How psychosis can alter the menstrual cycle
Have you stopped menstruating or are your periods becoming more irregular? Are your menstrual cycles getting longer and longer? Have you had your period more than once in a month? These changes in the menstrual cycle are more common than we think in many women, but they are even more so in women who have had a psychotic disorder.
When this happens, it is necessary to address these alterations , as they can lead to some health problems , such as promoting osteoporosis, if they persist over time, cardiovascular problems or, even, have been linked to the risk of having breast cancer. For this reason, it is essential to offer a comprehensive approach to the care of women with psychotic disorders, which will allow us to address other alterations, such as those of menstruation, effectively.
The necessary gender perspective on psychosis
What are the most common alterations in the menstrual cycle?
Menstrual cycle disorders are changes in the regularity, duration, flow, or frequency of menstruation. The most common are:
- Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) : Apart from pregnancy, the causes can be very diverse, such as hormonal disorders, eating disorders or stress, among others.
- Irregularities in menstruation (oligomenorrhea or polymenorrhea) : They can be caused by hormonal imbalances, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, or uterine fibroids, among others.
- Very heavy menstruation (menorrhagia) : They can significantly interfere with a woman's daily life. Some of the causes may be hormonal disorders, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps or blood clotting problems.
- Infrequent menstruation (hypomenorrhea) : They may be related to hormonal disorders, such as primary ovarian insufficiency.
- Severe menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) : This can be primary (with no underlying medical cause) or secondary (caused by medical conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids).
Why are these menstrual cycle alterations more common in women with psychosis?
Menstrual cycle disturbances in women with psychotic disorders are a common and multifactorial phenomenon. Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, can affect the functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems, which in turn can influence the menstrual cycle.
There are some aspects of psychotic disorders that can contribute to menstrual cycle alterations:
- Stress and Anxiety : People with psychotic disorders may experience significant levels of stress and anxiety due to the symptoms of the illness and the difficulties they encounter in their daily lives. Chronic stress and anxiety can influence the menstrual cycle and cause irregularities or absence of menstruation.
- Lifestyle changes : Psychotic disorders often affect a person's lifestyle. They can lead to changes in daily routine, nutrition, and exercise, and this can affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
- Medication : Some antipsychotic medications can have side effects on the hormonal system, such as increasing a hormone called prolactin or decreasing estrogen levels in the blood, for example. These effects can cause significant delays in menstruation and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).
- Eating disorders : In some cases, people with psychotic disorders may develop eating disorders related to irregular eating or food restriction. These disorders can affect the menstrual cycle and cause amenorrhea.
- Changes in body weight : Changes in body weight, whether significant weight loss or gain, can influence the menstrual cycle. Psychotic disorders can lead to changes in appetite and weight, which can affect the regularity of menstruation.
- Sleep disturbances : Sleep problems are common in people with psychotic disorders. Alteration of circadian rhythm and sleep quality can influence hormonal function and, therefore, the menstrual cycle.
- Interference with medical care : People with psychotic disorders may face barriers to accessing regular medical care, which can delay the detection and treatment of gynecological or hormonal problems that may be affecting their menstrual cycle.
What can I do if I have changes in my menstrual cycle?
We must pay attention to alterations in the menstrual cycle, as they can secondarily affect other health conditions , such as bone mineralization (promoting osteoporosis, if it persists over time), cardiovascular problems or, in some cases, it has even been linked to the risk of breast cancer. For this reason, it is recommended:
- Consult a health professional : It is important to speak with a health professional (your psychiatrist, general practitioner or gynecologist) so that they can carry out a complete assessment, determine the cause of your menstrual irregularities and offer you the most appropriate treatment.
- Review your medication : Some drugs used to treat psychotic disorders can have side effects that affect your menstrual cycle. It is important to communicate any discomfort or side effects to your psychiatrist, to consider whether adjustments or changes to your medication are necessary.
- Manage stress: People with psychotic disorders may be exposed to significant stress, so it is important to learn effective strategies for managing stress, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate rest can contribute to maintaining a healthy menstrual cycle.
- Using a menstrual calendar will help us record any changes in menstrual cycles to communicate them to a health professional and ensure that we are taking the appropriate measures.
Each person is unique, so treatment and management of menstrual disturbances in women with psychotic disorders must be tailored to individual needs and circumstances. In all cases, collaboration between the various medical and mental health teams is essential to provide the best possible care.
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