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Stress and Your Period: Understanding the Connection

Stress is a stressful word when you realise its harmful effects on your health! If you are stressed about your irregular periods, know that you are only giving yourself an extra push towards hormonal imbalance.

Stress can affect the health of women in many ways. Menstrual cycle is regulated by the proper functioning of many hormones. There are many factors that can affect the normal cycle. Out of these, stress is one of the common reasons that we often overlook.

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Stress hormones will suppress the normal functioning of hypothalamus. This will affect the functioning of the master gland of our body-the pituitary gland, thyroid gland and adrenal glands. Since menstrual regulation is completely monitored by these glands, any abnormality in them can affect your periods.

Mild menstrual abnormalities can be reversed to normal by practicing relaxation techniques regularly. Psychological stress can affect your periods in many ways. It can cause changes in the duration and frequency of your periods.

If you wonder how stress affects your periods, read on as we are here to discuss some of the most common things that can affect periods. 

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Secondary amenorrhea

Chronic hormonal imbalance can cause a temporary cessation of menstruation. The chances for this will be more if your body is exposed often and frequently to stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol. Secondary amenorrhea can occur even in women who previously had regular periods.

Missed periods

Missed periods are very common among women, especially those who are stressed. Frequent missed periods will affect the normal order of your cycle. If you experience missing of periods frequently, take initiatives to keep your stress under control. This is another way how bad can stress affect your period.

Long cycles

A 28 days cycle is considered as the normal duration of a menstrual cycle. But, there are cases when the interval between two cycles becomes too long. This occurs due to the effect of hormonal changes. Stress acts as one of the main reasons for long cycles.

Ovarian dysfunction

Abnormal action of hormones will ultimately lead to ovarian dysfunction. This will lead to ovulation problems and reproductive issues. Cortisol gives signals to the brain to stop the production on female hormones. This is the reasons why experts in the field suggest women to practice relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.

Abnormal bleeding

Stress can cause abnormally heavy bleeding or scanty bleeding depending on the type of hormonal changes. This can also cause you to bleed before the supposed date of your period. Stress hormones can affect your reproductive hormones and in severe cases, this can even lead to anaemia due to excess blood loss.

Difficult PMS

Premenstrual symptoms are common for many women. But stress can increase the intensity of your PMS. Managing stress will help you to control PMS. Also, there will be situations where stress symptoms mimic PMS. This is an example for how bad can stress affect your period.

If stress can affect your reproductive health, it is the same with all your organs. Manage your stress and it can take you a long way to a healthy life!