How does stress affect your Period?

Kaajal Gunputh Kaajal Gunputh Aug 17, 2019 715 0

How does stress affect your Period?

How does stress affect your Periods?

 

We’ve all had those weeks or even months that take an emotional toll on us and unfortunately most of the time it can very easily turn into a physical toll. Stress had an effect on a number of areas in your day-to-day activities, your mood, sleep cycle, blood pressure, sex drive and also your periods.
 

During the emotional turmoil, it can be tough to conclude its time to take control of your stress levels, but if it’s got to the point that your menstrual flow is being disrupted, it’s a sign from your body to prioritize both your mental and physical health and wellbeing.
 

If you are dealing with stress or have faced an enormous stress the previous month, here are the few things you can expect when it comes to changes in your period. If you experience these irregularities more frequently, consider giving your doctor a call to help you set up a plan for feeling better while achieving a better menstrual flow.  

 

Expect it to be late or early
If you have been menstruating for more than a few years now, you probably know how picky your flow can be. Stress messes up your cycle by affecting your hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls your hormone levels which complicates the whole thing. Unbalanced hormone levels can cause illness or sudden fluctuations in your weight which further throw your period out of whack. This leaves you with an irregular period which can come early or late.

 

A missing period
Aunt Flo may skip the town, yes; stress can cause amenorrhea(one or more missed periods) similar to how it causes irregular periods. It’s all about your hormones, if highly unbalanced it can result in a completely missed menstrual flow.  When your hormones are out of control, your hypothalamus makes the call that your body cannot handle pregnancy at the moment and this results into a missed periods entirely. We all know its more stressful to experience a late period when pregnancy is not in your list of desired experiences for the time being. You should reach out to your gynecologist if you miss two periods in a row and make sure that nothing else is going on down there!

 

Brace yourself for mega-amplified PMS symptoms
This study conducted in 2004 concluded that there is a significant associated between stress and the incidence of dysmenorrhoea after results showed that women with high stress were twice as likely to endure painful periods with nasty cramps. Usually the first two days of your periods following an episode of stress is going to be very painful, however if you find yourself in extreme pain for more than two days, its definitely time to hit up your doctor. Don’t let anyone ever convince you that its normal to suffer the whole week!

 

So, lets do a recap,

Stress can cause your period to come early, to come late or not to come at all and unfortunately give you extreme pain and discomfort.
 

If you have experience messed up periods due to stress, here are some few tips to help you:

  • Call your doctor
    If you have had interruptions in your menstrual cycle for 2 or more months, its high time you book at appointment with your gynecologist who will be able to give you more insight on irregularities and if stress if really changing your flow, they will help you deal with it.

 

  • Prioritize De-stressing.
    Track your cycle and take an effort to give yourself some extra love during that time of the month. Take yourself out, breathe, spend some time in nature and with your loved one

 

 

How has stress affected your period in the past? How did you handle it? Share your stress-busting tips in the comments below.

 

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