---
title: Does stress affect menstrual regularity? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women with histories of trauma or parental substance abuse were more likely to have irregular periods or missed periods.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-influence-of-stress-on-the-menstrual-cycle-among-newly-incarcerated-women-2007/
---

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- Does stress affect menstrual regularity?

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.

 Moderate study design

446 incarcerated women under 45

## 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](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2007.02.002)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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