of the egg. Accordingly, ovulation does not occur, the endometrium does not grow and there are no menstruation.
After a negative pregnancy test result, a woman is usually interested in the question of how many days a delay in menstruation can last in this case. Doctors consider it normal for menstruation to be delayed for a maximum of 5 days. If the regulation is delayed every cycle and the maximum delay of menstruation is longer than the specified period, then it is worth visiting a gynecologist for an examination.
After an examination, passing the necessary tests and undergoing an ultrasound, the doctor will be able to identify the cause of the cycle disorder. At the age of over 40–45 years, the longest delay, about a month or longer, most often occurs due to the onset of perimenopause.
In cases where the age is far from menopausal, the maximum number of permissible days of delay in regular bleeding should not be more than a week. And during the examination, in this case, problems of a pathological nature may be discovered.
Danger of developing the disease
Gynecological diseases very often prevent menstruation from starting on time. These include:
- Tumors, benign and malignant, of the genital organs and pituitary gland, resulting in hormonal imbalances. This manifests itself in the form of delays followed by bleeding. Endometriosis has the same picture, only the bleeding is longer.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome is manifested by increased testosterone levels. The permissible period of delay of menstruation is no more than two months. For treatment in this case, oral contraceptives are often prescribed.
- Inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, adnexitis, oophoritis, cystitis, in addition to delay, are also accompanied by pain and dark discharge. Without treatment, they threaten to remain infertile.
Some types of treatment for gynecological problems affect the change in rhythms:
- cauterization of erosion;
- colposcopy;
- hysteroscopy.
It happens that an acceptable delay in menstruation may occur after diagnosis and treatment of gynecological problems: cauterization of erosion or colposcopy.
How much delay in menstruation is acceptable after them depends on the ability of the female body to return to a normal state. A shift in menstruation is possible by 1-2 months. To prevent disturbances in the reproductive system of a woman, if there are deviations in her cycles, she should go to the hospital.
If necessary, the doctor will prescribe a hormone test, ultrasound of the genital organs, CT or MRI of the brain. Treatment sometimes needs to be comprehensive with the participation of not only a gynecologist, but also an endocrinologist, nutritionist and psychotherapist.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Inflammation of the ovaries, adnexitis. These diseases suppress ovulation and disrupt the functioning of the reproductive system as a whole.
- 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.
Diagnostics
Comprehensive diagnostics includes:
- Measuring basal temperature. It is carried out to check for ovulation. The procedure must be repeated several times a day, the readings obtained are noted in a special chart. A sharp jump above 37 degrees indicates ovulation.
- General blood and urine analysis.
- Blood test for hormones. Allows you to identify deviations from the norm and the possible consequences of this condition.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs. Helps determine the presence of pregnancy, tumors and pathologies.
- Tests to detect sexually transmitted diseases.
- Computed tomography or magnetic tomography. The examination helps to study the condition of the pituitary gland.
The examination will help determine the cause of the long delay and select the correct treatment method.
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs will help identify abnormalities.
Factors affecting the menstrual cycle
There are factors that influence your period to be late. Regulations can be delayed not only due to pathologies, but also for other seemingly insignificant reasons. Factors causing the delay include:
- Strict regular diets aimed at losing weight. Thus, many models who adhere to exhausting diets suffer from constant delays, which sometimes reach amenorrhea and infertility. Therefore, now a proper balanced diet combined with regular physical activity in the gym or yoga is becoming increasingly popular. The results are a beautiful figure and good health.
- The influence of stress and depression. An important factor is mental and emotional health, which can be supported by taking multivitamins, sound sleep and walks in the fresh air.
- Change of climatic conditions. It is also stressful for the body, but in this case there is no need to take urgent action. When the woman gets used to the new conditions or returns to the old ones (if it is a vacation), the monthly cycle will be restored again.
- Changes in a woman’s body not related to the reproductive system. This may include colds or taking antibiotics. You should undergo appropriate treatment, take a course of vitamins and restore your immunity.
Regular visits to the gynecologist and tracking the menstrual period will help maintain a woman’s reproductive health and prevent delays.
