Menstrual Cycle Delay – How Late Can a Period Be — Malaysia Patient Guide
DTAPclinic Editorial · Information only
Published · Women's Health· Independent health education for Malaysia — not a clinic and not medical advice.
Overview
This independent guide from DTAPclinic covers women's health, contraception, and screening for readers in Malaysia. Below we explain menstrual cycle delay – how late can a period be — malaysia patient guide in accessible language. Content is for education only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or a substitute for care from a registered provider.
What exactly is a delayed menstrual cycle? You may not know this, but not everyone has a menstrual cycle that functions like clock-work. While some girls have the privilege of being able to accurately predict when their next period is going to come due to their extremely regular cycles, many of us actually experience some variation in our menstrual cycles. These variations are usually a difference of a few days, with the average length of a menstrual cycle ranging from 28-35 days. A delayed menstrual cycle occurs when your menstrual period deranges from this average duration of 28-35 days. While some people do have longer menstrual cycles of up to 45 days, any cycle that is delayed or out of the norm should be checked out by your doctor.
What Causes a Delayed Menstrual Cycle?
Causes of a delayed menstrual cycle will depend on 2 main things : Your age Whether you’re sexually active or not The most important cause of a delayed menstrual cycle that cannot be missed is PREGNANCY. If you are of a reproductive age group (after puberty and before menopause) and sexually active, the first thing to do with a delayed menstrual period is to do a urine pregnancy test. Girls at the ‘extremes’ of their reproductive age also may tend to experience a delayed menstrual cycle.
What Do We Mean By This?
Adolescent girls who recently underwent puberty or are within the first few years of getting their first period may also experience some delays in their monthly menstrual period. On the other end of the spectrum, older women in their late 40s or early 50s may also experience delayed menstrual cycles as they approach menopause. Several other factors can also contribute to a delayed menstrual cycle: Weight gain or loss Over-exercise Stress Hormonal imbalances or thyroid problems
What Does a Doctor Do for a Patient with Delayed Menstrual Cycle?
When you experience any delays, irregularity or changes in your menstrual cycle, You may wish to see a doctor get it checked out. The first thing your doctor will do is to take a detailed history of your condition, which may include personal questions such as your sexual history. It is also important for the doctor to have an idea on your usual menstrual patterns as well as your general lifestyle. Next, a physical examination on the abdomen and vaginal area is carried out to look for any clues for the cause of your delayed menstrual period. The doctor will also look for signs such as excessive hair growth, acne or obesity. After taking the history and performing the physical examination, your doctor may then order some investigations to find out what is causing your delayed menstrual period.
What type of investigations are required?
As previously mentioned, the most important thing to rule out with a delayed menstrual cycle is pregnancy. Once pregnancy is ruled out, other types of tests can then be conducted to further investigate the cause of the delayed menstrual period. One of the tests that may be done is a hormonal blood test. This will ascertain if there are any hormonal abnormalities resulting in the abnormal menstrual period. An ultrasound may also be arranged to look for any abnormalities. It is also important for all women to have an up to a date PAP smear .
What Should I Do For My Delayed Menses?
The first thing You may wish to do if you experience delayed menses is to seek a doctor’s opinion as early as possible! Also, as mentioned above, doing a urine pregnancy test is one of the basic steps that you can do on your own as well. If you are pregnant, then your doctor will refer you to a gynaecologist or a hospital for further testing. If you are not pregnant, then further tests will be conducted to determine the causes of the delayed cycle. After which you may be prescribed with some medications to help. If you are experiencing any worrying delayed period, p lease call or visit any of our registered clinics in Malaysias or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg for an appointment for a proper evaluation and treatment. Take Care! Other Reads: What Is the Cause & Treatment For Oral Herpes (Cold Sores) 10 Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Lumps and Bumps Sex During Period (Sex & Menstruation) What To Know 11 Causes of Dyspareunia (Pain During Intercourse) What You Need to Know about HPV Vaccination, Cervical Cancer & Pap Smear Why Do I Have Abnormal Vaginal Discharge What is HPV Vaccination – Gardasil 9
Articles on this site are independently edited patient guides for Malaysia. They are rewritten for local readers, exclude clinic promotions, and must not be copied from other publishers.