Periods and stress go hand in hand. Periods can cause stress, and stress can affect your menstrual cycle.
According to a study, high levels of stress can cause irregular periods. Stressing about not getting or missing your period can make the situation worse.
A complex relationship, one could say.
Let us take you through how stress affects your menstrual cycle, causing missed periods, and how you can avoid stress to have a healthy period cycle.
How stress affects your menstrual cycle?
Your menstrual cycle involves a lot more than just blood flow and cramps. The brain’s hypothalamus controls your menstrual cycle. It is sensitive to external factors like exercise, sleep, nutrition, and stress!
When your hypothalamus is functioning properly, it releases chemicals that stimulate the pituitary gland, which prompts your ovary to release the period-inducing hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
But when you are stressed, your body activates the “fight or flight” response to deal with a potential threat (i.e. stress). It triggers the production of cortisol, a stress hormone, which can disrupt the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary interaction, resulting in irregular periods.
Cortisol can also interfere with progesterone production, and low progesterone levels can cause spotting. When stressed, your period may arrive late, early, or not at all (known as amenorrhea). It may be even heavier and more painful.
How to prevent stress-related missed periods?
If you’re concerned about stress being one of the reasons for late periods, there are several methods for relieving stress and increasing period regularity. Consult a doctor to discuss treatment options if you’re worried about your cycle or overall mental health.
Stress management
If your period has been delayed due to stress, you can begin with the following guidelines:
- If you are overwhelmed by life’s events and struggles at work or in personal relationships, creating a routine and forming healthy habits that support mental health difficulties can be helpful. Healthy lifestyle adjustments like wholesome eating, regular exercise, meaningful hobbies and activities, and rewarding social connections can all help reduce the impacts of stress and reset your circadian rhythm.
- Exercise can be a great way to improve physical fitness, reduce stress, and regulate your menstrual cycle when done in moderation. Mindfulness and meditation are natural ways to improve mental health and relieve stress and anxiety.
- Consider seeking help in the form of therapy or medication if you are seriously struggling with your mental health. These treatments for moderate to severe anxiety can significantly reduce stress and help improve overall health. Doctors can prescribe anxiety medication, and therapists can help you address underlying mental and emotional issues that may be contributing to anxiety and stress.
Tracking your period
Keeping track of your period and any accompanying symptoms is always a good idea because your missed periods can be stressful and a sign of potentially serious underlying issues. Tracking your period can help you notice any changes or irregularities in your cycle and get to know yourself and your body better.
You can also download the Kotex period calculator app, which makes period tracking a breeze and can also record sexual activity, spotting, ovulation, and other menstrual cycle events.
Take Away
Your menstrual cycle can be an excellent indicator of your body’s warning signs.
Whether you’re stressed due to burnout, school deadlines, personal illness, or any other unexpected life event, your period cycle can get affected.
Everyone experiences stress to some degree, but if it interferes with your menstrual health and affects your cycle, you should see your doctor.