The regular menstrual cycle is a testament to the health and normal functioning of the female body. Each woman who is attentive to herself and follows the cycle can accurately name the day the next discharge begins. In this case, even a slight deviation (for 1-2 days) can be seriously worrying. A number of questions immediately arise. What is the normal monthly delay? Should I worry about this? What is the reason for the delay?
Menstruation delay rate
Not having seen the characteristic signs of monthly discharge confirming the absence of pregnancy, that is, menstruation, each woman begins to seek confirmation or a refutation of her guesses. Different sources give different answers to this seemingly simple question: "What is the normal delay time?"
The rate of delay in menstruation, according to medical publications, varies from 1 to 7 days. Moreover, the main evidence that you should not worry 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 and delays, and poor health.
Causes of menstrual irregularities
It is worth noting that the rate of delay of menstruation is still an individual indicator: the same reasons can have different effects on well-being and, as a result, on the cycle of different women. But, one way or another, common signs can still be distinguished. Identifying the cause of the violation of the terms of the menstrual cycle, the specialist draws attention to the woman's age, lifestyle, concomitant diseases, the likelihood of pregnancy, taking medications, etc.
The most likely causes of delayed menstruation
in women of childbearing age :
- pregnancy;
- stress;
- hormonal disorders;
- dramatic changes in nutrition;
- climate change;
- physical exercise;
- infectious diseases;
- abortion.
As you can see, there are many reasons, each of which may have many more of its own characteristics. Most of them pose no danger to the body (except for infections and hormonal disorders), if they are not exacerbated.
Of particular note are violations in adolescents and women with the so-called menopausal syndrome. 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 safe cause of delay is, of course, conception. As you know, none of the existing contraceptives and methods of protection gives a 100% guarantee, so you should never check this option. In addition to the delay of menstruation, some other indirect signs can also speak about pregnancy: a change in the sensitivity and "swelling" of the breast, a change in basal temperature, irritability, nausea, etc. Although these signs may not exist.
After giving birth, a woman’s body needs time to recover and prepare for a new cycle. The standard rate of delay in menstruation after childbirth depends on the period of feeding. During lactation, the body produces the hormone prolactin, which suppresses the work of the ovaries. After weaning the baby from the breast, menstruation should recover within 1 - 2 months.
After an abortion, miscarriage or an 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 completely restored.
The rate of delay in menstruation
During puberty of girls, the menstrual cycle can deviate very much from the norm. In most cases, this is not a violation, and after restoration of hormonal balance, the cycle is restored. The natural time for the appearance of the
first menstruation in girls is considered to be a period from 11 to 15 years, and during 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, since pathological disturbances in the work of the ovaries and uterus are possible.
A sign of proper functioning of the girl’s reproductive system is vaginal bleeding every 28 to 35 days. Moreover, the number of days between the discharge should be constant. Most women have a “dry” period of 28 days. The short cycle is 21 days, and the long one 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 is hormonal changes in the body of a woman. In this case, the concept of the "rate of delay of menstruation" is generally absent, since this condition is not at all the norm. 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 failure of the cycle can be a serious disease of the internal organs, such as polycystic ovary. And the sooner it is detected, the faster it can be cured.
Irregular use of oral contraceptives (OK) and some other drugs can also lead to hormonal imbalance and cycle imbalance. 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 which rate of menstruation is called safe by specialists has the same answer - 5 days or more. Due to severe nervous shock, the work of the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex, which control the woman’s reproductive system, is disrupted. The result will be a breakdown of the cycle for an indefinite period - until the nervous system is restored.
Stressful situations include physical and psychological overwork: constant nervous tension due to problems in the family or at work is a common cause of not only menstrual crashes, but also many other diseases.
Unaccustomed physical activity, a change in diet, diet - all this is also stress for the body, which can react in a completely unexpected way, with a delay in menstruation.
Menopausal syndrome
Over time, the work of the ovaries slows down, ovulation every month happens later, until it completely stops. This is called menopausal dysfunction of the ovaries and appears in absolutely all women when they reach a certain age. Usually, the syndrome begins to appear between the ages of 45 and 50, but these numbers are not the rule. Due to the unfavorable ecology, constant stress and an improper lifestyle, cases of menopause in women after 30 have recently been frequent.
Violation of the menstrual cycle is one of the first, but not the only signs of menopausal dysfunction of the ovaries. The period of premenopause is characterized by frequent changes in mood, 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 rate of delay of menstruation has not been established: for someone, everything stops after 3 months, while for someone it gradually fades away over several years.
What to do if a delay occurs?
Since the rate of delay in menstruation in a healthy woman does not exceed 5 - 7 days, you can safely wait. If after 7 days the menstruation has not started, 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 causes of such a long delay.
Depending on the results of the diagnosis and analysis, 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 medicine will be a good 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 you need to ask your doctor during a routine examination, after talking 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 to 3 days, in combination with abundant or, conversely, meager monthly periods, indicate serious changes in the normal functioning of the woman's reproductive system.
Among the diseases that can manifest themselves in this way, we can name inflammatory, neoplastic, hormonal diseases, polycystic ovaries, corpus luteum cysts, and some others. If such processes are not stopped in time, then they can lead to infertility, a cancerous tumor, and other serious consequences.