During the coronavirus pandemic, many women had an unanticipated menstrual cycle. “It’s common for us to see patients with changes in their menstrual cycle, but anecdotally, it seems more has happened over the last six months,” says Beth Schwartz, an OB/GYN at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Nemours/Alfred. After all, our habits have been changed, and our anxiety jacked up by the pandemic. And the menstrual cycle can be influenced by stress levels, as can shifts in work schedules, sleep patterns, dietary habits and exercise routines, which have been encountered by many of us since March.

Interestingly, some data indicate that the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, women do better than men who get covid-19, and researchers hypothesize that estrogen and progesterone might play a role. “The menstrual system may be thrown out of balance by some major disease.

Any harmful effects of stress can be counteracted by good nutrition, says Ward, who recommends consuming an anti-inflammatory diet focused on plants. Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits, one-quarter of your plate with whole grains and one quarter with healthy protein sources, such as seafood, eggs and tofu.

Exercise is also a fantastic way to relieve stress, but Ward warns against overdoing it. It’s not a good thing to exchange one form of stress for another stressor, like way too much exercise.” You are going to miss your period if your body fat goes too big.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/coronavirus-period-menstruation-disruption/2020/08/21/0966b79a-e332-11ea-b69b-64f7b0477ed4_story.html