Contents:
- Medical Video: In Graphics: air pollution can cause of irregular periods
- What is the connection between air pollution and irregular menstruation?
- Then, how do you get your menstrual cycle back to normal?
Medical Video: In Graphics: air pollution can cause of irregular periods
There are many reasons why a woman's menstruation can be irregular. Maybe because of the influence of stress, anxiety, or the use of family planning tools that make hormones in the body become unbalanced. Well, a recent study revealed that exposure to air pollution might play a role in causing your monthly cycle to become irregular. How can? Consider the following facts.
What is the connection between air pollution and irregular menstruation?
Air pollution is clearly one of the deadliest dangers for humans. The pollutant content not only affects the respiratory system, but also affects the circulatory system.
Over time, researchers have found that air pollution can actually affect a woman's reproductive system. Research that has been published in the Human Reproduction journal reveals that exposure to air pollution can cause irregular menstrual cycles.
According to experts, the content of pollutants inhaled by women can affect the body's hormonal activity. One of them is the androgen hormone - which is often referred to as male sex hormones - which plays a role in regulating the menstrual cycle length and oocyte quality. Women have androgen hormones in their bodies, but certainly not as much as men. When hormonal imbalances occur in the body, this can cause the menstrual cycle to become irregular.
As a result, participants consisting of adolescent girls ages 14 to 18 experienced a shorter luteal phase than in previous months due to breathing pollution. The luteal phase itself is one phase in the menstrual cycle, usually lasting 13 to 16 days from the time you enter ovulation to the start of the next menstrual cycle. When the luteal phase becomes shorter, it means your menstrual cycle will shift and become irregular.
Then, how do you get your menstrual cycle back to normal?
Based on the results of these studies, experts clearly provide red signs for women to be more careful about air pollution. Not only does it interfere with the smooth flow of the menstrual cycle, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in pollution can also trigger disorders of the female reproductive system. Some female reproductive problems that can arise are metabolic syndrome, PCOS, to the risk of infertility.
You certainly cannot avoid exposure to pollution around you, especially if you live in an urban area that has a lot of contact with vehicle fumes. However, you can fortify yourself from the negative effects of pollution through food intake. Yes, the wrong diet can also make the menstrual cycle irregular, you know!
Well, here are some of the nutrients you need to reduce the negative effects of air pollution in the body, so that your menstrual cycle can return smoothly.
- Vitamin C, contains antioxidants that can fight free radicals from air pollution. Various foods that will be vitamin C are guava, orange juice, and citrus fruits.
- Vitamin A or beta carotene, has the same benefits as vitamin C in fighting free radicals and reducing inflammation. Various food sources of vitamin A are green vegetables, carrots and pumpkin.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, plays an important role in counteracting various pollutants in the body. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts and flaxseed.
- Magnesium, useful to help increase the body's immune system and release harmful substances from the lungs. Various sources of magnesium are spinach, yogurt and avocados.
