Is It ‘Normal’ for Stress to Mess With My Period?
Twice a month, Yahoo Health’s Hormone Whisperer Alisa Vitti, HHC, is answering the most common questions about hormones and how they relate to weight, sex, acne, bad moods, low energy, and everything in between. Read her introductory column to learn more about Alisa’s approach to stopping hormonal chaos and getting into hormonal flow.
THE QUESTION: My period is usually pretty regular, but recently my cycle has been thrown out of whack because of all the stress I’ve been under lately. Is this “normal”?
ALISA’S ANSWER: During spring finals when I was in school, I could guarantee my period would go missing that month due to the stress of studying, staying up late, keeping an irregular eating schedule, and not sleeping enough. I figured out how to restore my cycle permanently so stress no longer interrupts my FLO, and you can, too!
There are a variety of stressful life circumstances — like a big move, job change, breakup, or just the usual super-fast lifestyle without any downtime — that can cause chronic stress build-up. All of this can trip the wires of you having a consistent cycle.
Is this normal? No, actually. Though it is common, it’s a sign that your endocrine system is just barely keeping it together and that its function of keeping your hormones balanced is being crushed under the weight of even the most minor stresses. You should be worried if this happens because it means that you could have issues with maintaining proper bone density, thyroid function, and fertility long-term, not to mention missing your period for longer stretches of time.
VIDEO: 3 Reasons Why You May Be Missing Your Period
You definitely want to learn how to manage stress and your hormones to prevent this from happening, and to be able to bring your period back naturally if it does happen.
Related: A Guide To Interpreting Your Period
The FLO Science
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenals, and is produced in excess during times of stress (hence its nickname “the stress hormone”). Once in a while, this is no problem for your body to handle. However, on the regular, it will disrupt a major governing system of your cycle regularity, something called the Hypothalamic, Pituitary, Adrenal, Ovarian Axis (HPA/HPO). And, as its formidable name might suggest, it runs the show in Periodville.
Cortisol isn’t the only hormone that can mess with your period — insulin also affects the HPA/HPO Axis. Studies have shown that when insulin levels are off, ovulation is interrupted. This is critical information for women with PCOS or those who are trying to conceive, but it also helps inform the rest of us how our diets can affect our periods (since what we eat affects our blood sugar levels, which then affects how much insulin is released from the pancreas).
These two hormones will affect your cycle wherever you find yourself in your life cycle, whether you’re getting periods regularly, are postpartum, or are in perimenopause.
Related: How To Get Your Hormones Tested And What To Do Next
The FLO Fix
These three steps will not only help you restore your cycle, but help your endocrine system respond better to stress — so your next stressful episode won’t throw off your cycle yet again. Don’t be put off by their simplicity; these actions have profound effects on your endocrine system. I love when you can use one strategy for your body and it gives you a multiple return on your investment!
Firstly, you need to get those cortisol levels down — chronic high levels make it hard for your body to restore the right cycle length. Engage in some de-stressing activities: Moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day is a great option, as is having a great orgasm (really!).
Related: Why You Should Ditch Your Vibrator
Secondly, add sweet potatoes to your diet repertoire. This healthy carbohydrate is rich in vitamin A (which is good for your liver and estrogen metabolism.)
Thirdly, make sure you have your coffee in the morning with your breakfast! Caffeine on an empty stomach can spike your cortisol and insulin levels, and could keep your period stuck on skip.
Related: Should You Be Drinking Coffee?
Good things come in threes: I want to hear from you in the comments!
First, tell me what you’re going to try from my prescription above, and why.
Second, what are your top health questions for me, your trusty Hormone Whisperer? Your question could be featured in my column!
Third, everyone you know is hormonal: Spread a little good ovary karma and share this article with your friends on social media, and be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Need more Hormone Help? If you’re ready to get to the root of your issues, it’s time you started dealing with your hormones. Get out of symptom chaos so you can get back into hormonal FLO. Sign up here for a free download of my 4-Day Hormone Detox from my book WomanCode.
ABOUT ALISA: Alisa Vitti, HHC, is an integrative nutritionist, best-selling author of WomanCode, creator of the WomanCode System, and the founder of FLOLiving.com, a virtual health center that supports women’s hormonal and reproductive health. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Alisa has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, has a web series on Lifetime, and has been a regular contributor for CBS, Fox, Shape, Women’s Health, MindBodyGreen, and the Huffington Post. She’s also presented at TEDx, Talks@Google, Summit Series Outside, Hay House, WIE Symposium, and SHE Summit.
