Cohort study, 2007
Does stress affect menstrual regularity?
Yes. Women with histories of trauma or parental substance abuse were more likely to have irregular periods or missed periods.
What they did
Cohort study of 446 incarcerated women under 45. Researchers asked about stressful life experiences such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and having an incarcerated parent, and measured whether menstrual cycles were regular.
What they found
9% had amenorrhea (no period for 90 or more days) and 33% had irregular periods. Women whose parent had alcohol or drug problems were 1.34 times more likely to have irregular periods. Those with childhood physical or sexual abuse were 1.48 times more likely, and those with any sexual abuse were 1.49 times more likely to have irregular periods.
What it means for you
Trauma and stress may disrupt periods. The findings are from incarcerated women, so they may not apply to the general population. Further research is needed to understand whether stress causes the irregularity.
446
women studied
9%
with amenorrhea
33%
with irregular periods
About the study
- Original title
- The influence of stress on the menstrual cycle among newly incarcerated women
- Authors
- Allsworth JE, Clarke J, Peipert JF et al.
- Journal
- Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 446
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2007.02.002
Topics
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