Contents:
- Medical Video: 8 Reasons Your Period Is Late
- The cause of late menstruation
- 1. Pregnant
- 2. Stress
- 3. Weight problems
- 4. Hormone imbalance
- 5. Disease
- 6. Perimenopause
- When should I see a doctor?
Medical Video: 8 Reasons Your Period Is Late
Frequently late menstruation? Some women may experience it for several weeks to several months. Generally, women have menstrual periods or menstruation every 28 days. You can have a shorter or longer period than this, every 24-35 days. However, don't worry if you are late for menstruation or have an irregular menstrual period. There are many reasons why this can happen.
The cause of late menstruation
Here are some reasons why you can end your period. Apparently, the reason is not merely related to pregnancy.
1. Pregnant
Yes, pregnant! For those of you who are waiting for prospective children, maybe late menstruation is a good news for you. But, wait, you should make sure whether you succeed in getting pregnant or not. Because the sign of pregnancy is not just late menstruation and late menstruation does not mean you are pregnant. You can confirm your pregnancy with your own pregnancy test at home with test pack or see a doctor with more accurate results. If you have a regular menstrual period and you are late for your period after active sexual intercourse, you may be pregnant.
2. Stress
Not only because of pregnancy, late menstruation can also be caused by other reasons, such as stress. When stressed, hormones in your body can be affected. One of the hormones that are affected is the hormone gonadotropin (GnRH). Decreasing the amount of the hormone gonadotropin can cause the release of female eggs delayed so late menstruation. Your menstrual period may return to normal after a few months or more. It is recommended that you consult your doctor.
3. Weight problems
Body weight can affect the hypothalamus, the gland in the brain responsible for regulating various processes in the body, including the menstrual cycle. Excess weight or a lot of weight loss in a short time can disrupt the work of the hypothalamus. The body will not release the estrogen hormone needed to build the uterine wall, if your weight is too thin. Conversely, the body will produce more estrogen if you are overweight.
Both of these can then cause you not to release the eggs, so you are late for your period. Increasing weight (if you are too thin) or losing weight (if you are obese) can help restore your menstrual period.
4. Hormone imbalance
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease caused by an imbalance of sex hormones in a woman's body. This hormonal imbalance can cause ovarian cysts to grow which can prevent the release of eggs regularly. Or, even the release of the egg stops. Other symptoms of PCOS are excessive hair growth, weight gain, and acne.
5. Disease
Late menstruation can also be caused by various diseases, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Both of these diseases are related to the thyroid gland which has a role in regulating the body's metabolism. In addition, diabetes and celiac disease can also affect your menstrual cycle. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause irregular menstrual periods. Meanwhile, celiac disease can prevent the body from absorbing important nutrients, causing late menstruation.
6. Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a transition period from reproductive age to nonreproductive age. Usually this perimenopause occurs 2-8 years before menopause. At this time, your estrogen hormone starts to decrease, so you may experience a change in the menstrual cycle. In addition, you can also experience hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
When should I see a doctor?
Check with your doctor immediately if you have had more than three consecutive periods of menstruation. If you have done your own pregnancy test at home and the results are negative, or you also do not feel the symptoms of other pregnancies even though you are late in your period, you should also consult a doctor immediately.
