Pregnancy & Baby 

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Could my period be late due to stress?

There are certainly many reasons for amenorrhoea (the absence or stopping of the menstrual period). In a woman who has previously menstruated regularly, pregnancy is certainly considered as the main cause of amenorrhoea until disproved. Amenorrhoea may also occur because of various hormone imbalances, local uterine (womb) conditions or, indeed, emotional ‘stress’ alone.

It is now known that stress can cause a change to the area of the brain whose function is the production of uterine-controlling hormones. When stress occurs, therefore, normal uterine functions can be disturbed, because their hormone control is disturbed. Without any other reasons being present for a late onset of a menstrual bleed it is unusual for the cycle to be disturbed for more than one or two weeks. A cycle disturbance going on for a much longer period should certainly be investigated with the purpose of discovering any other cause.

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