Patient's question:
I had a cold a while ago and took anti-inflammatory, cold, and cough medicine for half a month. However, I noticed that my period hasn't come for 10 days. I also took a pregnancy test, but it was negative. I want to ask if taking cold medicine affects the amount of menstrual flow.Doctor's answer:
Menstruation can be affected by medication, which may lead to delayed periods, increased menstrual flow, and prolonged periods. On the other hand, it can also be influenced by diseases, mental state, emotions, stress, diet, and sleep patterns. If your menstrual cycle is usually regular and you test negative for pregnancy 10 days after the delay, it is likely that pregnancy can be ruled out. If the delay is less than two weeks, medication can be used to induce menstruation. If the delay is caused by medication, it generally returns to normal the following month.