What is the reason why menstruation has been early but suddenly delayed?

If your period has always been early and then suddenly becomes delayed, you need to be alert, because many reasons may cause a woman's period to be delayed. For example, if a woman has had sex and becomes pregnant, her period may be delayed, or some medications may have side effects.

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 test your urine with an early pregnancy test strip 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 undergo 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. Doctors also found, based on patient feedback, 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. 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.

4. Premature ovarian failure

Premature ovarian failure is caused by abnormal ovarian function. It often manifests as delayed menstruation, infrequent menstruation, amenorrhea and infertility. Symptoms similar to menopause such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, hot flashes and insomnia may occur.

6. Expert tip: If menstruation is delayed only 1-2 times occasionally and there are no other accompanying symptoms, it does not fall into the category of menstrual disorders. When the interval between menstrual cycles is more than 35 days, it is called oligomenorrhea, and when menstruation stops for more than 3 menstrual cycles, it is called amenorrhea. The absence of ovulation after menopause can also lead to problems such as osteoporosis and endometrial hyperplasia, which must be taken seriously. You should go to the hospital immediately for a comprehensive examination.