What are the reasons for delay in menstruation?
Taking a little more time for periods to occur can be a normal situation in some cases, while in other cases it can also be a sign of a serious condition. There are some health conditions that can cause a delay in menstruation:
Stress:
Physical or mental stress can cause some fluctuations in your hormone levels, changes in your normal daily activities and affect the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the hormone levels. Over time, stress makes a person sick and leads to sudden loss or gain of body weight. All these conditions affect the menstrual cycle of women.
Low body weight:
There are some eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa that can cause a delay in menstruation. If a woman has less body weight as per her height, then her body functioning can change and as a result her menstrual period can also be affected.
Obesity:
Just as low body weight affects menstrual irregularities, similarly having more than normal body weight can also cause a delay in menstruation. Obesity as well as delay in menstruation can sometimes be a sign of a serious health condition, so it is better to see a doctor.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:
PCOS is a condition in which more than normal amounts of male hormones start forming in the body of women. In such a situation, cysts start forming in the ovaries, resulting in poor hormone levels. In such a situation, menstruation may be delayed and even periods may stop completely.
Early Perimenopause:
Most women experience menopause at the age of 45 to 55. Women who start developing symptoms of menopause at the age of 40 or even earlier, this condition is called perimenopause. This means that the eggs present in the woman's body stop working properly.
Thyroid problems:
An overactive or underactive thyroid gland can also cause a delay in menstruation. The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolism, so hormones can also be affected in thyroid problems. Delayed menstruation can be a common problem as a result of hormonal changes.
Chronic diseases:
There are some long-term diseases that can affect the menstrual cycle, such as diabetes and celiac disease. Any change in blood sugar can also be related to hormonal changes, which can make the menstrual cycle irregular.
Celiac disease:
Celiac disease causes effects such as inflammation and irritation, which can damage the small intestine. Due to the small intestine being affected, your body is not able to absorb the necessary nutrients from the food and as a result menstruation can be delayed.
Contraception:
Some types of contraceptives, especially those related to hormones, can cause a delay in menstruation. Some special types of contraceptive pills provide a combination of progesterone and estrogen hormones for a limited period, after which hormones are not secreted in the body for a few days.
Sometimes due to these hormones, the lining of the uterus remains very thin, which is not enough to start the menstrual process and as a result, menstruation starts coming late or can also stop completely. This includes almost all types of contraceptive methods, which are related to hormonal processes such as contraceptive pills, patches, shots, implants and rings etc.
(Read more -Long periods causes and treatment)