When a woman (girl) reaches puberty, the bleeding that occurs every month from the vagina is called Menstrual cycle (MC). Menstruation usually occurs in about 28 days, also 7 days back and forth i.e. 21 days to 35 days is considered normal. But if the period is too late beyond this usual limit, it is advisable to consult a doctor without ignoring it.
Reasons for late menstruation:-
There can be many reasons for late menstruation. These varies according to the age of the woman. Let us know about some of those important reasons today,
- When a girl reaches puberty, periods may be irregular for a few months initially but become regular in 3-4 months. In the initial few months, heavy bleeding, prolonged bleeding for many days etc. may be a problem. It is necessary to consult a doctor for this.
- Pregnancy: The most common cause of late menstruation is pregnancy. If a woman is sexually active and her periods are late, the first step is to get a pregnancy test done.
- Stress: Any Stress be it Emotional or physical such as tension about studies and exams, office work tension, household tensions etc., may give rise to lack of regular sleep, lack of adequate rest for the body. This can affect the level of hormones in the body and delay menstruation.
- Weight changes: Sudden excessive weight loss or gain can affect hormone production and lead to irregular periods. For this, you should have a balanced diet and regular exercise and keep your weight under control.
- Hormonal Imbalance: Hormones in the body are responsible for regular menstruation. If there is a healthy lifestyle, the hormones work well, but the modern stressful lifestyle and the excessive use of digital appliances including mobile phones and its side effects can lead to hormonal imbalance in the body, leading to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disease etc., which causes irregular periods.
- Menopause: Menstruation usually stops permanently at the age of 45 to 50 years of a woman, but before that, periods become irregular due to hormonal imbalance for a few months. In these few months, menstruation sometimes comes early and sometimes it comes late and then menopause occurs. If this problem persists for more months, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
- Other causes: Other diseases of women like ovarian cysts, frequent use of period prolongation pills, diabetes or irregular diet, obesity etc. can affect the regularity of menstruation by affecting body health.
When to see a doctor and treatment options:
If your periods are delayed or it continues to be irregular or you have frequent periods, it is advisable to consult a gynaecologist. Your doctor may perform a physical examination and perform sonography and some other blood tests to determine the underlying cause. Treatment can be done accordingly by giving proper advice. It can also include adopting a healthy lifestyle, taking hormonal pills to regulate periods, etc.
Importantly, menstruation can sometimes be late due to natural changes, but it is important to consult your gynecologist at the right time to avoid health consequences due to continuous irregularity.
