Will my period be delayed if I take anti-inflammatory drugs for half a month?

Some female friends may have their menstruation irregular or delayed. First, consider whether they have consumed cold drinks recently. Cold drinks can stimulate the uterus and cause delayed menstruation. In addition, whether you are taking any medications, even anti-inflammatory drugs may cause delayed menstruation, such as stomach medicine and drugs for treating hyperthyroidism. This article introduces the possible reasons for delayed menstruation. Let’s take a look.

Will taking anti-inflammatory drugs cause delayed menstruation?

Taking anti-inflammatory drugs may cause delayed menstruation. Studies have shown that long-term use of birth control pills, emergency contraceptive pills, the gastrokinetic drug metoclopramide, drugs for treating hyperthyroidism, and the Chinese medicine tripterygium wilfordii glycosides can all cause delayed menstruation.

In addition, studies have shown that long-term use of birth control pills, emergency contraceptive pills, the gastrokinetic drug metoclopramide, drugs for treating hyperthyroidism, and the Chinese medicine tripterygium wilfordii glycosides can all cause delayed menstruation.

Take metoclopramide as an example. Metoclopramide is a new generation of gastrokinetic drug that has the effects of enhancing gastric motility and promoting gastric emptying. It is mainly used to treat gastrointestinal bloating and indigestion. Clinically, metoclopramide can lead to a decrease in the amount of hypothalamic releasing factors entering the anterior pituitary, and a corresponding decrease in the secretion of gonadotropin and corticotropin, leading to delayed ovulation or amenorrhea. However, this abnormality will recover naturally after stopping the medication and will not cause any particular harm to the body.

What are the reasons for delayed menstruation?

1. Pregnancy

For women of childbearing age who have had sexual life, when their menstruation is delayed, they often doubt whether it is menstruation abnormality or they are pregnant. This problem is a very common phenomenon in daily life. How to rule out pregnancy and how to determine whether it is a menstrual disease are the first issues that need to be clarified. First, determine whether you are pregnant. If your menstrual cycle has always been normal, with no signs of delay, and there are some signs of pregnancy, you should use an early pregnancy test strip to test your urine on the fifth day after your delayed period (or the fifth day calculated from the start of your period). If the test result is positive, you should have a gynecological pelvic examination. If the cervix changes to purple-blue, the uterus is full or enlarged, and there may be accompanying symptoms such as breast tenderness and nausea, you can be diagnosed with pregnancy. Of course, B-ultrasound can also quickly determine whether you are pregnant.

2. Side effects of drugs

For example, endocrine disorders after long-term use of contraceptives can also cause delayed menstruation. Based on patients' feedback, doctors also found that a new generation of gastrokinetic drug, metoclopramide, also known as domperidone, may also cause this condition. Since metoclopramide does not easily cross the blood-brain barrier, it is believed that it has no inhibitory effect on central dopamine receptors. Central dopamine receptors are inhibited, resulting in a decrease in the amount of hypothalamic release factors entering the anterior pituitary. As a result, the anterior pituitary secretes less gonadotropin and corticotropin, leading to amenorrhea and delayed ovulation.

3. Caused by surgery

1) Menstruation after surgical or medical abortion is determined by the degree of recovery of the endometrial wall, which may cause delayed menstruation to a large extent.

2) Intrauterine surgery may cause cervical adhesions and result in menstrual blood stasis, thus delaying menstruation.

4. Endocrine disorders

Endocrine reasons such as polycystic ovary syndrome and premature ovarian failure can also lead to delayed menstruation. Timely examination should be carried out and treatment should be started as soon as abnormalities are found.