Stress And Your Cycle

As if this modern-day life isn’t stressful enough, adding on the impact of COVID-19 to your life may be the last thing you thought you could handle. With millions of Americans being affected by the Coronavirus and being in a state of stress from work and financial insecurity, stress is at an all-time high for most people. While we may “all be in this together,” stress does not affect everyone the same. For women, stress can significantly affect menstruation. Increased hormone levels at that time of the month, normal hormone fluctuations throughout the month, and added stress can wreak havoc on a female’s body. 

Excessive stress most often causes women to worry, which can negatively impact their breathing, heart rate, digestive system, and their reproductive system. With hormones controlling or affecting many parts of the female body, a significant amount of stress can cause women’s menstrual cycles to be negatively disturbed.

Anytime women experience sudden stress in their lives or disruptions to their routines, it can bring on changes in their periods. This can happen to women who have had periods “like clockwork” their whole lives, and it can even happen to women who are taking birth control. COVID-19 has added an enormous amount of stress to our lives. Stress can prevent ovulation, can make women skip periods, and it can make women have longer periods. If you have irregularity in your menstrual cycle right now and you think it is caused by stress, it is essential to talk to your doctor.

Having a regular menstrual cycle is vitally important to women’s health, which is why women need to manage their stress and anxiety as much as possible. If you are battling an excessive amount of stress, it is important to talk with your physician. At Marietta OB/GYN Affiliates, P.A., we provide a broad range of women’s general medical care and specialized care in the area of the reproductive system. Our practice consists of six experienced physicians and a dedicated team of nurses and medical assistants who can meet the needs of women in every age range from adolescence through menopause and beyond.