Women! Menses?

[Anna45]

Since the trauma, I have had irregular menstrual cycles or lack thereof. This has been going on for 4 years. At one point, I lost it for a total of 9 months. Sometimes I am like clock work, other times I'm every 3 months. It's generally very light or just spotting. I am not sexually active. Could it just be the stress my body is continuously under? I'm sure PTSD could affect your cycles, as it seems to affect EVERYTHING. I sure as hell could not imagine having a child at this point in my life. I am an active individual and enjoy regular exercise, but I make a point to eat well. Have any other women found abnormalities when it comes to their period? Thanks!

 

[Esof]

Stress will definitely mess with your cycle. I used to go months without it, and then months with it, it was quite rough. I went to my ob and got an iud. While it works for most people, it didn't mesh with me. (although it did regulate everything). I had surgery to remove an ovary and tube, and now my cycle is "it comes when it comes and does what it does". But we keep a constant eye on what is going on in there with ultrasounds.
You are doing great with the healthy eating and the exercise! But I think it would be wise to see your ob so they can see if something else is going on. (cysts etc). They might decide it is normal, they might advise a way to regulate it. Either way, I think it is worth having it looked into.

 

[Inog]

You didn't mention your age which is also a factor in what may be causing these problems. While it very possible it's stress related please don't ever assume that. Get it checked and get yourself checked annually.

 

[Ahod]

Not eating is only one kind of stress (starvation being the most common form of stress in the US well known to halt menses), but all stress at the same level has the same effect. The reproductive system is one of the first to usually get shut down in response to stress, it's just that most people in the US aren't under high enough levels for long enough periods unless they're on a starvation diet or have an eating disorder, for it to become noticeable. That's why you'll see it as always being linked in pop culture... But it really is any high-level stress that will do it. From fierce athletic training, to prolonged sleep deprivation, war zones, etc.

It's also exceptionally common during the first 2 years after a baby is born, but babies & very small children = sleep dep, malnutrition, and a whole host of fun and exciting (aka stressful & exhausting) challenges for many -if not most- new moms. That's also a well known factor, from a fertility standpoint, of why so many moms get pregnant a New York minute after adopting. All the stress of wanting & trying to be pregnant over several years, actually making it impossible for them to become pregnant.

It's still always worth ruling out physiological causes aside from stress (aka get your hormone levels checked, etc.), but it's a super duper normal response.

 

[Carowa]

Stress messes up your cycle.