The time that the period can be delayed due to nerves or stress can vary significantly from one woman to another, so special attention should be paid to each specific case since the delay can range from a few days to several consecutive months, suffering in the latter case from what is called secondary amenorrhea. The truth is that disorders in the nervous system cause various alterations in our bodies. The menstrual cycle is also compromised due to the hormonal changes that cause high-stress levels. If you are worried, frantic, or nervous and this situation is causing your menstruation not to arrive, continue reading this article by FastlyHealto to find out how many days the period can be delayed to nerves. We explain how stress affects menstruation, and we provide you with a series of measures with which you can relax and regain a state of calm and tranquility.
How much can nerves and stress delay the period?
Nerves and stress are one of the most common causes of delayed periods in many women, and these conditions directly influence our hormones causing significant hormonal changes, which can end up causing alterations in the menstrual cycle, even in those women who have regular cycles, causing their menstruation to become irregular.
Let’s see below in more detail how stress affects menstruation and how many days the period can be delayed due to nerves:
- Our brain and, more specifically, the hypothalamus intermittently release a hormone called GnRH, which at the same time allows the release of other hormones (FSH and LH), which are responsible for the development of follicles in the ovaries each month. This allows the ovulation process to take place correctly every month. However, if the woman has high levels of stress or is going through a situation that causes nervousness, the release of the hormone GnRH is done continuously and not intermittently, which causes the inhibition of the hormones FSH and LH and, consequently, alterations in the normal menstrual cycle, which may lead to the delay of the period or even the absence of it for a prolonged period.
- In addition to the fact that stress can delay menstruation, it has also been suggested that it aggravates the symptoms of so-called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This causes a series of physical and emotional changes in women from the second half of the menstrual cycle and usually disappears 1 or 2 days before menstruation. It manifests itself through symptoms such as breast inflammation, headache, general malaise, abdominal bloating, constipation or diarrhea, back pain, dry or acne skin, and emotional symptoms such as depression, irritability, sudden mood swings, low mood swings, self-esteem, sleep disorders, and difficulty concentrating. In the following article, you can find out about the duration, causes, and treatment of PMS.
- High degrees of nervousness and stress can cause a delay in menstruation or changes in the menstrual cycle. Still, they can also involve significant alterations in the female reproductive system compromising female fertility and hindering the ability to conceive. For this reason, those women who continually suffer from stress have more difficulty getting pregnant.
To answer the question of how many days the period can be delayed due to nerves and stress, we must clarify that this time can vary considerably from one woman to another and is that we observe cases in which menstruation is only delayed for a few days and others in which, on the contrary, what we know as secondary amenorrhea occurs, which is the absence of a period for at least three or more consecutive menstrual cycles in a woman who has previously menstruated regularly. In the latter case, you should go urgently to the gynecologist to undergo the appropriate tests and initiate medical treatment if necessary.
How to know that nerves and stress are causing the delay of the period
In addition to the external factors that can be behind the high stress and cause the period to be delayed accordingly, the very fact of facing a delay in menstruation and thinking about the possibility of pregnancy can cause the nerves to increase, and the situation Causes it worse by postponing your period even more.
Next, we will detail some of the common symptoms of stress and nervousness so that you can assess whether these factors may be causing this menstrual delay. However, it should always be taken into account that each woman can react in a different way to a nervous state, so not all the symptoms that we show below have to be present:
- Depression or anxiety
- Irritability.
- Mood ups and downs.
- Difficult to focus.
- Sleeping problems.
- Repetitive thoughts
- Crying.
- Clench your jaw
- Muscle tension and stiffness.
- Excessive sweating
- Cold hands.
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Indigestion.
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Accelerated breathing.
- Sexual problems
- Weight loss or gain.
- Headaches.
- Rash.
How to manage nerves and stress
Now that you know how much your period can be delayed due to nerves and how stress can affect your menstrual cycle, let’s see what measures you can take in your day to day to try to free yourself from accumulated tensions and overcome this state of nervousness:
- First, try to avoid unhealthy habits that can prevent your body from relaxing, such as smoking, using alcohol or drugs, overeating, or not getting enough sleep.
- Accept that certain things cannot be changed and avoid those daily situations that generate a lot of stress.
- To carry out all your daily tasks and not accumulate unnecessary stress, a good trick is organizing your time and establishing priorities to know the most urgent thing you must attend to and what you can postpone without a problem. This will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed or accumulating tasks that generate a state of nervousness and anxiety.
- Try to do activities that you like daily, dedicate time to yourself and do what you enjoy. They can be simple things like reading, walking, dancing, listening to music, having dinner with friends, etc.
- Get physical exercise daily to combat stress. The release of endorphins in organisms when we do sports has significant relaxing effects on the body.
- Find new ways to relax, and it can be by putting relaxation techniques into practice, starting in disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, meditation, or getting a professional, relaxing massage, etc.
- Try to get a good rest each day by getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, consuming those healthy foods that provide your body with the necessary energy to stay active throughout the day.
- Reduce the consumption of caffeine and stimulant substances.
- Take a relaxing infusion to help calm your nerves and calm you down. You can see good options in the article Relaxing teas to sleep well.
Other causes that can delay the period without being pregnant
However, it would be best if you always kept in mind that in addition to nerves and stress, many other factors can delay your period without being pregnant, and among these are those listed below:
- Significant and sudden changes in weight.
- Consumption of some medications, such as antidepressants, psychotropics, antihypertensives, chemotherapy, etc.
- Nutrition deficiencies.
- Different time zones.
- Hormonal changes.
- We are taking contraceptives.
- It was the beginning of menopause.
- I am carrying out excessive physical exercise.
- Ovarian cysts
- Vaginal infections
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Obesity.
- Thyroid problems
It is essential that if you have ruled out the possibility of being pregnant and your menstruation does not arrive, you schedule a consultation with your gynecologist to know exactly what the delay may be due to and if you should undergo any medical treatment.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How many days can your period be delayed due to nerves, we recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.