Table of contents:
- What is a normal menstrual cycle like, anyway?
- Stress and menstruation are closely related
- What is secondary amenorrhea?
- Then, how to deal with stress and late menstruation?
Stress and delayed menstruation are often associated with one another. Irregular or late menstruation can indeed be caused by health problems. Then what about psychological disorders? Is it true that stress can affect menstruation? Find out the answer below, yes!
What is a normal menstrual cycle like, anyway?
Every woman's menstrual cycle is different, sometimes it can be on schedule and sometimes irregular. On average, menstruation (menstruation, which is the time a woman bleeds) occurs every 21 to 35 days of your menstrual cycle. Menstruation usually lasts about three to five days. Irregular menstruation may occur due to several things, including stress and certain health conditions.
Stress and menstruation are closely related
Some women may experience irregular periods or stop having periods, usually as a result of certain medications. Conditions such as excessive exercise, too low weight, or insufficient intake of calorie foods can also inhibit the smooth ovulation in a woman's body.
Another cause may be the impact of a hormonal imbalance. For example, a thyroid gland disorder can cause menstrual irregularities when the level of thyroid hormone in the blood becomes too low or too high
Late or irregular menstruation can be caused by stress. You may not realize it, but stress messes with hormones throughout the body, including the menstrual signal hormone, estrogen.
The hormone that plays a role in the emergence of stress is the hormone cortisol. This cortisol can also inhibit ovulation in your body. With the decrease in the hormone estrogen for ovulation, your menstruation becomes delayed. When stress increases, it is possible that your menstrual periods will temporarily stop. This temporary cessation of menstruation is also known as secondary amenorrhea.
What is secondary amenorrhea?
Secondary amenorrhea is a condition in which menstrual periods stop for more than three or six months, during which periods have previously been experienced. This is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance. Sometimes, excess or reduced levels of estrogen in the body can cause menstrual irregularities. In addition, an unhealthy lifestyle that triggers stress can also prevent you from menstruating regularly.
Then, how to deal with stress and late menstruation?
Stress can affect the part of the brain that is responsible for producing hormones. Then, this hormone can reduce levels of menstrual hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, you must first remove stress from your mind.
Reducing stress levels can help your body return to normal menstrual periods. Also, if you can't deal with stress on your own, you can talk to or consult a psychologist or psychiatrist (psychiatrist). Later, the psychiatrist will understand the problem causing your stress by using an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. These drugs can help with problems and reduce stress.
Eating healthy foods such as vegetables and fruit can also decrease the stress-triggering hormone cortisol. Also try sports such as jogging or meditation. Both of these can increase the hormone oxytocin which can make you happy and happy, and free from stress.
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