Delayed menstruation is usually when the menstrual period is more than five days late. If the period does not start as expected, the first thing many women think of is pregnancy.
This is a possible explanation. However, it's just as likely that your period is simply delayed and taking longer due to stress. We'll explain why this is so and what you can do to counteract stress and the associated delay in your period in the following.
Delayed periods due to stress - the most important facts at a glance
- When you are stressed, your body produces cortisol, for which it needs progesterone.
- Low progesterone levels can affect your cycle and delay your period.
- Regular relaxation, getting enough sleep and avoiding alcohol and coffee can help with stress.
- As illnesses can also be a cause, it is often a good idea to see a gynaecologist if your period is delayed.
- Weekiss period underwear is ideal as protection against irregular menstrual bleeding.
Delayed periods: Is stress the cause?
Stress is part of our lives. It cannot be completely avoided and can even be beneficial to a certain extent. However, if stress gets out of hand in your everyday life, sooner or later it will have a negative impact on your health.
Apart from that, it can cause your period to be delayed. This is because when you are stressed, your body produces the hormone cortisol, which needs the hormone progesterone to produce it.
However, progesterone is also needed to prepare your uterus for a possible pregnancy by building up the lining. If the egg is not fertilised, the lining of the uterus is broken down again and excreted in the form of your menstrual period.
If your body has to produce a lot of cortisol due to stress, your progesterone level may simply be too low for the uterine lining to build up. This often means that your periods are delayed or your bleeding is noticeably light.
What to do if stress delays your period?
If your period is delayed and you think stress is to blame, you should definitely do something to alleviate it.
Remember that delaying your period is far from the only possible consequence of excessive stress. It can also affect your immune system and even make you seriously ill in the long run.
Take time for yourself
In our hectic everyday lives, we often forget to take time for ourselves. This is very important when you are under a lot of stress and have both professional and private obligations.
Taking small breaks to relax in between helps you to stay healthy and productive in the long term. There are many ways to spend your regular downtime.
For example, you could try yoga, meditation or a new sport. You might also want to paint or just read a good book. Even a simple walk in the countryside can work wonders and help you recharge your batteries.
Try whatever you feel like doing to find out what helps you relax and reduce stress. The important thing is that it's good for you and that you regularly take time out when it's really just you.
Are you sleeping enough?
Experience shows that when everyday life is full of tasks, sleep often comes too short. Yet it is crucial for our health to get enough sleep. Make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night to reduce stress and give your body a chance to recover.
Keep in mind that in addition to length, quality of sleep also plays an important role. Of course, it does you no good if you are constantly awake at night or only fall asleep after several hours.
If you have sleep problems, it can help to get into a fixed routine for the evening and always go to bed at the same time. Apart from that, try not to watch TV or use your mobile phone until just before you go to bed.
Drink less coffee and avoid alcohol
Excessive consumption of coffee and alcohol can lead to increased production of cortisol. If you already have elevated cortisol levels due to stress and your period is delayed because of it, it's best to cut back significantly on coffee and alcohol.
Try drinking herbal tea instead. Thanks to its calming effect, it can even help you to relax better.
Delayed period due to illness
Experience shows that stress is very often responsible for delayed periods. However, there are also diseases that can cause a delay in your menstruation. One of these is polycystic ovary syndrome.
If your periods are delayed and you have other abnormalities, such as hair growth on your body and face or an increase in body weight, you should see your gynaecologist to be sure.
Do you already know about our period panties?
The unexpected onset of menstruation can be quite uncomfortable in everyday life. If you want to protect yourself in an uncomplicated way, we recommend you try our period underwear.
Weekiss period underwear are comfortable and easy to use. This makes them the perfect choice if your period is delayed due to stress, but you still want to feel secure in your everyday life.
Get to know Weekiss period panties in the shop.
Delayed periods due to stress - our conclusion
As you can see, everyday stress can have a significant impact on your menstrual cycle. Among other things, it can cause your period to start late or, in extreme cases, not at all. Since stress can also seriously damage your health in the long run, you should do something to reduce it as soon as possible.
