Chronic stress plays havoc with female hormones
Stress is a natural part of life. In small amounts, stress can be motivating and even protective, sharpening our focus, boosting energy, and preparing the body to respond to challenges. But when stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it shifts from being helpful to harmful.
For women in particular, high stress levels can have a unique impact on our body and mind because of the way stress interacts with female hormones, reproductive health, and overall wellbeing. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones, especially cortisol and adrenaline, negatively influences everything from menstrual cycles to immune function, energy levels, and mood.
Stress weakens hormone health & messes with our menstrual cycle
When the female body is under stress, it prioritises survival over almost every other function. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, takes precedence, and this can suppress the normal function of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
- High stress levels can delay or even prevent ovulation, leading to irregular, lighter, or heavier periods, and in some cases, missed cycles altogether.
- Stress-related hormone imbalances can make conception more difficult, affecting ovulation and implantation, leading to fertility challenges.
- Stress can intensify symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disruption, and mood swings during perimenopause and menopause, when hormone levels are already fluctuating.
Stress increases muscle tightness, pain and tension, especially in our neck, shoulders and jaw
Stress doesn’t just affect hormones; it can be felt physically through muscle tension and tightness.
- Our “fight or flight” response increases muscle contraction, particularly in areas like the neck, shoulders, and jaw. Over time, this can cause pain, stiffness, tension and headaches.
- High cortisol slows down muscle repair and adaptation, meaning the body takes longer to recover from exercise, illness, or injury.
Stress lowers our immunity and slows our recovery from injury and illness
Have you ever wondered why you suffer from constant infections, stomach problems and joint pain, or why it takes months for an injury to heal?
Our immune system, brain function and gut health are closely tied to stress. In the short term, stress can heighten inflammation and trigger a temporary boost in immune defences. But if stress remains high for too long, the opposite effect occurs.
- Chronic stress suppresses the immune response, resulting in lowered immunity, leaving the body more vulnerable to infections such as colds, stomach issues or urinary tract infections.
- Chronic stress suppresses the immune response, leaving the body more vulnerable to infections such as colds, IBS or urinary tract infections.
- A weakened immune system slows the healing processes from wounds and recovery from illness and injury.
- Stress is also linked to autoimmune flare-ups in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid imbalances, which are more common in women.
Stress raises blood sugar & increases stubborn belly fat
Stress influences how your body uses and stores energy. While a healthy level of body fat is essential for hormone production, energy and overall health, elevated cortisol levels for long periods interfere with healthy metabolism and body composition, causing us to store excess glucose as visceral fat e.g. the stubborn, non-essential fat around our abdomen.
- Cortisol stimulates appetite, particularly for high-sugar, high-fat “comfort foods,” leading to increased cravings for ‘unhealthy food’ and an increase in late-night snacks.
- High stress levels (cortisol) promote fat storage around your stomach (visceral fat), which is linked to higher risks of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
- Stress raises blood glucose levels, which, over time, reduces insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of metabolic disorders.
Chronic stress levels compromise our heart health
Our cardiovascular system is highly sensitive to stress hormones.
- Frequent surges of adrenaline and cortisol place extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, resulting in raised blood pressure and heart rate.
- Prolonged stress is linked to higher risk of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart disease, conditions that already affect women differently to men.
Stomach problems linked to high stress levels
The gut is often one of the first places women feel the effects of stress.
- Stress diverts energy away from digestion, leading to bloating, constipation, or discomfort cause by slow digestion.
- In some women, stress speeds up gut function, causing diarrhoea or IBS-like symptoms.
- Chronic stress can also disrupt the gut microbiome, which affects not only digestion but also our immunity, mood, and energy levels and can cause depression.
