Why don’t I get my period? The 15 main reasons

The possible causes that explain why menstruation does not appear when it should.

"I have a delay. "I haven't had my period yet".. These words can be a source of excitement and/or concern for a large number of people, who generally associate it with a possible pregnancy.

However, the truth is that although possible pregnancy is a possibility, in the vast majority of cases there are many other factors that can explain why you have not yet menstruated. In this article we are going to make a review of fifteen possible causes of why it has not happened yet.

What is menstruation?

It receives the name of rule or menstruation the biological and natural process in which the body of the woman expels the remains of unfertilized eggs and the mucous lining of the uterus. (or endometrium) are expelled through the vagina in the form of Blood flow.

This process usually occurs once a month and lasts up to about a week, being part of a continuous cycle from female puberty until climacteric, when the female reproductive system loses its function to conceive.

Different reasons why the menstrual period does not come down

The menstrual cycle generally follows a certain timing that allows an approximate calculation of when the period will arrive, but this does not imply that it is identical and always appears on the same dates.

There are a large number of factors that can alter it and cause the period, period or menstruation to that the period, period or menstruation does not appear when it should appear.. Here are fifteen possible causes that can explain why a woman's period does not come.

1. Pregnancy

This is the option that most people think of when menstruation does not appear in the usual period. And it is indeed one of the options to consider, although a delay or even the absence of menstruation does not necessarily mean that you are menstruating. To check this, it will be necessary to take a pregnancy test at least fifteen days after the last sexual intercourse, since before that time, it could give a false pregnancy.Before that, it could give a false positive.

2. Breastfeeding period

Some women who have just given birth may think that since they have already given birth they will quickly start menstruating again. But the truth is that this is not the case because during lactation hormones such as prolactin are very important in increasing menstruation, which is of great importance in increasing and enabling the secretion of breast milk.In the case of breastfeeding, they inhibit estrogens and the rest of the hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle. It is not uncommon that there is no menstruation until the end of the lactation period.

3. Late puberty

Many adolescent girls are very concerned about the fact that they have not yet had their periods, even though most people their age have already started having their periods some time ago. It is important to remember that each person has her own evolutionary rhythm and some girls have a late puberty, so that the menarche or first menstruation can appear even later than 15 years old.

This does not have to imply anything wrong, although in some cases there could be a basic problem. Generally, and unless there is some kind of organic cause, this does not require any treatment, although if the doctor considers it necessary, hormone therapy may be used.

4. First periods

It is also important to keep in mind that having the first period does not necessarily imply a completely regular cycle: it is not impossible that during the first years, due to the fact that the reproductive system is still under developmentThere are alterations in the menstrual cycle during the early years.

5. Menopause (normative or premature)

Another reason why menstruation stops is because of the possible arrival of menarche and climacteric. In other words, the arrival of menopause. This generally occurs from the age of 45 (in fact, it usually appears from the age of 50), but in some cases the so-called premature or early menopause can occur in which the end of the menstrual cycle arrives before 45.

Generally before the imminent cessation of menstruation there is usually a period in which the menstrual cycle acts irregularly.. This is a normative biological process, which does not require any treatment.

6. Nutritional problems and/or starvation

Menstruation is strongly linked to the state of health of the body, and is profoundly altered by aspects such as the presence of sufficient nutrients in the body. If the human body is in a situation where it does not have enough nutrients, the period will not appear. An example of this is found in women with eating disorders, especially in anorexia (where in fact amenorrhea is one of the most frequent symptoms).

In addition, other circumstances or diseases in which the body cannot adequately process nutrients and enters into a state of anemia can cause a woman to stop menstruating or delay menstruation. Menstruation also ceases to appear in people in a situation of extreme starvation due to lack of food resources.

7. Sudden changes in weight

Not only the presence or absence of nutrients in the body can affect menstruation, but also the sudden gain or loss of a lot of weight. This is because even if you have enough nutrients, a sudden change in weight and especially in body fat can lead to changes in the body's estrogen levels, changing the menstrual cycle.This can change the menstrual cycle.

8. Hormonal imbalances

The period or menstruation is a biological process that depends on the hormones present in the woman's body. Alterations in these hormones or the presence of others that inhibit or alter them can generate changes in the menstrual cycle including its advance, delay or even cessation. These imbalances can be normative, related to psychosocial stress, or linked to hormonal, thyroid, ovarian or brain problems. Treatment of these problems will bring the cycle back to normal operation..

9. Taking or stopping contraceptives

As we have said, and being something deeply related to the previous point, hormones are the key to the existence and maintenance of the menstrual cycle. In this sense, taking certain contraceptives or stopping their use can cause the menstrual period to stop at the usual time.

10. Consumption of other drugs or medical treatments

The consumption of different drugs, not necessarily contraceptives, can cause the presence of an altered or delayed menstrual cycle. Examples of these are some psychotropic drugs.. If this effect occurs, it is advisable to go to the doctor first to check if it is really a possible side effect of the medication and if so, to evaluate (depending on the case) possible alternatives.

Problems with menstruation may also occur with certain non-pharmacological medical treatments, such as surgery in some areas of the brain or reproductive system, or radiotherapy.

11. Stress and anxiety

So far we have talked about mainly organic elements, but we cannot forget the importance of psychosocial factors in menstruation. The presence of continuous stress or anxiety is another of the main reasons why menstruation may be delayed. An example would be stress at work.. Another example may be somewhat paradoxical, but more common than it appears: it is common that the anxiety experienced by the delay in the period generates even greater delay.

It is therefore advisable to use relaxation techniques, such as breathing techniques or progressive muscle relaxation, and avoid becoming obsessed with the subject.

12. Extreme physical activity

Female athletes, mainly high-performance athletes, may have irregular or delayed menstrual cycles due to the high level of physical activity they perform. This is because very intense physical exercise causes a drop in estrogen levels. In this case it may be advisable to consult a physician specialized in sports..

13. Ovarian alterations

Another of the main causes of a delay in the arrival of the period is the presence of problems in the reproductive apparatus, one of the most frequent parts being the ovary. Polycystic ovarian syndrome or endometriosis are examples of this, and treatment of these causes (for example with contraceptives) can make the cycle more regular.

14. Medical conditions

Not only gynecological problems can cause delays in menstruation, but also other medical problems such as different infections (both genital and other types of infections), metabolic problems such as diabetes, obesity or thyroid disorders. such as diabetes, obesity or thyroid disorders.. Certain tumors may also be affected. A specific treatment of the cause will be required, so that the symptomatological improvement can generate a recovery of the usual cycle (although depending on the cause it will not always be possible).

15. Psychological pregnancy

One reason why menstruation may disappear in a woman is the alteration known as pseudocyesis or psychological pregnancy. In this case we are dealing with a person who begins to manifest all the typical symptoms of pregnancy, including the cessation of menstruation, despite the fact that there is not actually a developing fetus.. It can appear in depressed women, with a strong desire to become a mother or extreme fear of becoming pregnant, in people who have suffered abuse or in various types of situations. The treatment of this type of condition is usually delicate and complex, requiring psychological treatment in most cases.

Conclusion: Why don't I get my period?

Like any other biological process, menstruation depends on many factors and processes carried out by the body in a relatively parallel way. There is no single reason why I do not get my period, but knowing the main ones is useful to know what to do depending on the symptoms and the clues we get through our habits and through the characteristics of the body itself.