How Your Lifestyle Can Affect Your Period

As a woman, you typically experience your period once a month for the majority of your life, but how much do you truly know about your cycle? Between your flow, frequency, and side effects, you may think you have it down to a science, but did you know your lifestyle can directly change your period? Your everyday life can have a major impact on the consistency of your menstrual cycle. If you have noticed changes in your cycle, keep reading to learn about ways your lifestyle can affect your period. 

Exercise

With proper exercise comes many benefits such as weight loss, muscle toning, improved sleep, and stress relief. However, too much exercise can create a shift in your body, leading to four common effects that can change your period: breakthrough bleeding, a lighter flow, reduced period pains, and even skipped periods. 

To adjust to some of these changes, consider making a switch to a more comfortable tampon alternative like a menstrual cup. A menstrual cup made of medical-grade silicone can be the perfect solution to provide you with more comfort while you’re working out, all while giving you peace of mind of leak-proof protection. You can also give lighter exercise—such as yoga—a try. Yoga can help to get that increase in heart rate, without pushing your body’s limits. Try one of our online courses for additional information.

Diet

While the foods you consume are what fuels your body each day, they can also be the cause of distress in your body. For example, too much sugar in your diet can lead to pesky breakouts, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and energy drain. However, did you know that food can directly affect your menstrual cycle as well? The food you consume can affect your hormones, and since the menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones, it makes sense that eating too much or too little can alter your bodily functions, therefore resulting in an irregular cycle. To combat this, consider maintaining a balanced diet, as well as incorporating daily supplements into your routine to ensure you are fulfilling your body’s needs. 

Stress

It should come as no surprise that stress can wreak havoc on your body. If you’re under a great deal of stress, it can present itself in a variety of ways. One way you can know if you’re too stressed is if you begin to have irregular or skipped periods, and even in some situations, amenorrhea. High stress levels directly correlate with your hormones, which is why you may experience these issues. Thankfully, getting back on track doesn’t have to be difficult.

Finding healthy coping mechanisms to address and reduce the stress you’re experiencing can be incredibly beneficial. Luckily, how you cope is personal to you, and taking the time to give yourself some “me-time” can transform the way you feel. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to those around you during stressful times. A solid support system can improve your ability to recognize and diffuse the situation.

Health

As a woman, your health and well-being are important. Taking care of your body as a whole can help to make you feel like the best possible version of yourself. Unfortunately, in some instances, you may experience health issues that are out of your control. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age, which creates an imbalance of reproductive hormones. This medical condition creates problems in the ovaries, leading to infertility, cysts, and an irregular period.

Endometriosis is another medical condition that women can experience that can be incredibly painful. This occurs when the tissue that typically lines the uterus, grows outside of the uterus and can lead to cramping, back pain, as well as excessive or intermenstrual bleeding. While there isn’t a cure for either of these conditions, both of them can be managed to make your situation a positive one. Be sure to stock up on heating pads, and practice your individual self-care routine.  

Ultimately, with shifts in your day to day life, you will also experience bodily changes. By keeping this in mind, you may find it a bit easier to manage these changes and find long-term solutions that will leave you feeling better than before.

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