Can sti delay period?

If Aunt Flo is running late, there are many things that could be to blame. Is it stress? A change in diet? Pregnancy? But did you know sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also cause a delay in your period?

Let’s dive deeper into this topic and see what we can learn.

Understanding the Menstrual Cycle

Before we begin discussing whether or not STIs can delay your period, let’s first go over how the menstrual cycle works.

The menstrual cycle describes a series of hormonal changes that happen approximately once every 28 days (although this can vary from person to person). The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy by thickening the lining of her uterus. If she becomes pregnant, this lining will provide nutrients for the developing fetus. However, if she doesn’t become pregnant within about two weeks after ovulation has occurred, her body will shed this lining – aka having a period.

What Are STIs?

Now that we’ve covered some basics on periods and menstruation cycles let’s talk about STI’s.
An STI, which stands for sexually transmitted infection or disease (STD), refers to any infection passed between people during sexual contact. Common examples include chlamydia, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), gonorrhea and syphilis among others.

STI’s are commonly found as they don’t always show symptoms immediately so It’s important always regularly tested regardless of showing obvious symptoms or signs.

How Do STIs Interfere With Your Period?

So now comes the big question – do reproductively transmitted diseases actually affect someone’s monthly flow? Well yes! They do…

Various STDs may reduce Estrogen levels making menstruation irregular as estrogen plays an essential role in regulating cycles by thickening uterine tissue (endometrium) to be ready for implantation of a fertilized egg. Some Sexually transmitted infections might lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes inflammation in your reproductive system that can make periods irregular or missed.

What STDs Can Delay Your Period?

There are multiple sexually transmitted diseases and each one may affect menstrual cycles differently:

• Chlamydia – When left untreated, chlamydia can spread through the uterus and fallopian tubes causing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), this infection can cause infertility in women. PID affects estrogen levels leading to changes in menstruation.

• Gonorrhea – Just like chlamydia the gonorrhea bacteria also infect cells of reproductive organs leading it to spread up through the cervix and into your uterus causing PID

• Syphilis – though less common compared with other STIs, untreated syphilis could lead to long-term complications on patients’ health including serious disruptions on their hormonal balance affecting period times.

• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) – Herpes does not directly delay period due to hormonal disruption but when outbreaks occur around menstruation time herpes-related sores often coincide with tampon use making using such products uncomfortable or painful which might cause delays as people wait out until they feel more comfortable.

Note that these only cover a few STI cases; there are many others that could eventually influence someone’s menstrual cycle if gone untreated.

Could Other Factors Be Causing A Missed Period?

While we know some STDs do have an effect on women’s monthly cycles, it is also important to consider different factors outside of sexually transmitted infections:

Stress

Not just stress at work! Any major life change like moving homes or broken relationships etc. Since stress highly affects Estrogen levels required by female bodies for ovulation appropriate amounts need constant regulation.

Exercise Habits

Intense workouts could alter the way estrogen and other hormones regulate menstruation cycles. Certain kinds of training routines or excessive exercise add pressure to oestrogen production which might delay periods.

Crash Diets

Fasting, detoxes and overbusy liquid diets can all cause hormonal imbalances halting menstrual flow until body normalizes hormone levels.

As we stated earlier pregnancy is also a possible reason for late or missed periods.

Conclusion

In summary; STIs such as Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia may respectively affect your hormones level hence leading to irregular period cycle even when using contraceptives while not following safe sex practices introduces greater risk for menstrual disruptions.

The best prevention step one can take would be engaging in regular use of protection during sexual activity & carrying out periodical screening sessions with doctors. In addition stable habits like healthy eating routine, proper self care techniques & light/consistent exercise will prevent abnormal cycles let alone enabling you know more about yourself!

Stay safe everyone!