Why is your period delayed?

Women's menstrual cycle is generally 28-30 days. If it is advanced or delayed by about 7 days, it is also within the normal range. The length of the menstrual cycle also varies from person to person. If a woman's menstrual cycle exceeds this time, two factors need to be considered mainly. First, whether she is pregnant, and second, whether it is a real menstrual irregularity. Delayed menstruation is a common condition and it is one of the main manifestations of irregular menstruation. So why do girls’ menstrual periods appear early or delayed?

The menstrual period of girls is controlled by the endocrine axis of hypothalamus-pituitary-uterus and ovary, and the regular shedding of the uterine wall causes regular vaginal bleeding. If any of these stages is abnormal, it may affect women's menstruation, resulting in delayed menstruation or abnormal menstrual volume.

The actual cause of delayed or early menstruation depends on the duration of the delay or advance and the age of the girl.

1. Women in puberty:

In the first two years of menstruation, because the ovaries are not yet mature and the uterus is not yet fully developed, ovulation is often rare or even absent. According to Dr. Wang Guilan, a doctor at Shenyang Urban Gynecology Hospital, in this case, the normal response of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands cannot be generated, resulting in irregular menstruation, delayed or early menstruation. This condition belongs to physiological menstrual disorders. With the increase of age and the perfection of ovaries, most people's menstrual periods will gradually become regular.

During this process, if there is only a simple delay or early menstruation and the menstrual flow is very little, you can observe it temporarily. However, if frequent menstruation occurs, and is accompanied by excessive menstrual flow and anemia, more attention should be paid to the following.

2. Women of appropriate age:

For women of childbearing age, the normal menstrual cycle is 21-35 days. As long as it is within this range, a slight delay or a few days early is normal. However, if it exceeds this range, or even if you do not have your period for several months, you need to check the development of your uterus.

In many cases, it is caused by infrequent ovulation or anovulation, which is most common in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition to physiological conditions, physiological menstrual disorders are also quite common. In the endocrine axis of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-uterus and ovary, the hypothalamus-pituitary gland is the most easily affected.

When you are anxious, under too much work pressure, have poor sleep, or even have weather changes, it is possible that the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland will be affected, causing temporary menstrual irregularities.

This is why many girls experience irregular menstruation before exams or at the end of the year when they often work overtime.

3. Women in menopause:

Women in menopause gradually enter menopause as their ovaries decline, and eventually move towards ovarian decline. In this process, due to the reduction of ovaries, the hypothalamus-pituitary feedback axis is abnormal, resulting in irregular menstrual cycle.

For some people, their menstrual cycle starts to slow down gradually, and sometimes they don’t have a period for several months. Sometimes they only have a period once, and then they reach menopause. This is also the decline process that every woman must go through.