Am I pregnant? This is the first thing always struck me when my period is delayed. I think nothing else triggers fear into my heart other than a delayed period, since I am not planning for a baby. This is not only my problem but 90% of my women friends are going through the same dilemma. Is pregnancy the only reason for people to have a late period?
Three days before I had a consultation with my Doctor for the same reason and her diagnosis was "Amenorrhea" and she confirmed that I am not pregnant since I was not sexually active for quite sometime and suggested me to go for a Thyroid test as well as to reduce my body weight by 5-8 kgs. Anyway I got my order and I am happy and relaxed since regular periods are a symbol of overall good health.
What is Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is the term used to describe the condition where menstrual periods are absent in a woman of reproductive age. Amenorrhea is not a disease but it is usually a symptom of an other condition.
Types of Amenorrhea:
Primary Amenorrhea: It is a condition when a young woman has not yet had a period by age 16.
Secondary Amenorrhea: It is a situation when someone used to get a regular period but it is stopped for sometime. Normally someone is missing three consecutive menstrual cycle.
What are the possible reasons for your delayed periods?
There are many reasons which delays our periods other than pregnancy.
- Body weight: Both over weight and under weight delays our period since excess body fat or insufficient fat cells interfere with the process of ovulation.
- Thyroid Disease: Hypothyroidism (very little thyroid hormone is in the blood stream) or Hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone in the blood stream) delays ovulation process.
- Stress: Are you emotionally stressed? If yes, your period will be delayed since stress reduces a natural hormone (Gn RH) which triggers the ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone.
- Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal imbalances result in the loss of periods. Ovaries produce more male hormones (androgen) and develop male characteristics. This ovarian imbalances causes tumors in ovaries (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) leads to lack of ovulation and the final result is missed periods.
- Change in Routine: Change in routine like traveling, climate change, starting exercises, dieting changes the normal body clock and leads to delayed periods.
- Illness and medications has a direct influence on our delayed periods
- Peri-menopause or Menopause: Peri-menopause is the transition period from reproductive age to a non-reproductive age. Now many have experienced less frequent periods. Some are facing more frequent or lighter or heavier periods during this transition period and which leads to Menopause where the ovaries are no longer able to ovulate and no more periods.
Expert says that if your period is delayed, it is not only because of the pregnancy but may be due many other factors. Stay cool, relaxed and have a balanced diet with a regular moderate exercise which will keep your body clock intact.
