Why is the period delayed?

Below, we list the possible reasons why your period may be delayed or take longer than usual to arrive:

PregnancyIrregular menstrual cyclesStressAnxietyTime zonesMedication consumptionSudden weight changesHormonal alterationsTaking contraceptivesOvarian cystsVaginal infections

Delayed periods can also occur due to pregnancy. If you have sexual relations, it is important that you first discard the possibility of pregnancy. You can start by calculating the fertile days of the previous month to evaluate if you have had sex on the highest risk dates. If you have doubts, it is best to take a pregnancy test. However, for the result to be reliable you must be at least a week late. In our article when to take a pregnancy test, we explain everything you need to know about it.

If you are sure that this is not the case, then there are many other possibilities that could be causing the problem. delay of your period.

Likewise, if you have already had a baby and are currently you are breastfeeding Because you are still breastfeeding, it is easy for your period to be irregular. In this case, to put your mind at ease, you should consult with your gynecologist so that he or she can examine you.

Age is a very important factor in regulating the cycle. For this reason yes you are very young and your body is still developing, your period may come early, late, or even not appear at all. It is a stage that can be very irregular, since hormones are changing very quickly and the body must get used to it and find its rhythm and balance.

On the other hand, if you are older and in the 40 or 50 yearsit is possible that it is perimenopause which is the natural change that occurs towards menopause. Many women begin this change around age 40 and irregular periods are one of the main symptoms.

Likewise, if you usually have very regular menstrual cycles, you should know that there is also the possibility that your menstruation may be delayed. between 2 and 4 days regarding the date on which it should have come to you. This happens because the body is not a perfect clock and many factors around us can cause alterations.

On the other hand, in the case of women who are not regular, the delays can even be one week.

Delayed periods can also be caused by stress pictures important. If you have been under a lot of stress lately, this may be one of the most obvious causes of your missed period. In this case, the suggestion is to try to relativize the importance of the things that cause you anxiety and relax by exercising or practicing activities such as yoga or Pilates, which will help you reduce tension and promote the decrease in your period.

Physical stress also causes changes in the regularity of your period, so overtrain Our body will cause our period to be delayed since the synchronization that exists between the hormones responsible for ovulation will be unbalanced.

If you have recently traveled and have undergone very different time zones To the usual ones, for example a trip from Europe to Asia or America, it is normal for your period to be delayed, since the functions between the brain and the ovary can be affected by time changes, especially on short trips. This type of delayed period usually occurs for a few days, then your cycle will return to normal.

The intake of some medications It can also affect the arrival of menstruation, so it is advisable that before undergoing a medium or long-term treatment, we always consult the medication leaflet and our doctor to make sure of the possible effects on our health.

Medicines such as antidepressants and psychotropics are some of the most common ones that cause this side effect. In addition, some chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can also affect the menstrual cycle.

If during the last month you have lost weight considerably, 10% or more, whether due to a very intense diet, radical dietary changes or some illness, it is very possible that you will suffer delays in your menstruation. It is timely to remember that what we eat is reflected in the type of menstrual cycle we have.

In the same way, those people who completely eliminate fat from their diet may even have a complete absence of their period. This is the case of women with a low-calorie diet and also of girls who suffer from eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia.

Furthermore, if you have gained weight in a short time, specifically 10% or more in the last month or two months, it is common for the menstrual cycle to become longer and the arrival of the period to be delayed. Disorders such as overweight and obesity cause delays and even missed periods.

The endocrinological problems They can also be reflected in delays and irregular menstruation and even in missed periods. This is because the communication between the brain and the ovary is affected, since the production of some hormones necessary for ovulation can be decreased or increased, producing imbalances in the menstrual cycle.

If you have suffered from many delays lately, it is advisable to consult a gynecologist as soon as possible so that he can review the possible hormonal imbalances that you may suffer from and start treatment as soon as possible.

Some hormonal contraceptives, like the contraceptive pill, can cause imbalances in the menstrual cycle when you start using them or stop using them. The first period, and even the second, may be delayed when our body is adjusting to the doses of hormones it receives.

Furthermore, take the emergency or morning after pill It can also alter and delay or advance our period. Likewise, other changes may also occur, such as the appearance of the flow in the first menstruation that comes after taking this pill and may even be more abundant than normal.

Ovarian cysts and related disorders such as polycystic ovaries, although they are usually benign, cause imbalances in this part of the body, causing menstruation to be delayed. If you detect that you have been delayed for several days, you have a lot of hair and acne, among other symptoms, you should go to the gynecologist since they are symptoms of an acne problem. cysts or polycystic ovaries that probably needs to be treated or controlled.

There are some cysts, such as the so-called functional ones, that are quite common and often disappear on their own over time, but other times, when 3 months pass, an appropriate treatment for each case ends up being necessary.

If you suffer from a vaginal infection or fungi, it is normal for the period to be delayed a couple of days or three, but in severe cases menstruation can disappear for up to 3 months in a row, especially in cases of candidiasis. Therefore, you should consult with your doctor or gynecologist about the best treatment to follow in your particular case, since once the infection problem is over, your cycle will surely return to normal.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why is the period delayed?we recommend that you enter our Sentimental Relationships category.

While the delay lasts, it is important to remain calm, because the greater the stress, the more difficult it will be for the period to be regulated. If the delay exceeds 7 days, it is time to go to the gynecologist for a complete evaluation, ruling out the presence of any endocrine condition, ovarian cysts or any other type of disorder. If your periods are frequently irregular, it is also important that you visit your gynecologist for a complete evaluation in order to detect the cause of such a condition.