Date of Graduation
5-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Nursing
Advisor/Mentor
Ballentine, Hope
Committee Member/Reader
Osborne, Cara
Abstract
Background/Purpose
Reproductive health is an important indicator of a woman’s overall health; however, menstruation is often viewed negatively in modern society. Across the nation, women are suffering with issues related to hormones and menstruation. Evidence continues to surface linking high levels of stress to negative health outcomes. The purpose of this literature review is to assess the effects of stress and stress reduction of the menstrual cycle in naturally-cycling women of reproductive age.
Methods
Peer-reviewed research within the past five years was selected for this review using the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. A variety of search terms were used to conduct this review and inclusion criteria were: articles published in English; a clearly evident peer review process; the authors addressed stress or determinants of stress; participants for each study were of reproductive age, non-pregnant, and pre-menopausal; and the authors related stress to menstrual characteristics. Twenty-two articles were originally selected based on the inclusion criteria, but after further investigation, only ten were selected for the full review based on their focus on the desired topic.
Results/Conclusion
Stress negatively impacts various characteristics of the menstrual cycle. While women and healthcare providers may have some understanding of the negative impacts of stress on general health, they are likely unaware of the specific negative effect on menstruation. Stress reduction and the use of prescribed coping mechanisms can reduce the occurrence of morbidity resulting from the negative impact of stress on menstruation. Health practitioners should encourage healthy self-care habits and coping mechanisms in order to promote wellness and improve quality of life for women of reproductive age. Further studies should be done to determine which habits and coping mechanisms will prove most effective in improving outcomes.
Keywords
Menstrual cycle; menstruation; menarche; stress; premenstrual syndrome; premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Citation
Gilbrech, K. I. (2020). The Impact of Stress on the Menstrual Cycle. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursuht/102
