Question For Women

[Deleted member 1860]

Hi,
I have a question for women with PTSD/CPTSD. This is hard for me to write, as anything sexually related is quite triggering to me. Hence the trigger warning...I figure if it is triggering for me to write, it may be triggering for someone else to read.

I am wondering if there are others out there who have menstrual periods that are outside of the ordinary (ie typical 25-35 day cycle) and have attributed it to the stress they experience.

I have never had a "monthly" period. I never cared to monitor my cycle because, as I already stated, anything sexually related is triggering to me, and not getting a period every month was one less reminder of my own sexuality. I originally assumed that since I didn't get it every month like clockwork, that I was "irregular" and when doctors ask me about my period, I just told them I was irregular. They never delved deeper into it, and just took me at my (misinformed) word.

Long story short, I have seen multiple doctors regarding a possible PCOS diagnosis, as this is the first thing that doctors think about when you say you don't get a "monthly" period. One doctor diagnosed me with PCOS simply based on symptoms (ie the period thing as well as being overweight, however the weight gain is due to psych meds...yes, I can tell you each and every med that made me gain weight!) Another doctor I saw told me that I do not have PCOS as was evidenced by blood work and an ultrasound. I believe the second doctor's assessment is correct.

So in the absence of PCOS, I was left wondering what else could be causing this. I did some research and found that stress could be the issue. When I found this out, I thought hmmm, maybe I'm on to something here? Which is why I am posting this question, to see if there are others out there with PTSD who have a cycle which differs from the so-called norm.

Well, recently I realized that my cycle is approximately 90 days as I get my period every 3 months, 4 times a year. (Like I said, this stuff is quite triggering, hence why I have avoided even thinking about this issue for so long.) Thus, I am "regular", just fit outside what is "typical." Yes, I have tried to research this on the internet, but the problem is that everybody has a different opinion as to what is "normal", and what is "healthy", doctors included. Some say that as long as you get your cycle 4 times a year, you are OK. Others say differently.

I have an OB/GYN appointment next week and want to be prepared for my visit. I have a feeling that the doctor is going to want to put me on birth control pills. However, I do not feel that this is an option at this time, as I am still detoxing off of psych meds and know I need time to self-regulate. I don't want to be put on some pill that has the potential to disturb my mood, especially since the success of my therapy depends largely on me being drug free as to be able to determine the true effects of the therapy on me without the influence of medication (I am in neurotherapy).

So back to the original question...Are there other women out there who have a cycle that differs from the typical cycle and believe it is due to stress associated with PTSD?

Hugs,
SOL

 

[deer_in_headlights]

Hi SOL!

(I adore your avatar!)
Yes, absolutely, my cycle is definitely affected by stress.

I started a bit late (14).
They became like clockwork, but unfortunately, would last for 10 days and be very heavy.

When my diet was severely restricted, I stopped having periods, or might have just some "breakthrough" times of bleeding. I discovered particular healthy foods that would restore normalcy to my periods and levels of bleeding.

I noticed something really neat. When I was in college, shifted work, etc... my cycle shifted to match the cycle of the women I was with, everyday. I had to laugh, because at certain times of the month, so many women were running to the bathroom at the same time, or worse - having PMS at the same time :eek:
[I researched circadian rhythms in school, and even mapped out my cycle and those of interested dorm mates (and noticing the lunar effect as well). We were blown away at how we synchronized with each other. When I was at home or away from school, my cycle would shift into more of its own rhythm again.]

When I first got married, I used birth control pills for a couple of years. I liked that my periods became lighter... But..
I don't know if it was from the pills, or the abuse, but I went into a severe depression, and my health crashed.
I also had TIAs (Transient Ischemic Attacks) and strokes, that caused paralysis, seizures, etc... I can't say for sure that it was the pills (because I was also exposed to toxic chemicals), but I rather suspect that I wouldn't have had that constellation of symptoms if I had not used the hormones. I do know that they are safer now, but still carry a significant risk of stroke.
I'm very sorry I used them, but that's me, personally.

In 2007, I had an increase in high-stress (that has continued). The impact that has had on me cycle-wise has been so strong, that any Dr. I see freaks out that I might have cancer, and they continually want me to have the same rounds of invasive tests.
I don't have cancer. But the effect of stress on my system is severe and significant. I now see very clearly how my female "system" is a very accurate barometer of my stress levels. That (probably because of direct trauma and abuse, plus the strong interplay with emotions and hormones) it signals my emotional and stress state. I ended up in the ER from hemorrhaging (all stress), and have learned that whenever I begin to hemorrhage, I need to instantly do stress-reduction techniques.
Because of the more severe symptoms of stress on my female organs, I've learned I have to be very active in my stress-reduction work.

On advice from my T, I don't even watch the evening news on TV (particularly since the newscasters find ways to hype it up). I used to trigger and bleed from reading about rapes and abuse in the newspaper, so I catch myself and don't read any of those anymore. I still learn what's going on in the world, but my T is teaching me to "close the windows and the doors" (as taught by the Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh), not to let everything bad in the world "in", anymore.

I apologize for the long post, but I hope some of my experience might be helpful in answering your query.

I can say with 100% confidence that YES, stress associated with PTSD has a significant impact on my cycle... taking it far out of the norm if my stress levels aren't under control.

((((((((((((((SOL))))))))))))))
Good luck at your OB/GYN appointment!
Sending love and strength...
Deer

 

[Srain]

My gyno saw a series of damage and to this day still there is scar tissue. I was irregular.all through teens with uncountable swelling that would send me home for the day from school. I had a constant referrals to specialists and even an exploratory surgery at 16yrs. where they discovered scar tissue and such. If there was an answer I was never really told being a minor and shortly there after I was told chances of having children were practically nil. However, within a year I got pregnant and 11 mos later again. I finally insisted on a tubaligation and thereafter had regular periods.

I have no idea if this helps.

 

[Nicolette]

Based on all my knowledge every woman I know who has endometriosis (even though they say it can be hereditary - but that is the same as having a predisposition to developing PTSD) has endured some sort of 'trauma' in their life and the majority within their childhood.

I know that when stressed these women and myself suffer more with periods. I have been on all types of the pill and of course the most expensive one is the only one I can take and they want me to go back on it due to displaying symptoms of recurrence of endometriosis since going off it. Hello, if I have it again I want it treated and not masked! :rolleyes:

When I was 16 I bled for 6 weeks straight (and back then the pain was all in the head of a female if you saw a male doctor) and 2 curettes didn't stop it - I was living under immense stress. Interestingly my sister who has CPTSD has had to have a full historetomy in her mid 30's due to endometriosis and then even found it in her bowel.

While they don't have any medical facts as to what causes endometriosis I would put my last dollar on it being stress related.

 

[kers]

I've read that stress worsens endometriosis, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was a major factor in causing it, too. I think many of the autoimmune disorders related to inflammation are strongly related to stress, especially in women.

I am glad you are getting another opinion to see if there are other factors related to the length of the time between your cycles. I do agree that it could be strongly stress-related. However, I think it's less common to be regular at such intervals, so it's worth some persistence with the doctors. I hope when you meet with the OBGYN they do not just try to force you on the pill, and instead sit down for a long history and exploration of the issue.

 

[Darkness Shines]

My cycles were extremely irregular before I went on the birth control that stopped them entirely four years ago. I would go many months in between periods and then only bleed very lightly for a day or two when they did come. I assume this was from the combination of extreme stress and being underweight.

I have no interest in finding out what might be wrong with me, lol. So now I just take my birth control shots and ignore anything else that might be going on.

 

[curiouser]

I'm gonna say not only stress related, but possibly trauma caused. I believe in the mind body connection and that our physical issues most of the time have an emotional reason behind them, a specific emotional reason for their existence. I like the way Louise Hay describes it, that most physical issues present themselves from an emotional problem and it's the body's way of trying to get your attention that you have something you need to address emotionally. Resolve the emotional cause of the physical issue and often times the physical issue subsides, this has been noticed time and time again in EFT therapy.

That said there are some lists that have been made by Louise Hay and others that list a physical issue and suggests the possible emotional issue that might have caused it. The one for menstrual issues reads as follows "Rejection of one's femininity. Guilt or feeling "dirty".

I thought this was interesting when I went back and looked at a post you wrote regarding your trauma, you mentioned the word "dirty" several times in there with reference to what happened.

I think you mentioned in another post that you are seeing someone who does EFT therapy? If that's the case, maybe taking a deeper look at "dirty" and it's personal references, meanings, emotions/ feelings, images, memories that it brings up for you and resolving those emotional issues, might be helpful for your physical menstrual issue.

This is just a suggestion, and I could be way off base with this. In any case, I could completely see stress and the emotional unresolve from the trauma creating hormone imbalances.

I hope you can get things figure out with the doctors soon. (((Hugs)))

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Thank you all for your replies! I'm sorry that there are others who have similar issues, however, it feels comforting to know that I'm not alone in this.

At this point I am pretty adamant about NOT going on a birth control pill. One reason, as I stated, was not wanting something hormonal which could wreck my moods, but the other reason being that I have a family history of breast cancer. I know there are conflicting reports regarding the link between breast cancer and the pill, however, for as something as serious as this, I am not going to take a chance. I hope my new OB/GYN actually takes the time to listen to me instead of just telling me to take the pill so that my cycle "normalizes" or whatever. I've had so many doctors try and put me on the pill, it isn't even funny. Even the doctor who told me I didn't have PCOS didn't try to explore the issue further, rather just prescribed me BC, which I didn't take since my mood was already whacked out due to PTSD and I didn't want to throw fuel on the fire so to speak.

On the one hand, I would like to know if there is something serious going on with me since my cycle isn't "normal", but on the other hand, I don't want to be told "just take this pill and you'll be ok" since I am sick and tired of medication!

I haven't thought about those "dirty" feelings in a while now. When I was first Dx with PTSD, that was a huge trigger word for me. Now, not so much. It doesn't have the same power that it used to. Thanks for bringing this up, curiouser, as I can talk to my therapist about it and use it in our EFT sessions.

 

[anthony]

Severe stress can absolutely, medically proven, cause irregular periods. If you are in that state constantly, then hence the result. Stress is actually the clinical #1 cause of irregular menstrual cycles for women.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Ok, dumb question, but if someone is irregular due to stress, is there any medical need to put them on hormone therapy (i.e. birth control pills) to make them "normal"?

It seems that this would be counter productive in that they are "fixing" a symptom and not the cause.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this issue!

Thanks,
SOL

 

[anthony]

From my knowledge about the pill... it works, even if stressed. I don't see how hormone balancing will really play any role or be counter productive when combined with stress... the irregular bleeding is a symptom, and medication treats symptoms. Again, choice. You either put up with the irregular bleeding, or you treat it, then target the cause, being the stress. But it is also counter-productive to be getting more stressed because suddenly you are in a shopping centre and begin bleeding, when its not close to your period cycle.

Catch 22!

 

[Nicolette]

SOL, it depends where you are at........if you are so irregular it is impacting on your life and adding to your stress well then hormone pills are the right solution if that will remove one stressor so you can deal with the others.

If it is a case of you just being annoyed that you are not regular then start working on reducing your stress and don't take the pill.

You have to work out which option is the lesser of two evils and likely to give you a better long term outcome. eg, if having irregular cycles makes you stressed out and then you can't cope or make progress with other stresses then if you take the pill for 6 months - 2 years to get yourself on track so you can at least deal with the other issues then I would say take the pill.