Reason period symptoms may feel a little different this month - and when you should actually worry
There's something about September that makes life feel suddenly... busy.
According to one women's health expert, the multifaceted stress that often comes with this unwelcome changing of the seasons could have more of an impact on your menstrual cycle than you realise.
After all, one minute we're enjoying long evenings in the sun, vacations on the beach and a slightly more relaxed routine, and the next we're back to earlier mornings, fuller calendars, darker nights and the general business of normal life.
For some, it's the back-to-school rush. For others, it's returning to work after summer, starting university, adjusting to shorter days or simply trying to get back into a routine.
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Then there's everything September seems to usher in - Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas, social plans and the creeping realisation that your bank account is about to take a serious hit.
And while we've previously looked at why this time of year can leave us feeling stressed or a little low, there's another part of your health that can potentially feel the effects too - your periods.
According to Dr Susanna Unsworth, women's health expert for intimate wellness brand Intimina, the sudden changes that often come with September - particularly around sleep, eating, exercise and stress - can potentially affect when your period arrives and how your cycle feels.
Why September can be stressful for your body
"I definitely notice a change when September arrives," our expert confessed "The days suddenly feel shorter, routines start again, and there is that familiar ‘back-to-school’ feeling.
"Even though I left school a long time ago, with a teacher husband and school-age children, our whole household still feels that September shift."
Dr Unsworth continued: "For many people, summer can be a less stressful time, with holidays, longer days and fewer routine pressures. September can bring a fairly abrupt change in sleep, eating and exercise patterns, alongside work, school and financial pressures."
She also cited the idea of a 'September reset', explaining that this 'can create another unnecessary pressure to start something new or make changes'.
"These factors can potentially affect the menstrual cycle because stress influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, the hormonal pathway between the brain and ovaries that regulates ovulation," Dr Unsworth went on.
So, what does stress actually do to your period?
The menstrual cycle is controlled by a pretty complicated conversation between your brain and ovaries.
As Dr Unsworth explains, stress can influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, the hormonal pathway that helps regulate ovulation.
"Cortisol is part of this stress response, and significant physical or psychological stress can alter the timing of ovulation, meaning a period may come earlier or later than expected," she went on.
Hertility Health similarly explains that stress can interfere with the hormonal signals involved in ovulation, with more prolonged or significant stress potentially leading to changes in cycle length or, in some cases, periods stopping altogether.
What about symptoms specifically?
It isn't only the timing of your period that can change when you're stressed - you may notice a difference in how your period actually feels, too.
According to Flo Health, stress can be linked to a number of changes, including more painful cramps and worse PMS symptoms, as well as periods arriving earlier, later or not at all.
So if September has been particularly hectic, you might find that your usual pre-period symptoms feel more noticeable, or that cramps which are normally manageable suddenly seem much more painful.
And there can be a fairly obvious reason why, being that stress doesn't happen in isolation.
As we've discussed, Flo also notes that physical and emotional stress can come alongside things like not getting enough sleep, not eating enough, physical exhaustion or simply feeling worried and overwhelmed - all of which can affect the body's hormonal processes.
But why are these changes particularly prevalent this month?
If you're wondering why there's suddenly an onus on the impact of September upon our times of the month, just take a second to think about what's different now compared with a couple of months ago.
You might be sleeping at different times, exercising more regularly again, eating meals at different times because work or school has started back up. You might also be drinking more coffee to compensate for those earlier mornings, getting less daylight and spending less time outside.
None of these things automatically means your period will change.
But when several changes happen at once, particularly alongside increased stress, it's possible to notice a difference in your cycle.
Plenty of research has gone into how the transition into autumn can affect mood, sleep and anxiety, with shorter days and a return to normal routines contributing to that sense of seasonal change.
And, as Dr Unsworth points out, the shift can be fairly abrupt.
So, when do we need to be concerned?
It's important to note that these slight lifestyle changes - or having one too many stressful days - are not going to immediately derail your hormones.
It's more about the bigger picture, especially when stress is happening alongside other changes to your routine.
"A one-off change in your cycle is very unlikely to mean anything is wrong," Dr Unsworth emphasised.
"However, if previously regular periods become persistently irregular, or you develop unusually heavy or painful periods, bleeding between periods or after sex, it is worth speaking to your doctor."
She lastly added: "And if a period is unexpectedly late, pregnancy should always be considered too."
Topics: Women's Health, Periods, Health, Real Life, Advice
Rhianna Benson