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Stop my periods due to work stress? A warning light for my body that has stopped

Overtime, conflicts with bosses, pressure for performance... the stress from work follows us like a shadow. But did you know that this stress can have a more serious impact on our bodies, especially women's bodies, than we thought? More and more people are visiting our Incheon branch complaining, "I don't have a period because of work stress." An irregular menstrual cycle is more than just a simple inconvenience; it can be a strong red light for our health that our body is sending.

💡 [Key Answer] The three most common causes of not having a period due to work stress: ① Decreased function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis due to extreme psychological stress (Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea) ② Ovarian dysfunction exacerbated by excessive stress (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) ③ Overall constitutional imbalance related to stress, such as lack of sleep and irregular meals Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic helps you regain a healthy menstrual cycle by restoring the fundamental balance of the body through constitutional improvement.

If your regular periods suddenly stop or become irregular, you first suspect pregnancy. However, if your periods do not return even if you are not pregnant, extreme stress may be the cause. This is also called 'Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA)'. Stress, energy imbalance, and excessive exercise suppress the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, preventing ovulation and causing amenorrhea. Our body's endocrine system is very sensitive to stress, and chronic stress can cause hormonal imbalance and disrupt the menstrual cycle.

In addition, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is common in women of childbearing age, is also closely related to stress. According to a study conducted in Korea in 2014, the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea (when a woman who had a period does not have a period for more than 6 months) in Korean women was polycystic ovary syndrome (48.4%). Polycystic ovary syndrome refers to a state in which several immature follicles exist in the ovary and ovulation does not occur properly. Extreme stress, Westernized eating habits, and childhood obesity are pointed out as causes for increasing the incidence. Stress can act as a trigger that exacerbates or causes these underlying diseases.

Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic does not see amenorrhea or irregular periods caused by stress as simply a hormonal problem. We interpret that stress breaks the overall balance of our body and affects the functions of the uterus and ovaries. In particular, when the brain and nervous system overheat and the regulation function of the autonomic nervous system decreases, the normal hormone secretion rhythm is likely to be broken. To solve these complex problems, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic closely diagnoses each patient's constitution and health status, and helps the fundamental recovery of the body through 'constitutional improvement' treatment tailored to it.

In a clinical study by Stener-Victorin's research team published in the American Journal of Physiology (Endocrinology and Metabolism) in 2011, the effects of low-frequency electroacupuncture on hyperandrogenism and oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea were evaluated in 84 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. As a result of the study, 16 weeks of low-frequency electroacupuncture treatment and exercise effectively improved hyperandrogenism and menstrual frequency compared to the group that did not perform any intervention. In particular, electroacupuncture treatment was more effective in improving hyperandrogenism and oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea than exercise alone. The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture can contribute to restoring hormonal balance through neuroendocrine regulation. These studies suggest that Oriental medicine treatment can regulate the root cause of hormonal imbalance as well as simply alleviating symptoms.

In another domestic study, as a result of combining herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, it was observed that the normal menstrual cycle was restored and the LH/FSH ratio was normalized. This shows that herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment can be effective in restoring ovarian function and improving endocrine imbalance. Based on these data, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic is untangling the threads of the body tangled due to stress, and creating a healthy menstrual cycle by restoring the stability of the autonomic nervous system and hormonal balance. Many people looking for an Incheon amenorrhea oriental clinic are experiencing positive changes through these oriental medicine treatments.

Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic's 'constitutional improvement' treatment focuses on creating a fundamental environment so that the body can maintain a healthy menstrual cycle on its own, beyond simply inducing stopped periods. Stress overactivates the autonomic nervous system and prevents the brain from resting, which affects the hypothalamus-pituitary gland, the center of hormonal regulation. At Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic, we calm the overheating of the nervous system and smooth the circulation of the body to help the uterus and ovaries regain their functions. In Oriental medicine, this is explained with concepts such as 'Suseunghwagang (水升火降)', and keeping the head clear and cool and the lower abdomen warm is considered the basis of women's health.

Customized herbal medicine removes waste (blood stasis, phlegm) accumulated in the body and strengthens overall physical function by supplementing insufficient Gi and blood. In addition, treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture promote blood circulation around the uterus and ovaries and help restore the balance of the autonomic nervous system to facilitate hormone secretion. This is an important process to restore ovarian function degraded by stress and enable regular ovulation and menstruation. In particular, many patients visiting the Incheon Polycystic Oriental Clinic are regaining a healthy menstrual cycle with safe herbal medicine and oriental medicine treatment.

If you fall under 3 or more of the following items, it is good to suspect stress-induced amenorrhea or irregular periods and consult with the medical staff of Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch.

• I haven't had a period for more than the last 3 months.
• I am suffering from excessive work or study stress, or interpersonal relationship stress.
• Sleep time is irregular or it is difficult to fall asleep, and I wake up often.
• Fatigue is severe, I feel lethargic, and I get annoyed or depressed easily.
• Digestion is not good or abdominal discomfort is frequent (irritable bowel syndrome, etc.).
• It is accompanied by autonomic imbalance symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
• Weight has suddenly decreased or increased without a special reason.
• The menstrual cycle, which was originally regular, has become noticeably irregular recently.
• There is no period even though there is no possibility of pregnancy.
• It has been more than 6 months since I stopped taking birth control pills, but I don't have a period.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3~4 items: Early suspicion of stress-induced irregular periods/amenorrhea. Efforts to regain the balance of the body through lifestyle improvement and oriental medicine consultation are necessary.
• 5 or more items: A stage where active treatment intervention is needed. We recommend visiting Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch to immediately start accurate diagnosis and customized treatment.

Q. Is it really possible not to have a period because of work stress? A. Yes, it is fully possible. Extreme stress affects the brain's hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis, suppressing ovulation and stopping the menstrual cycle. This is called functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Q. Can amenorrhea heal naturally? A. Amenorrhea caused by temporary stress or poor condition can be recovered only by improving lifestyle, but if it lasts for more than 3 months, it is difficult to recover naturally and can become chronic. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.

Q. Can polycystic ovary syndrome also be treated with oriental medicine? A. Polycystic ovary syndrome can get help in restoring ovarian function and improving hormonal balance with oriental medicine treatment. We aim to restore the menstrual cycle and improve ovulation function through acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine treatment.

Q. What kind of tests do you do at the Incheon Amenorrhea Oriental Clinic? A. At Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch, we comprehensively grasp the patient's lifestyle, stress level, and symptom changes through medical examination. In addition, we diagnose the overall state of the body by utilizing oriental medical diagnosis such as pulse diagnosis and abdominal diagnosis, along with autonomic nervous balance tests if necessary.

Amenorrhea is more than just a period stopping; it is a serious signal that can lead to female health problems such as infertility or osteoporosis. If you are in a situation where you do not have a period because of work stress, do not worry or neglect it alone anymore. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body will respond faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing as they are. Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

A place where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, after all, Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms first with the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic website!

This article is health information summarized by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the consultation room. Medical Supervision | Min Ji-hong, Oriental Medical Doctor at Dalimchae Oriental Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch, based on women's and pregnancy treatment standards (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Column)

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