Period and pandemic? How are they related and what can this mean for our body.

Has your period gone "crazy"? Has your cycle been disrupted, resulting in bleeding lasting much longer or much shorter than normal? Or are you experiencing very long delays, without the possibility of pregnancy, or, on the contrary, has your cycle been significantly shortened, reaching up to three weeks? If the answer is "yes", consider when this may have been happening to you and you may conclude that these changes have occurred in the last year, while before March 2020 your cycle was more stable, without particular variations per period in flow, pain and, of course, PMS.

One of the hundreds of aspects of the pandemic that have not yet been studied to the extent that it should be is its influence on menstruation and the female cycle. Few studies have been started on this topic, even fewer have been completed, and many gynecologists are looking for answers to the question “why have our periods gone crazy” through social media, as Dr. Anita Mitra (also known as Gynae Geek) is attempting. So where can the answer be found to the "menstrual disorder" that concerns a significant portion of the population?

The connection between stress and periods is a given anyway, as stress affects the parts of the brain that produce hormones that regulate ovulation and the cycle in general. When stress levels increase sharply, fluctuate unpredictably, or are even slightly higher on a daily basis for a long period of time, our body is affected and its functions that depend on hormones can change, sometimes slightly, sometimes significantly.

Apart, of course, from the issue of stress affecting the specific hormones associated with menstruation, during the pandemic, changes in our daily schedule are often observed (late nights, increased alcohol consumption, changes in diet, etc.), which affect, among other things, our sleep and can further disrupt various bodily functions. The effort to maintain - as much as possible, always - a more stable daily schedule, a routine that includes, among other things, mild physical exercise and proper nutrition, can certainly help us deal with difficulties related to our cycle.

To date, there are no specific statistics that have been extracted based on scientific research that we can use to demonstrate the extent of the problem. In any case, this is under investigation and every person with menstruation should be aware that there is a possibility that the pandemic and the stress that it entails on a daily basis and in various aspects of life may affect the period in various ways. In general, for a year now that the entire planet has been living in a peculiar “Survivor”, half (and more) of its population may have to survive another physical and psychological challenge.

At Flower Organic (www.getflower.gr) we are constantly monitoring research around the period. We will keep you informed! You can always tell us the issues that concern you and you would like us to analyze here: hello@getflower.gr