“Decoding Delayed Periods: Could PCOS Be a Factor?”

A delayed period occurs when a woman’s menstrual cycle does not follow its normal rhythm and the expected period does not occur on time. This delay could be caused by a variety of circumstances, including

• Stress
• Weight changes
• Hormone fluctuations
• Illness
• Pregnancy
• Medical condition
• Perimenopause
• Medications

Having a delayed period once in a while may not be a huge deal, but having a delayed period every month may trigger PCOS. So if you have delayed period every month you have to check if you have PCOS.

How to know if you have PCOS?

It is best to determine whether you have any of the following PCOS symptoms if your periods are delayed:

1. Irregular menstrual cycles
2. Excessive hair growth
3. Acne
4. Weight gain
5. Fatigue and mood changes

If you have any of the above listed symptoms there are pretty chances that you might have PCOS. Now let’s understand how PCOS cause delayed periods.

Factors showing that PCOS might be the reason for a delayed period:

PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a hormonal disorder that is caused due to hormonal imbalances. The most common symptom of PCOS is irregular periods which include delayed or missed periods.

Here’s how PCOS may be the cause of a missed period is as follows:

1. Hormonal imbalances: PCOS is distinguished by increased levels of androgens (male hormones) and insulin resistance. The normal functioning of the menstrual cycle is disrupted by this hormone imbalance. The hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which govern ovulation and menstruation, might be disrupted, resulting in irregular or missing ovulation.

2. Anovulation: Anovulation is the absence of ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries). Ovulation is a critical step in a regular menstrual cycle for the release of an egg and the subsequent loss of the uterine lining during menstruation. Anovulation is frequent in PCOS, and it can result in missed or delayed periods. 

3. Ovarian Cysts: Contrary to popular belief, not all patients with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries. However, some people may develop tiny cysts as a result of follicles that do not mature normally and become trapped in the ovaries. These follicles might clump together and form cysts, contributing to unpredictable ovulation and menstrual periods.

4. Delayed Follicle Maturation: In a typical menstrual cycle, a follicle containing an egg forms and matures in the ovary until it is ready for ovulation. This maturation process can be disturbed in PCOS, resulting in delayed or incomplete follicle formation. Ovulation does not occur in the absence of a developed follicle, resulting in a missed period. 

5. Endometrial Changes: The endometrium is the uterine lining that thickens during the menstrual cycle to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If ovulation does not occur, the hormone progesterone is not produced adequately.

   Progesterone is in charge of keeping the uterine lining in place. In the absence of progesterone, the endometrial lining can thicken and become fragile, resulting in unpredictable bleeding patterns and missed periods.

6. Chronic Inflammation: PCOS is frequently accompanied with low-grade chronic inflammation. Inflammatory signals can disrupt hormone signaling, which is required for regular ovulation and menstruation.

So now as we know how PCOS might result in delayed periods, let’s understand what the complications of delayed periods.

 

What are the complications of delayed periods?

Having delayed periods indicates that something is amiss with your system hence it is important to treat them. The following are the difficulties induced by delayed periods.

• Anxiety & Stress: Delays in periods can cause anxiety and stress because people may worry about underlying health conditions, particularly if pregnancy is a possibility. Emotional pain may be exacerbated by the ambiguity around the reason for the delay.
• Inability to Conceive: If you’re having trouble becoming pregnant, irregular or delayed periods can make it harder to correctly track ovulation and identify the days that are the most fertile.
• Hormonal Imbalance: Prolonged irregular cycles, including missed periods, may point to a hormonal condition such polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which may need to be treated medically.
• Health monitoring: Regular menstrual cycles frequently act as a sign of general hormonal and reproductive health. Delay periods might make it challenging to monitor developments and spot possible issues.
• Endometrial Health: An extended interval between menstrual cycles may have an impact on the endometrium’s condition, which may result in irregular or severe bleeding when periods do occur.
• Management of Medication: The menstrual cycle is used as a scheduling factor for some drugs or therapies. The timing and efficacy of these therapies may be altered by delayed periods.
• Quality of Life: Discomfort, uncertainty, and frustration can be brought on by irregular or delayed periods, which can affect a person’s general quality of life.

 

Therefore, it is critical to treat them in order to eliminate all of these issues brought on by delayed periods. In reality, managing delayed periods entails treating PCOS, which is their underlying cause. Because treating the underlying cause is the best solution to prevent any problem.

 

How to treat delayed periods by treating PCOS?

Delayed periods which are caused due to PCOS can be treated by treating PCOS i.e., by reversing PCOS.

There are ten modern lifestyle root causes for hormonal imbalances related to PCOS:

1. Food Related Causes- inflammation, toxicity, acidity, excess male hormones, insulin resistance
2. Exercise Related Causes : Sedentary lifestyle, lack of muscle strength, excess ovarian fat
3. Sleep Related -Causes Poor sleep quality (Lack of Deep Sleep)
4. Stress Related Causes – Chronic Stress

Now these root causes should be treated in order to reverse PCOS. The best method to reverse PCOS is to treat it naturally. To reverse PCOS naturally, there is a 5 pillar strategy adapting which can help to reverse PCOS naturally.

5 Pillar strategies to treat PCOS thereby preventing delayed periods:

So let’s discuss how PCOS can be treated naturally through 5 pillars of a holistic lifestyle:

1. Eat Right:

Be careful about when and what you eat. Embrace living, water-rich, whole, plant-based foods that nurture our genetic potential. By opting for local and seasonal choices, we honour nature’s wisdom. Increase consumption of this type of food can improve insulin sensitivity and digestion.

Avoiding specific foods including fried and processed foods, refined carbohydrates, drinks, alcohol, and caffeine aids in managing PCOS. Eliminating packaged and processed foods liberates us from epigenetic imprints, elevating our hormonal health.

Your body is best at digesting when you are active and when there is sunlight. Thus eating or drinking when your body wants you to sleep and when its dark disrupts the system and compromises the metabolism. So it’s important to stop midnight snacking. Adapt to a consistent daily eating window of only 12 hours say 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

2. Move More:

Begin a journey of holistic lifestyle improvements in which staying active is more than just exercise. Constant activity throughout the day promotes epigenetic expression and hormonal homeostasis. To unlock the power of epigenetic triggers, engage in joyful physical activities, dance, or simply meditative walks.

3. Breathe Aware:

As we learn more about Pranayama, or the science of breathing, we get access to a powerful gateway for supporting gland function and hormone balance. We transcend the commonplace and boost our hormonal wellbeing by harnessing the breath’s epigenetic power.

4. Sleep Better:

Unlock the secrets of deep sleep, a transformative practice for healing and regeneration. With the art of YogNidra, we embrace epigenetic potential, unearthing hormonal harmony in the realm of dreams. Rejuvenate your entire being through this exquisite dance with the epigenetic clock.

5. Mind Free:

Explore the realms of emotions, thoughts, and stress resilience, where writing, gratitude, and emotional practices serve as our compass. We empower our hormonal landscape by embracing epigenetic intelligence and shifting our story from stress to serenity.

 

Hence Following these 5 integrated natural ways to treat PCOS has zero side effects and also contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Thus PCOS can be reversed which aids in preventing delayed periods.