Emotional Stress has a significant influence on menstruation, pregnancy, labor and menopause.

Emotional stress has a significant influence on menstruation, pregnancy, labor and menopause. The Golden Mirror of Medicine, when discussing emotional causes of disease in gynecology, says: “Worry, anger, depression injure the emotional life, Blood flows up rebelling upwards bringing Qi with it.”
Chapter 33 of the Simple Questions:
“When menstruation does not come, this is due to the Uterus Vessel being blocked. The Uterus Vessel pertains to the Heart and connects with the Uterus; when Qi rebels upwards towards the Lungs, Heart-Qi cannot flow downwards and the periods do not come.”
‘Qi rebelling upwards towards the Lungs’ describes worry, sadness or grief. The Heart houses the Mind (Shen) and plays an important role in emotional stress. Other organs may also be affected by emotional stress that will influence the function of the Uterus.
The Liver is especially affected by emotional stress which affects menstruation. Liver Qi-Stagnation, Liver Blood stasis, Liver-Blood-Heat and Liver-Fire may all have an influence on menstruation, conception, pregnancy, and labor.
Emotional stress influences menstruation by affecting the movement of Blood by Qi. The circulation of Qi may become depleted, stagnated or rebellious.
Below are a few examples of emotions and how they may affect menstruation.
* Sadness and grief: can deplete Heart Blood leading to amenorrhoea, scanty periods, or delayed cycle.
* Worry: knots the Qi of the Lungs, Heart and Spleen, leads to stagnation which can cause delayed or painful periods. Can also affect the Liver and make Liver-Yang rising which can cause menstrual headaches.
* Fear: A sudden fright makes Kidney-Qi descend, a chronic state of anxiety makes Qi rise.
* Image and Information from Giovanni Maciocia: Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine second edition.