Stress is a psychological abnormality that negatively impacts health. In women, stress can be accompanied by significant gynecological problems. It influences menstruation by accentuating the pains and by creating irregularities. How can we explain this phenomenon? How can we reduce stress? Here are some answers.

Why does stress impact my Period?

Irregular periods

Stress has a huge impact on your cycle. Periods can become more frequent or, on the contrary, become infrequent. Stress can even stop periods all-together. When a woman is experiencing a disrupted cycle lasting more than several months, it is imperative to consult a gynecologist.

Painful periods

Stress influences menstruation and especially period pain. When the body is going through stress, menstrual pains will be much more intense. More stress comes with more painful periods. Only 20% of women with little or no stress are prone to menstrual pain, compared to 44% of women with stress. On a positive note, women who manage to reduce their stress will also succeed reducing their period pain. (Good to know!)

What about pregnancy?

Since stress affects menstruation. It therefore also has an impact on a woman’s fertility. Because the cycle becomes so irregular, it is more difficult to determine the time of ovulation, which is suitable for fertilization. In addition, stress will have a negative impact on ovulation, as it becomes rare and of lower quality. Stress has been associated with miscarriages or premature deliveries. 

How do I reduce stress & get my period back on track? 

In order to get your health back on track, and avoid long-term gynecological disorders, it’s imperative to adopt every possible habit to manage stress. Good news, several solutions exist.

• First off, you must get your body to be as wholesome as possible, by adopting a healthy lifestyle;    
• By maintaining a healthy weight, you will encourage your body to regulate the hormone production (as it will send the signal that you are healthy enough to carry a baby);    
• Eating a healthy diet is a drug-free way to give your body all the nutrients it needs to become healthy again;   
• Reduce the amount of caffeine & refined sugars in your diet. These have a significant negative impact on stress. Give herbal tea a try; you may adopt it!
• Take an Internet pause. YES, you will thank us for this one. Try going 24 hours. Major internal cleanse.     
• You’ve heard this before, sport is great for fighting stress, so, exercise regularly!  
• Catch your ZZZs! Sleeping allows the body to rebuild itself and keep the various internal clocks in working order. This makes the body stronger and health problems are rarer. So, give your body what it needs, and rest!
• Finally, to reduce stress, it is necessary to turn to targeted activities such as yoga, meditation or even Tai Chi.
• Alternative medicine has been proven to be useful, so you can also give this a try!

The more you know

Stress comes at us from many sources: work, family, health, marriage, kids, money, and much more! Its impact can be very significant. If your daily life (and your menstruation cycle) is affected, and you just can’t seem to get a handle on it, open up to trusted friends or family. Do not keep the secret. Talking about it is the first step. Consult with a doctor and get a physical examination. If your periods are affected by this stress, there may be other repercussions that demand your immediate attention.

Be well, Justine 🌸

Got a Period Question? Contact us and we may feature the answer in an upcoming blog. 

Have a Happy Period 🌸

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