Why is my period late? Here are the Symptoms and Causes

dawnsears.com - A late period is not always a sign of pregnancy, as other situations such as excessive stress, very strong emotions, hormonal changes or even excessive caffeine or alcohol intake can cause a delay in your period.

In general, this delay can last from 1, 2, 3 or 5 days to a month or two, and it is recommended to see your doctor if your period is more than 3 months late and you are not pregnant, so the reason may identify and treat yourself.

However, if you had unprotected sex a few days ago, there is a possibility that you may be pregnant, and it is recommended to take a home pregnancy test that can be bought at pharmacies to find out if you are really pregnant.

Possible causes of delayed menstruation

If your period is late and you have had at least two pregnancy tests in the last month, with an interval of 7 days between the tests, it is very likely that you are not pregnant and the delay could be due to other conditions such as:

• Excessive physical activity, which is common in athletes or people preparing for a sports competition;
• Severely restrictive diets
• Malnutrition or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
• excessive stress
• Ovarian changes
• Diseases affecting the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
• hormonal changes caused by PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, or even morning after pills;
• - taking a pill for continuous use that leads to a period of absence;
• Curettage or recent surgery in the pelvic area.
• approaching menopause or the possibility of early menopause;
• postpartum, because the menstrual cycle should return only after the woman stops breastfeeding, although contraceptives must be used during breastfeeding;
• Long-term contraceptive use: There may be no period for 6 months or 1 year after using the quarterly contraceptive injection.

These situations can cause a missed period for more than 3 months (amenorrhea) and it is recommended that you consult your doctor if this occurs.

Menstruation can also be considered late when a girl who has reached the age of 16 has not yet menstruated for the first time, in which case it is called primary amenorrhea and should be checked by a gynecologist. This late period can be related to problems such as head trauma, prematurity or defects in the reproductive system such as an imperforated hymen and vaginal septum and also the absence of a uterus.

What do you do if your period is late?

If your period is late, the first step is to take a pregnancy test from the pharmacy, but if you have not had your period for more than 3 months and you cannot determine the cause, you should visit a gynecologist so that he can determine the cause of the problem and treat it, and in some cases, it is recommended Using medication to start your period.

The doctor may order tests such as a blood progesterone test and blood prolactin levels to be able to determine the cause of this delay and determine the most appropriate treatment.

Also, depending on the reason for the delay in your period, you may need to reduce the intensity of physical exercise, relax, avoid stress, and maintain a varied and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals as this will help you regulate your period. Course.

It is also advised to see your doctor regularly to identify potential health problems or conditions such as polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, anorexia, bulimia, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism that can lead to changes in your menstrual cycle.

How do you regulate your menstrual cycle?

In addition to drinking tea that can help with menstruation, there are some measures that can help avoid situations in which your periods are irregular, such as:

a healthy lifestyle, with regular physical exercise and a healthy and varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables;

Take birth control pills as they can help regulate your period;

Avoid extreme or restrictive diets, which in addition to harming your health, lead to irregular periods;

Follow specific treatment to control PCOS or thyroid disorders.

Maintain your ideal weight.

These measures help maintain regularity of your period, but it is always recommended to consult a doctor to determine the cause of your irregular cycle.