Delayed menstruation: main causes and what to do

Late menstruation is not always a sign of pregnancy, as other situations such as excessive stress, very strong emotions, hormonal changes or even excessive consumption of caffeine or alcoholic drinks can lead to delayed menstruation.

Generally, this delay in menstruation can last from 1, 2, 3 or 5 days to 1 to 2 months, it is recommended to consult the doctor if menstruation is delayed for more than 3 months and you are not pregnant, so that the cause can be identified and treated.

However, if there was unprotected intimate contact a few days earlier, there is a likelihood of being pregnant, so it is recommended to have a home pregnancy test that can be purchased at pharmacies to find out if you are really pregnant.

What can be delayed menstruation

If your period is late and you have already had at least 2 pregnancy tests in the last month, with a 7-day interval between taking the test, and the result was negative, it is very likely that you are not pregnant and the delay in menstruation may be to be caused by other situations such as:

Excessive physical activity, as with athletes or people in preparation for some sport competition or competition; Very restrictive diets; Poor diet or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia; Excessive stress; Changes in the ovaries; Diseases that affect the hypothalamus or pituitary; Hormonal changes caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, myoma or even the morning after pill; Use of continuous use pill that leads to the absence of menstruation; Curettage or surgery in the recent pelvic region; Proximity to menopause, or possibility of menopause g; Postpartum, because menstruation should only come back after the woman stops breastfeeding, although it is necessary to use contraceptive methods during breastfeeding; Use of contraceptives for a prolonged period: there may be no menstruation for 6 months, or for 1 year after the use of quarterly contraceptive injection.

These situations can lead to the absence of menstruation for more than 3 months (amenorrhea), and it is recommended that you consult your doctor if this happens. Know other causes that can lead to delayed menstruation. Missing a period is not always a sign of pregnancy.

Menstruation can also be considered delayed when the girl, who is 16 years old, has not yet menstruated for the first time, in this case it is called primary amenorrhea and should be investigated by the gynecologist. This delay in menstruation may be related to problems such as head trauma, prematurity or defects in the reproductive system such as imperforate hymen, vaginal septum, and also the absence of a uterus.

What to do in case of delayed menstruation

If you have delayed menstruation, the first step is to do a pharmacy pregnancy test, but if you have not had a period for more than 3 months, and are unable to identify the cause, you should go to the gynecologist so that he can identify the cause and treat the problem, and in some cases the use of remedies to lower menstruation may be recommended.

The doctor may order tests such as the progestin test and the prolactin test to be able to identify the reason for this delay and indicate the most appropriate treatment.

In addition, depending on what is causing the delay in menstruation, reducing the intensity of physical exercise, being calm, avoiding stress and maintaining a varied balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals are attitudes that help regulate the menstrual cycle.

It is also recommended that you visit your doctor regularly to identify possible health problems or diseases such as polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, anorexia, bulimia, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism that can cause changes in the menstrual cycle.

Home Remedies to Lower Menstruation

There are some home remedies that can help to lower menstruation, but these should only be taken when pregnancy is not suspected.

1. Cinnamon tea

Cinnamon tea helps to speed up menstruation in 1 or 2 days and to prepare this tea you need:

Ingredients:

2 cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of boiling water.

Method of preparation:

Add cinnamon sticks to the boiling water, cover and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. After that time, remove the cinnamon sticks and drink when it is warm. This tea should be drunk 1 to 2 times a day until menstruation is over and if necessary it can be sweetened with a little honey or sugar.

2. Agonized tea

Agonized tea helps to speed up and trigger menstruation and to prepare this tea you need:

Ingredients:

5 grams of dried agonized flowers; 500 ml of boiling water.

Method of preparation:

Add the agonized flowers to the boiling water and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes and strain before drinking. You should drink 2 to 3 cups of this tea a day until your period drops.

These teas are natural options for when menstruation is delayed for a few days and should only be taken for 5 to 10 days, it is recommended to consult the doctor if menstruation does not come during that time, as these teas only speed the descent of menstruation., not regulating the menstrual cycle. In addition, there is no scientific proof that they work.

How to regulate menstruation

In addition to drinking teas that help menstruation to go down, there are some measures that can help avoid these situations where the menstrual cycle is unregulated, such as:

Lead a healthy lifestyle, with regular practice of physical exercise and a healthy and varied diet, rich in fruits and vegetables; Take birth control pills, as it helps to regulate the menstrual cycle; Avoid crazy and very restrictive diets, because in addition to do harm to health, end up deregulating the menstrual cycle; follow the treatment indicated to control Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or thyroid disorders; maintain the ideal weight.

These measures help to keep menstruation regulated, but it is always advisable to consult the doctor to identify the cause responsible for the dysregulation of your cycle.