STRESS AFFECTS YOUR PERIOD: Stress can stop you from getting pregnant #talkwithnursesusan #health

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Stressed out, your period [music] might be listening.

[00:00:03]Here's what science actually says. When you're under stress, your body releases [music] a hormone called cortisol.

[00:00:10]Cortisol isn't just a stress chemical.

[00:00:12]It directly affects the part [music] of your brain that controls your menstrual cycle. Your brain has a command center called the hypothalamus. It sends signals to the pituitary [music] gland, which then tells your ovaries when to ovulate. But when cortisol levels stay high, >> [music] >> that signal can get disrupted. No ovulation.

[00:00:33]Your [music] period can be delayed. This is called stress-induced cycle disruption, and yes, it's real.

[00:00:40]It doesn't mean something [music] is permanently wrong. It means your body is prioritizing survival over reproduction.

[00:00:47]Short-term [music] stress can shift your cycle by a few days.

[00:00:51]Chronic stress can make cycles irregular.

[00:00:54]If it keeps happening, talk to a health care provider.

[00:00:57]But one [music] late period during a stressful month, that's biology doing its job.

[00:01:03]Follow for science-based reproductive facts. Thank you for watching. Subscribe to Talk with Nurse Susan on all social media for more.