---
title: "How stress can impact your period"
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canonical_url: "https://www.naturopath-vancouver.com/blog/how-stress-can-impact-your-period"
markdown_url: "https://www.naturopath-vancouver.com/llms/blog/how-stress-can-impact-your-period"
lastmod: "2023-08-04T16:31:00.000Z"
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## Your brain is constantly surveying the environment and making adjustments and adaptations to help you survive. When it comes to your period, there’s no difference.

In periods of high stress, your brain may prevent or delay ovulation, as it may not be the most ideal time for reproduction. Once the stressor passes, or calms, ovulation may resume as the environment changes to one more favorable for reproduction.

Now, whether or not you’re trying to conceive - this is an important thing to keep in mind. 

Ovulation, and when it occurs, dictates the regularity of our cycle, our hormone balance, the heaviness of our periods, and the severity of our PMS, all things that influence our quality of life. 

While there are various reasons why one may not be ovulating, stress is one of the major reasons. 

## Have you experienced changes to your menstrual cycle during times of stress?

This may look like: 

- A skipped period or a late period
- A heavier period
- A more painful period
- A moodier period

Stress looks different for different people.

We often compare our stressor people when gauging the severity. However, each of our bodies is unique and responds to stress differently. The are various types of stressors that can impact our cycles. This may include:

- Day-to-day mental emotional stress (i.e. work, family, finances, etc.)
- Travel
- Infection
- Low caloric intake
- Excessive exercise
- Chronic infection or illness
- Poor sleep

The way you manage your stress will depend on the stressor (spoiler alert it may not be meditation).

Tuning into how you’re feeling, your body’s stress signs and figuring out your personal stressors is the first step to coming up with a plan. 

If your stressor is related to day-to-day stress - something like meditation or boundaries or down-time makes sense. However, if your stressors are related to your variable sleep schedule or low caloric intake - we need to specifically address those areas.

## Your “stress load” may be different from others.

I often hear that “my stress isn’t that bad”. We often compare ourselves and minimize our own stories and experiences. Remember, your body is unique to you. Even if your stress may seem “less than”, somebody else, it may be just enough to impact your body and your period.

Body stress may look different than mental stress.

Even though you’re feeling mentally and emotionally grounded, is your body? Sometimes we can trick ourselves that we’re feeling ok, even though our body is telling us otherwise. We get used to our routine. What is your body telling you? Your period is one way your body communicates with you (hence why its often referred to as teh 5th vital signs). Other ways may include:

- Elevated heart rate
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Poor sleep
- Poor energy
- Brain fog
- Weight gain

## How to support your period if stress is high?

- Find the root cause of your stressor
- Support the environment - nutrition, sleep, and movement are pillars
- Intentional stress management - what works for others may not work for you
- Specific, targeted support for your period - herbs, key nutrients, hormone testing.

## Need support? 

Let’s connect! I love helping people navigate their day-to-day life and how to optimize health. Your periods should be easy.

References:

- Weon HW, Son HK. An Analysis of Menstrual Symptoms, Menstrual Attitudes, Physical Stress and Psychological Stress According to the Menstrual Cycle Phase. Iran J Public Health. 2023 Jun;52(6):1161-1169. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12958. PMID: 37484149; PMCID: PMC10362827.
- Huhmann K. Menses Requires Energy: A Review of How Disordered Eating, Excessive Exercise, and High Stress Lead to Menstrual Irregularities. Clin Ther. 2020 Mar;42(3):401-407. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.01.016. Epub 2020 Mar 2. PMID: 32139174.

## Get started today

Dr. Ashley is accepting new patients, in-person and virtually across British Columbia.

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