Every month, a woman’s ovaries release mature eggs and the uterus forms a thick lining. If the fertilized egg does not enter the uterus, the lining formed begins to shed and this process is what leads to periods. Usually, menstrual cycles can range from 28 days to 35 days, but it varies from woman to woman.
Sometimes, periods do not occur within the specified window and are either late or missed completely. This can cause a lot of worry as missed or late periods can be indicative of a lot of underlying issues, including pregnancy. In this blog, let’s look at some reasons that could trigger a missed or delayed period.
The pituitary gland in a woman’s body secretes several hormones and LH and FSH are two of them. Both these hormones play a role in ovulation and in general, their proportions are equal. However, just a day before a woman ovulates, the LH levels surge and drop back to normal after the ovulation is complete. When a woman has PCOS, the ratios of LH and FSH levels are reversed instead of being in a 1:2 proportion, both these hormones are at elevated levels and at around a 3:1 ratio with LH being higher.
Another hormone is an androgen, which is generally associated with men and is responsible for sperm production and the development of male sexual characteristics. Women’s bodies release androgen too, but they are converted to estrogen which is needed for the development of secondary sex characteristics in women, as well as the thickening of the lining of the uterus, which is then shed monthly resulting in periods. When a woman has elevated levels of estrogen, it could be indicative of PCOS, which could lead to irregular, missed, or delayed periods.
Skipped periods could also be a result of other hormones like prolactin and thyroid. If outside their normal range, these hormones can cause a significant impact on the regularity of a woman’s periods. Generally, a blood test is enough to identify this cause and this can be corrected with medication.
Women can miss their regular menstrual period due to excess stress, sudden weight loss or gain, excessive exercising, hormonal imbalance, or pregnancy. Health issues like diabetes, structural abnormalities, or chronic illnesses can also cause women to miss more than one period. A gynaecologist can evaluate the situation and prescribe medications to regulate the period.
Despite having the usual symptoms before your period starts, your period might be late or absent due to pregnancy, an increase in stress, excessive travelling, or exercising. The hormones that trigger your period can be affected by these factors, which can cause a delay in your period.
If you have gained or lost too much weight too quickly, if you have been exerting yourself by exercising, high stress levels, or certain medications, these can cause you to miss your period even if you are not pregnant.
If you are not pregnant, a delay in your period by a week or two is nothing to worry about. However, if you miss one cycle completely or continue to miss your monthly periods, you need to consult your gynaecologist. They will take necessary tests to rule out issues like PCOS, hormonal imbalance, or other medical conditions.
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