Stress can affect your menstrual cycle in pretty much every way possible. It can sometimes lead your period to stop altogether. But other times, it can make your period longer or heavier or lead to mid-cycle bleeding.
Stress impacts hormonal pathways in the body, and this can affect the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. Stress can lead to irregular or more painful periods — or even pause the menstrual cycle entirely.
Hormone and ovulation changes
If your hormones aren't at a normal level or if your body doesn't ovulate during your menstrual cycle, the uterine lining can become very thick. When your body finally sheds the lining, you may experience a period that's longer than normal.
One study of stress in female nurses found associations between high stress and both anovulation and longer cycles (20), though these findings may be in part due to rotating shift work (working nights), which is common for nurses (21).
A menstrual period typically lasts around 2–7 days, but sometimes it can last longer. This can be due to the use of birth control and some health conditions, including endometriosis. A doctor will recommend treatment based on the cause. Occasionally, a period may take longer than usual to stop.
If you have a long period for only one month, there's probably no need to worry. But “if you notice a change for two or three cycles, that's the time to seek out your doctor,” Thielen says.
First, it's important to know how long your period should last. On average, the menstrual cycle is every 21 to 35 days and during your period, bleeding can last 2 to 7 days. But what is normal for one person might not be for another. However, heavier or longer periods can increase your chances of anemia.
Cortisol can delay, or even prevent, ovulation. It also interferes with the production of progesterone, and decreased progesterone can sometimes cause spotting. So when you're stressed, your period may show up late, early, or stop altogether (known as amenorrhea). It could even be heavier and more painful.
Muscle aches and headaches. Chest pains and high blood pressure. Indigestion or heartburn. Constipation or diarrhoea.
Yes, it can. There is research that shows that people with anxiety typically have shorter periods, and people with depression are more likely to have irregular cycles. One of the most common causes of delayed or missed periods is functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, or stress-induced anovulation.
Having long periods frequently can indicate one of several potential conditions, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. A doctor can help diagnose and treat these conditions. Often, taking hormonal birth control pills or switching the type of hormonal medication can help people find relief.
Causes of a shorter cycle
hyperthyroidism. hypothyroidism. onset of menopause (also known as perimenopause) uterine fibroids or cysts.
Scientists named stress as a factor in irregular menstrual cycles and the amount of menstrual bleeding. Stress also makes the body release the alpha-amylase enzyme, an enzyme linked to fertility issues. High concentrations of the enzyme make it difficult for women to conceive.
Mental stress can cause changes in menstrual cycles, which can range from skipped or irregular periods , to heavy menstrual bleeding.
This is because your hormone levels drop. It is also called breakthrough bleeding, and usually happens about 2 weeks after your last period. Breakthrough bleeding should stop after 1 or 2 months. Your periods will usually become more regular within 6 months.
Reducing your level of stress or finding effective coping mechanisms may help your body revert to a normal menstrual period. Talking with a therapist or possibly taking anti-anxiety medication can lower stress and help you manage stress symptoms, eventually allowing your system to return to regularity.
If you have bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days per period, or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour, you need to talk with your doctor. To find out if you have menorrhagia, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and menstrual cycles.
If the stress occurs during the beginning of a menstrual cycle, the female may experience spotting or an altered cycle. When the body does not adequately dispose of the uterine lining, the female can experience abnormal bleeding or spotting for an additional week or so.
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Long-term spotting could be the result of fibroids or polyps. Fibroids occur on the uterus and are the result of overgrowing muscles. Polyps are overgrowths that occur in the uterus or cervix. Both of these conditions are benign, but they can cause discomfort when you urinate as well as cause irregular bleeding.
If your period lasts longer than seven days, or if it suddenly changes significantly in length for three or more cycles in a row, that warrants a call to your ob-gyn, says Tom Toth, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF.
Early periods often result from hormonal changes, especially during puberty and perimenopause. Many underlying medical conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, can also cause menstrual irregularities.
Menstrual flow might occur every 21 to 35 days and last two to seven days. For the first few years after menstruation begins, long cycles are common. However, menstrual cycles tend to shorten and become more regular as you age.
Bleeding can occur when clotting factors or platelets are in low supply or if there are problems with the clotting factors or platelets. Abnormal blood vessels can also contribute to bleeding disorders. Bleeding disorders can be mild or severe. When the blood does not properly clot, bleeding can be heavy and prolonged.