12 common causes of delayed menstruation in women

The article was professionally consulted by BSCKI Le Thi Phuong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.

"Delayed" menstrual period is a fairly common phenomenon, but many women do not know the real cause to prevent and treat it in time. As a leading specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with more than 29 years of experience, Dr. Le Thi Phuong (Vinmec Ha Long Hospital) will explain the causes of delayed menstruation and how to overcome this condition.

Delayed period (or missed period) is a manifestation of an irregular menstrual cycle in women, a phenomenon when menstruation has not yet appeared. Normally, if after 35 days from the date of menstruation, there is still no period, it is called delayed menstruation. On the other hand, when a woman misses at least three menstrual periods in a row, it is considered amenorrhea.
Actually, delayed menstruation is very common for most women, but not everyone understands what causes this phenomenon.

In fact, not every missed period will make you pregnant. It can be said that menstruation is a "mirror" that partly reflects a woman's health status. That is to say, menstrual problems (including delayed menstruation) are closely related to the current health status of the reproductive organs as well as the whole body of women. According to doctors at Vinmec, delayed menstruation usually stems from the following 12 causes:

One of the most common causes of missed periods is pregnancy. Normally, during a menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus gradually thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg to implant. According to the normal physiology of women, if the egg and sperm don't meet, the conception process doesn't start, the body will remove this mucosal layer, causing bleeding. terrible). At this point, a new menstrual cycle begins. Thus, if menstruation occurs, the woman is not pregnant.
Signs of pregnancy are common causes of missed periods.
On the contrary, in case the egg is fertilized and implanted inside the uterus, at this time, the lining will not fall off but will continue to be nourished to start the development of the fetus. Therefore, during pregnancy, a woman will not have a period. As such, a missed period could very well be a sign of early pregnancy. However, to know exactly whether the cause of your period delay is due to pregnancy or not, you only need to use a pregnancy test to determine it.

If you are in the process of losing weight, you may miss your period or even miss your period. A BMI (body mass index) of less than 19 seems ideal for most women, but if you lose weight too suddenly, your body will fall into a state of "missed rhythm" and missed periods can lead to missed periods. may happen. Because, during a menstrual cycle, your body needs to produce enough estrogen to build the lining of the uterus. Excessive weight loss and reduced caloric intake can affect the hypothalamus, an organ responsible for regulating various processes in the body including the menstrual cycle. And so, the body will not produce enough estrogen needed for menstruation. This is the cause of delayed periods. In severe cases, people who lose weight quickly will not even have a period.
Thus, you need to implement a safe and scientific weight loss regimen. Ideally, you should consult a doctor, avoid rapid weight loss measures or weight loss foods of unknown origin.

On the contrary, gaining too much weight too quickly is also the cause of missed periods in women. This causes the body to produce too much estrogen in a short time, causing the endometrial lining to overgrow and become unstable. In this case, you will need to lose a few pounds to help your menstrual cycle return to normal.

Some women for some reason need to get in shape as quickly as possible. So the sisters went to the gym and started working out continuously, leading to overexertion. This is really not good for the body at all and is one of the causes of missed periods. Exercise is obviously very good for your health and helps you get in shape, but that doesn't mean you can overdo it. Patients with amenorrhea are mostly marathon runners, ballet dancers, bodybuilders and other professional athletes. In short, if you are exercising "too hard" and not consuming enough calories, your body will not be able to produce enough estrogen to maintain a normal menstrual cycle
Exercise It helps to stabilize the menstrual cycle. To fix it, you need to slow down a little, eat a little more and exercise a little less. This will help get your body back on track.

The hypothalamus, which is involved in the production of estrogen during menstruation, is greatly influenced by stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. A loss, the death of a friend, a new job, a breakup, or anything that stresses you out can all cause irregular periods.
To limit stress, you need to practice a peaceful, happy lifestyle, optimistic spirit, positive thinking. It is only when your brain realizes that the stress has eased and is over, that bodily functions will gradually return to normal.

If you have been prescribed a new medication, or the dosage of an existing medication has been changed, there is a good chance that this is the reason why your period is affected. In particular, the side effects of some drugs in the following drug classes are more likely to cause a missed period: antidepressants, hormonal drugs, antipsychotics, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, and drugs used in chemotherapy .
You should immediately discuss with your doctor about your period delay and the medications you are taking to determine the exact cause.

Drinking too much alcohol can affect reproductive hormones, leading to menstrual disorders. Besides, the habit of smoking is also the cause of delayed periods in some women. Because nicotine and cigarette smoke have an adverse effect on the pelvic organs, reducing oxygen distribution to the pelvic area and affecting the endometrium. Not only that, long-term smoking also causes problems with the fallopian tubes, reduces the quality and quantity of eggs and leads to infertility.
Use of stimulants is the cause of missed periods. Stop drinking and smoking immediately to protect the health of yourself and your family. Thereby, it also helps to limit the delay of menstruation and problems related to fertility.

A woman's perimenopause period falls around the age of 42. This is when the body begins to make less estrogen, which affects the menstrual cycle. Early menopause is when a woman stops menstruating before the age of 40. Certain medical procedures, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy in the abdomen or pelvis, can make menopause faster.
Readers can refer to more information on this topic at the article Menopause - perimenopause.

Some gynecological diseases are also the cause of women delaying their period, such as uterine fibroids, uterine ectropion, ovarian failure, ovarian inflammation,...
To recognize diseases For this sensitive reason, you need to pay attention to observe and monitor your menstrual cycle, to see if there are the following abnormalities such as: Blood clots, an unpleasant smell or a strange color? At the same time, you should watch for other related signs, for example, is there a dull ache in the lower abdomen, is the vaginal discharge unusual in color, or is there a foul odor in the vagina? From there, be frank with your gynecologist for timely examination and treatment.

A missed period can be caused by polycystic ovaries. This disease is caused by a hormonal disorder in women of childbearing age, causing the appearance of many small cysts in the ovaries and preventing ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects the hormones that release eggs and is bad for a woman's fertility.
Irregular menstruation caused by polycystic ovarian disease, if not treated early, the patient can have a hormone imbalance, seriously affecting health and increasing the risk of other dangerous diseases, including including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reproductive disorders.

The thyroid is the organ that helps control hormones, regulate metabolism, and interacts with many other systems in the body to make sure everything is in balance and in the right rhythm. An abnormal thyroid problem such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can both cause changes in your menstrual cycle.

It can be said that, if hormones are balanced, menstruation is regular. When something abnormal occurs, causing both the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries to malfunction, the hormonal system will be out of balance, leading to menstrual disorders.

According to Doctor Le Thi Phuong, in order to keep the menstrual cycle stable, limit the delay of menstruation and the causes of delayed menstruation, women need to change bad habits such as drinking alcohol, smoking. smoking, staying up late, overworked. In addition, women need to limit vigorous exercise, avoid stress, maintain a moderate weight, do not increase or lose weight suddenly. In addition, try to establish a reasonable diet, exercise regularly, balance between work and rest, and at the same time, have regular gynecological examination to detect diseases early and have treatment. timely.
Gynecological examination is an effective method to protect reproductive health against many gynecological diseases that tend to rejuvenate such as cervical cancer. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Vinmec medical system is satisfied by customers for its service quality and privacy.
A team of highly qualified and experienced doctors: the doctors here are all professors, doctors, specialists I, II, and masters who are well-trained and specialized in hospitals. leading national and international universities. Comprehensive gynecological examination: Provide a variety of gynecological examination packages from pre-marital to post-marital. Customers will receive: Gynecological examination, bilateral breast ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries, total urinalysis by automatic machine and test for infertility, syphilis, pre-cancerous cervical cancer screening. Modern equipment system: The most advanced and modern diagnostic and treatment equipment in the world are imported from the US, UK, Germany, Japan and Singapore, on par with leading hospitals. in the area. Ensure patient privacy: Applying a 1:1 medical examination and treatment model (one doctor - one patient), all medical information is analyzed and meticulously evaluated by the doctor after being examined. Absolute security. No separate examination, meeting 5-star standards. To register for examination and treatment with leading doctors in the Department of Gynecology - Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the hospital for service.