Menstrual Cycle & Stress

For the most part, your menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones and other involuntary internal processes. However, stress can have an impact on your cycle. To maintain the regularity of your period, it may help to learn how your emotions can influence your cycle and find good ways to minimize and cope with stress. Reducing physical stress on your body may help as well.

Ovulation

• Ovulation--the release of an egg from a woman's ovary--is part of the menstrual cycle. Once you've ovulated, you are likely to start menstruating within a set number of days. The period between ovulation and the first day of your menstrual flow is called the luteal phase. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the luteal phase typically lasts for about 12 to 16 days, and this phase is about the same length during every period. If stress disrupts the hormone production and release that leads up to and stimulates ovulation, you may ovulate late or not at all. In turn, your period may be late. However, it is possible to have a menstrual period without ovulating.

Physical Stress

• Physical stress can disrupt your normal menstrual cycle, causing your period to begin later than normal. If your physical stress is severe, you may even skip a period or two. According to the Mayo Clinic, extremely vigorous exercise can cause a delay in the onset of your period or cause you to skip periods. This normally affects those who exercise quite a bit and on a regular basis. For example, a professional athlete or dancer may be more likely to experience this than a woman who exercises moderately in order to maintain her good health. Things like lower--than-normal amounts of body fat and more-strenuous-than-usual energy use contribute to late or skipped periods.

Mental Stress

• According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), mental or emotional stress can contribute to late periods. This is because emotional stress can affect the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain responsible for regulating hormones important for both ovulation and menstruation. If the work of this part of the brain is impaired or altered, the hormones that regulate ovulation may not function as they should. The result can be delayed or skipped ovulation and menstruation.

See a Doctor

• If you're experiencing menstruation irregularities or your periods have stopped altogether, see your doctor for an examination. It is possible that an underlying health condition, and not stress, is at fault. If you are diagnosed with an underlying condition, treating it may help to resolve menstrual irregularities.

Treatment

• If stress has caused a delay in the start of your period, minimizing or eliminating factors that cause mental stress may get your menstrual cycle back on track. If you are underweight because of exercising too much or for other reasons, getting back to a healthy weight may help. If physical stress is at fault, it may be necessary to make changes to your exercise routine. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills or other medicinal treatments to help make your periods regular again.