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Delayed period: Pregnant or not?

Your period is not coming and you are wondering if you are pregnant? Delayed menstruation does not always mean that you are pregnant. Find out what are the most common causes of late periods.

When the rules don’t come, the first thing that comes to mind is, “I’m pregnant! ” If the absence of menstruation is the first symptom of pregnancy, you should know that the menstrual cycle is also sensitive to the nervous state, age, dietary imbalances, etc.

Late menstruation: the most common causes


Delayed menstruation and pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most common cause of missed periods. In fact, if you have had unprotected sex and your period is not happening, you may be pregnant. The body, however, gives other signs in this case: vaginal discharge increases and takes an elastic consistency or curd; you can also have small bleeds that are called implantation bleeding: when the egg is fertilized a small amount of blood can come off and lightly tint the vaginal flow. If in doubt, do not hesitate to have a pregnancy test or consult your gynecologist.

Rule delay and irregularities due to age

Adolescent girls and women over the age of 39 often suffer from irregular periods. In some, the rules may not appear a month and then return normally to the next cycle. Others may have their menstrual period shortened or go through an anovulatory phase, that is to say that there is no ovulation: these are the symptoms of pre-menopause. If you find yourself in this situation, consult your gynecologist.

Delayed menstruation and polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is caused by a hormonal imbalance which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, amenorrhea (no menstruation) or, conversely, real bleeding. This syndrome can be accompanied by other symptoms such as unusual hair growth, acne breakouts, weight gain and diabetes. In this case, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Delayed menstruation and stress and anxiety

Stress, by acting directly on hormones, affects health and especially the menstrual cycle which undergoes irregularities. This is often the case when you are worried about getting pregnant after unprotected intercourse: the very fact of feeling very anxious can make your period disappear during a whole cycle.

Delayed menstruation and breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has all the advantages for baby because it provides him with a complete and very nutritious food which helps to strengthen his immune system. In general, during the whole period of breastfeeding, the ovulatory cycle is put on standby, hence the absence of menstruation. If your period appears, which is entirely possible, see your doctor.

Delayed menstruation and eating disorders

Insufficient food or too much sport can also cause your period to stop. Thus, women who suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, very often have irregular periods, frequent delays and sometimes even complete amenorrhea. It is a fairly logical reaction of the body which, weakened, saves its resources. As a rule, with the restoration of a normal diet and weight gain, periods return quite naturally.

Delayed menstruation and thyroid problems

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck; it regulates the metabolism by interacting with the other circuits of the body. Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism directly affects the menstrual cycle, leading to delayed periods, to which are added other symptoms such as tremors in the hands, increased sweating, fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.

Delayed period: what to do?


Pre-menstrual symptoms can sometimes be confused with symptoms of pregnancy: swollen chest, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, sleep disturbances and malaise.

If your period does not appear and you think you may be pregnant, get a blood, urine test or, even more simply, a pregnancy test as soon as possible, the quickest way to find out if you is pregnant: the test can be purchased in pharmacies and can immediately detect the presence of chorionic gonadotropin, also called hCG, the pregnancy hormone.

Be careful, however, not to take the pregnancy test too early. Indeed, at the beginning of pregnancy, the level of this hormone can be very low and therefore insufficient to be detected. If the test results are generally fairly reliable, there is a possible margin of error, which are “false negatives”. Consequently, if the test result is negative and your period still does not arrive after two or three days, do not hesitate to repeat the operation or to consult your doctor who may order a blood test or an ultrasound.

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