Has Lockdown phase brought weird periods?

Amid the Corona pandemic whole world is struggling and this time our mental health has gone for a toss. During periods women not only have to go through unbearable pain but at this time many changes are also seen in the body. It happens every month at a fixed time but if it is not on time due to any reason or it is too late, women may get upset. It is not necessary that pregnancy is the only reason for missing periods; many a times it happens due to stress also. Due to the corona epidemic, there is a lot of stress in women and it is directly affecting their periods.

With Unlock 2.0 and due to last lockdown phase, women around the world are complaining about a new issue - irregular periods and more painful than usual menstrual cramps. Of course people have been locked in homes and in such a situation, the problem of stress is seen in many women, which is taking a toll on their periods.According to the doctors, due to being locked in the houses for a long time,their routine activities like sleep pattern, eating habits, physical activity all have been affected. Stress problem starts due to not getting out of the house.

Most women have experienced unbearable pain during periods in lockdown. Problems of stomach cramps and headaches are also being seen. Many patients have informed us over phone that their periods have become irregular and after talking to them it was found that they are feeling very stressed. The reason for this is that the Covid 19 lockdown has spoiled their daily routine. Stress problems in women have increased due to the epidemic. Stress affects the amount of cortisol produced by the body. Among women who are under high stress, 40% of women complain of infertility. However, there is no concrete evidence that infertility is due to stress.  Nevertheless, many psychiatrists and psychologists have given their own arguments about the issue that this problem doubles in women who live in stress and depression.

Panic among women

However, the reason for irregular periods in women these days is the stress of lockdown. Stress is bound to cause hormonal imbalance and even PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) in women. If you had been borderline PCOS all along, this stress induced by the pandemic might push you over to the other side. The uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, and the fact that no one really knows when this might end, has resulted in widespread panic. Also since most women are now locked indoors,they're probably not leading the healthiest of lives. Such unusual situations could exacerbate preexisting hormonal imbalances in women. For instance, if a woman had been diagnosed with mild PCOS, it might get aggravated during this time.

Diet and sleep patterns are affected

Since most of the women have been locked inside the house, they are not able to live a healthy lifestyle. In such a situation, their sleep patterns and diet are also being affected. Stress can increase the imbalance of insulin in the body which causes the secretion of leptin hormone. Women who used to cycle period within the first 30 days, now their cycle can be delayed by 7-8 days or even more. This is called oligomenorrhea.

Hormonal imbalance

If hormonal imbalances persist in women, it could affect hair growth, weight bloating, hair fall,trouble in concentrating and it may even lead to impaired fertility in the long run. Cases have been seen where women under extreme stress or duress have stopped having periods altogether. Although we've not reached that stage yet,we just might if things continue the way they are now.

Everyone is trying to ease these situations or stay calm. One key factor in reducing stress levels is coming to terms with the fact that the current situation, where all of India is locked down, is not in anyone's hands and working on oneself is really the best way to deal with it. Try and make a fixed routine for your day, eat healthy foods, sleep on time, and try to be happy as much as possible. Do not take stress unnecessarily.