Verdict: FALSE.
Stress can disrupt the cycle…
Emotions, a significant change in the pace of life, an exam, a bereavement or a period of fatigue can temporarily modify hormonal functioning.
It is therefore not uncommon for a cycle to be exceptionally longer or shorter.
But this explanation should not become a reflex.
Other causes must be sought
Irregular periods can also be linked to pregnancy, adolescence, premenopause or different hormonal disorders.
Certain gynecological or endocrine diseases can also modify the frequency of periods.
The doctor will take into account age, history, usual regularity of cycles and any associated symptoms, such as severe pain, heavy bleeding or unexplained weight gain.
When should you consult?
A prolonged absence of periods, very irregular cycles that persist or abnormally heavy bleeding warrant medical advice.
The objective is not only to regularize the cycle, but above all to understand its origin.
What to remember
Stress can occasionally disrupt periods, but it does not explain all menstrual irregularities. When these changes persist or become unusual, a medical evaluation is recommended.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
Do not go to the emergency room for a simple cycle irregularity, but consult without delay if your periods are accompanied by heavy bleeding with dizziness, sudden pain that bends you in half or a delay with a positive pregnancy test, because these are signs of a vital emergency. Aside from these red flags, carefully note your dates and the length of your cycles on a calendar, then make an appointment with your gynecologist, because irregular cycles are often an early sign of endometriosis or hormonal disorders that merit scheduled treatment, well before a complication arises.