How long is considered normal?

Why is menstruation late? This is a question that all women have probably already asked. For many, the first answer that comes to mind would be the arrival of a baby. But not always, in fact there is a series of factors that can interfere and delay menstruation.

Therefore, it is very important to know these factors and also understand how long this delay can be considered normal or a warning.

Among the main causes of why menstruation is late, we can highlight stress, medication use, hormonal disorders, among others. If you are not trying to get pregnant, you can calm down, a late period is not always due to pregnancy.

Delay in menstruation

O Delay in menstruation is more common than you might think. In fact, menstrual cycle irregularity is one of the main complaints patients have when they go to the gynecologist. But there are some measures you can take to regulate your period, which you can check out in this other article we wrote on the topic.

So, when this delay in menstruation occurs between 3 and 6 months, it receives a technical name, known as amenorrhea. The problem of late menstruation is worse when a woman is trying to get pregnant. But in any case, it represents a problem that needs to be closely monitored by a doctor.

Until when is it considered normal?

This is a very important question. So, we will start by understanding the menstrual cycle. Normally, the cycle lasts 28 days. However, cycles with intervals of 21 to 35 days with an advance or delay of up to 3 days are considered completely normal.

However, longer periods do not necessarily characterize a problem, as long as the cycle has a regular pattern.

In the case of women who do not have a cyclical menstrual flow pattern (menstrual irregularity), it is a little more complex to assess menstrual delay. Because, in this scenario, the woman can ovulate without having frequent menstrual cycles.

Therefore, it is important to first rule out a possible pregnancy and then confirm ovulation, which can be done either by ultrasound or by hormonal blood measurement.

Time to see the doctor

It is not enough to delay your period for a month or two and then define your cycle as having menstrual irregularities. This diagnosis takes time, especially because the assessment cannot be based on a single cycle.

For women who menstruate regularly, the first step is to take a pregnancy test. So, if your period is delayed for three cycles or more, a gynecologist can assess the causes that may be related to the irregular menstrual cycle.

Therefore, for women who do not have a cyclical pattern, the recommendation is to have their menstrual calendar evaluated for six months. If during this period If there is any irregularity, it is time to see a specialist doctor.

Take the opportunity to check out and resolve the main doubts and myths about menstruation.

Main causes of delayed menstruation

1 – Stress and/or anxiety

This is one of the most common causes of delayed menstruation. Nowadays, with all the rush, worry about work and family, it is more common than one would like to experience moments of stress and anxiety. However, this is not good, as the condition can lead to hormonal changes.

Most of the time, the problem resolves itself after the stress peak. But if this becomes common, stress can lead to longer menstrual irregularities, and may even develop into amenorrhea.

2 – Overweight or very low weight

Generally, overweight women try to produce a greater amount of the hormone estrogen. This excess hormone can lead to a delay in menstruation. The same happens in the case of women with body weight well below the ideal. This is because the lack of fatty tissue decreases the body’s ability to produce estrogen, also resulting in irregular cycles.

3 – Delay in menstruation due to incorrect use of contraceptives

Oral contraceptives work to mimic a woman’s hormonal cycle. So, after a long period of using these medications, or even incorrect use, it can cause the body to have difficulty normalizing and having a natural cycle and that is where delays occur.

So, if you are thinking about stopping taking contraceptives, you need to read this other article on the subject.

4 – Excessive exercise

It is relatively common among high-performance athletes to report hormonal changes that end up interfering with the regularity of the menstrual cycle. However, it is important to highlight that this does not affect the majority of women, including those who exercise very frequently. This cause is only common with very high level athletes.

5 – Delay in menstruation due to thyroid dysfunction

Also one of the common causes of delayed menstruation are changes in the thyroid gland, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Both situations can affect hormonal production, consequently altering the menstrual cycle. So, if there is any change in the gland, it is very important to see a doctor to start treatment as soon as possible.

6 – Polycystic ovary syndrome

Women who suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS almost always experience menstrual delays and even the absence of menstruation in some periods. In fact, we have a complete article on Polycystic Ovary explaining everything.

This happens due to the high production of the hormone androgen, which also interferes with the menstrual cycle. In fact, PCOS is one of the most common causes of late menstruation.

7 – Breastfeeding

For women who have just had a baby and are still breastfeeding, it is quite common for a delay or even a lack of menstruation. In fact, this condition is called transient amenorrhea, due to prolactin, which regulates milk production and ends up interfering with ovulation.

8 – Menopause and pre-menopause

There is no rule for when a woman enters menopause, this can vary from woman to woman. As we know, menopause marks the end of a woman’s fertile life and consequently the interruption of menstruation. And this is expected to occur around 50 years of age. In fact, if you’re interested, we have a complete article about the last menstruation and the arrival of menopause.

However, in the phase that precedes menopause, called pre-menopause, which occurs five years before menopause, it is common for women to experience irregularity and delay in the menstrual cycle.

Finally, as we have seen so far, a delay in menstruation can be quite common, with no reason to worry. The real problem is when the delay continues to occur in future cycles. Therefore, it is important to rule out pregnancy and see a doctor to understand the causes and, if necessary, start treatment.

Anyway, now that you understand better why your period is late, how about checking out: 5 teas to help your period come off.

Fonte: Ceferp

Bibliography:

• Practice Committee of American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Current evaluation of amenorrhea. Fertil Steril. 2008; 90(5 Suppl):S219-25.
• Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Diagnostic evaluation of the infertile female: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2015; 103(6):e44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.03.019.