For many women, periods are a normal part of their monthly cycle, but factors such as stress, diet, and medical conditions can all affect menstruation. Here are 5 things that can impact your period, and what you can do to promote menstrual health.
- Sudden rapid weight gain
We often hear health experts advise against being overweight. Not to fat shame anybody, but being overweight does indeed come with a plethora of health issues.
Likewise, a sudden rapid weight gain (which is usually unintentional) tends to cause a lot of health problems as well. One of those health problems is a lack of menstruation.
In some cases, menstruation may even stop altogether. But also, in some women, periods may come more often than usual, or the bleeding becomes heavier than normal.
This is all caused by the excess oestrogen that gets produced when a woman is suddenly overweight. Such sudden changes are not healthy for the body and the woman in question may struggle as well.
Childhood and adolescent obesity have been linked to earlier puberty and menarche onset, as well as hyperandrogenism, which can result in menstrual irregularities. This can increase the likelihood of premenstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, and heavy menstrual bleeding among teenage girls and young adult women. The National Library of Medicine suggests that body weight may also affect the menstrual cycle’s functioning. Obese women may experience irregular menstrual cycles with a higher occurrence of oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea.
If you find that your period has been affected by a sudden weight gain, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you return to a healthy weight.
- Sudden rapid weight loss
Likewise, sudden and rapid weight loss can also have a negative impact on your menstruation. When you stop eating, your periods may stop as well.
This is caused by the sudden drop of key hormones that are necessary for ovulation. Without the proper amount of hormones like oestrogen and progesterone, your body doesn’t get the signal to ovulate.
Then, menstruation doesn’t happen. As convenient as that may be to some women, this is not a sign of health; if anything, it is the other way around. This could even affect your fertility.
If you have experienced a sudden weight loss recently and that has affected your periods, you need to talk to your doctor immediately. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you eat better.
But if you have an eating disorder, your doctor may refer you to an eating disorder specialist to help overcome the issue.
- Exercising beyond your body’s capacity
Exercising is great for almost all people. If you are an otherwise healthy individual, physical exercises are a good habit to keep. However, you must know how to exercise within your body’s limit or capacity.
Exercising way too much can put a hamper on your health instead and you get bad results instead of getting healthier.
If you are a woman who exercises way too much because you’re trying to lose weight, you may even endanger your cycle of menstruation.
Some women who have lost a huge amount of fat in a short time may find that their period doesn’t come. This is caused by a sudden loss of fat in the body that affects hormone production.
According to Verywell Health, engaging in intense exercise can lead to alterations in the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. The hypothalamus, a region in the brain, can reduce the release of hormones responsible for ovulation, resulting in the absence of your period at its expected time. However, this effect typically occurs in situations of rigorous and demanding exercise coupled with a low-calorie diet.
When your body is lacking the necessary sex hormones to start ovulation, your period gets disrupted. If you’re trying to lose weight through exercise or if you’re an athlete, it is best to get advice from your doctor.
- Taking birth control pills
Birth control is important and many women regularly take pills to help in this case. Birth control pills are a wonderful aid in preventing unwanted pregnancy but they do come with some side effects.
One of those side effects could be the stoppage of your menstruation. Some birth control methods like IUD (intrauterine device), POP (progestogen-only pill), and even injection-type contraception can all cause some women to not have their period at all.
Oestrogen-progestin birth control pill typically changes the hormones in your body, thus changing the body’s understanding of when you should ovulate. This then can delay or stop your period.
Medical News Today reports that the pill, which operates by adding different hormones to your system, can influence your menstrual cycle. It can result in less heavy bleeding for some women, while others might not experience periods at all, a condition known as amenorrhea. Certain types of birth control pills can lead to halted or irregular periods. Furthermore, there are specific kinds, often referred to as seasonal pills, which can limit a person to just four periods in a year.
Usually, the period will return again after these methods are stopped by the user. In the case of a birth control pill, your doctor can make a recommended schedule for how best to take your pill and when to pause so you can have your menstruation.
- Perimenopause and menopause
Perimenopause and menopause are a natural part of female biology as it transforms in old age. Perimenopause is the years leading to your last menstruation ever.
It can typically start some 4-6 years before your menopause (for some women it can be 8-10 years).
During the time of your perimenopause, which usually happens in your late 40s, your female hormones begin to go up and down as they continue to decline. This can affect your menstrual cycle.
As your oestrogen and progesterone continue to decline in production, so your ovulation gets affected. You may start having fewer periods in the beginning, and so it goes until you stop having a period altogether.
As such, if you are a woman in her 40s and you are already in perimenopause, a lack of menstruation is not a source of concern. Your period is going to stop in a few years.
All in all, several things can negatively influence your menstrual cycle which can be avoided. We hope we provided enough evidence that supports our findings associated with things that can affect the monthly menstrual cycle of ladies.
Why Is My Period Late? 8 Reasons Besides Pregnancy
A menstrual cycle is a natural process that occurs in the female body, where the uterus prepares for a potential pregnancy each month. Typically, a period occurs every 28 days, but it can vary from person to person. A late period is not uncommon and can be caused by various factors other than pregnancy. While the first thought that comes to mind when a period is late is pregnancy, there are several other reasons why this may happen. In this paper, we will explore eight reasons besides pregnancy that can cause a delayed or missed period.
1. Stress
Stress can have a significant impact on the menstrual cycle. When a person experiences stress, their body produces higher levels of the hormone cortisol, which can disrupt the production of other hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. This disruption can lead to a delayed or missed period.
2. Extreme Weight Loss or Gain
Extreme weight loss or gain can also affect the menstrual cycle. When a person’s body weight drastically changes, it can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. This disruption can lead to a delayed or missed period.
3. Thyroid Issues
The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including the menstrual cycle. Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, can cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle, leading to a late period.
4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects the ovaries and can cause irregular periods, among other symptoms. Women with PCOS produce higher levels of androgens, a type of hormone that can disrupt the menstrual cycle and lead to a late period.
5. Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause when a woman’s body starts to produce less estrogen. This change in hormone levels can cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle, leading to a late period.
6. Birth Control
Birth control methods, such as hormonal pills or intrauterine devices (IUD), can also cause a delay in periods. These methods work by altering hormone levels in the body, which can disrupt the regular menstrual cycle.
7. Medications
Certain medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and blood pressure drugs, can affect hormone levels and cause a delayed or missed period. It is essential to consult a doctor if you experience a late period while taking any medication.
8. Excessive Exercise
While regular exercise is essential for maintaining overall health, excessive and intense workouts can affect the menstrual cycle. Over-exercising can cause a decrease in estrogen levels, leading to a delayed or missed period.
In conclusion, a late period is not always a sign of pregnancy. Many factors can affect the menstrual cycle, leading to a delayed or missed period. Stress, extreme weight loss or gain, thyroid disorders, PCOS, perimenopause, birth control, medications, and excessive exercise are some common reasons for a late period. If you experience a delayed or missed period, it is essential to consult a doctor to identify the underlying cause and address any potential health concerns. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress levels, and seeking medical advice when necessary can help regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain overall reproductive health.
