Most people are aware that too much stress can lead to headaches, stomach ulcers and even heart attacks, but its effect on fertility is less publicized.
The condition, called Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea occurs in as many as 5% of women of childbearing age.
How Can Stress Stop My Periods?
When a person is feeling stressed, their body produces more of a hormone called cortisol, which increases the heart rate in readiness for an emergency. This is part of the ‘fight or flight’ response which is a survival instinct and very helpful in extreme situations such as car accidents. It is less helpful in everyday life as the hormone also suppresses the immune system, and, in the long term if the stress is sustained, can lead to health problems, including the cessation of your periods.
Women who have functional hypothalamic amenorrhea either have very irregular periods or none at all. There is nothing wrong with their reproductive system, they are simply stressed.
Doctors at the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, decided to try some stress combating measures on affected women to see if it had a positive impact on their fertility, and they were pleasantly surprised.
Counseling to Bring Back Fertility?
Fourteen women took part in the study. Seven of these had cognitive behavioural therapy and were given advice on a healthy diet, and seven of them were not. All 14 women were monitored for 5 months to ascertain their progress.
In the treated group, six of the women regained regular and healthy periods, and the seventh woman partially regained some periods.
In the untreated group, one woman recovered and one partially recovered and the remaining five women continued to have functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Although the study group was small, continuing study is being done in this area, and the results point to the efficacy of counselling and lifestyle change to regulate the menstrual cycle.
How Can I Reduce Stress?
All of the women in the study had common denominators, such as busy careers, inadequate diet (relying on ‘junk’ foods to save time on the cooking) or just having too many things to do.
Try to limit the amount of things you do when you’re not at work. Eat more healthy food. If you don’t have time to cook, consider that many fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw and there are lots of recipes that you can make in less than half an hour.
Do something relaxing in the evening, like having a bubble bath, and make sure you get at least eight hours sleep a night. You might find simply by making some changes that your cycle regulates without the need for a doctor.
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