Understanding Irregular Periods: Causes, Stress & Menstrual Flow Changes

Question
I am 17 and have no children. The first day of my most recent menstrual period was August 23rd. I have noticed during my past two periods that there is a pause in the flow, as in it will stop for a day and then continue. This time, the flow stopped for about 3 days. I'm a freshman in college and August 23rd was my first day of classes, and I have been under a lot of stress. I think this might have something to do with it, but I'm not sure. What can you tell me?

Answer
A period is the actual sloughing of the inner wall of the uterus (the endometrium). Sometimes, it you will bleed for a few days and then stop, but a day or two later you may bleed somemore if the endometrium was not fully expelled. This is common and is not due to stress, but to the thickness of the endometrium. You may have some menstrual cramps at this time. Stress, on the other hand, often causes you to miss a period from time to time. See what happens when you get your next period (September 19). Good Luck in school.