A Systematic Review of The Association Between Adulthood and Psychological Stress on Menstrual Cycle Irregularity

The purpose of this systematic review is to understand correlations between psychological stress and disturbed menstrual cycles in adult women. Irregularities in the menstrual cycle- a condition that affects between 5% and 35.6% of women worldwide- result from influences including age, lifestyle, and psychological status. Stress, for example, disrupts the HPO axis leading to hormonal imbalances, anovulation, and infertility. Other contributory adverse health conditions include unhealthy diets, sleep disorders, sedentary lifestyles, severe physical exercise, and diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and thyroid diseases. Additional agents include medications as well as environmentally-induced toxins. These have been found to point at the importance of considering not just physical factors but psychological also in the management of irregularities within menstruation. Stress reduction, lifestyle changes, and early interventions would be recommended toward restoring reproductive and total wellbeing.