Lost period, new year.

Hey guys,

So i've been without my period completely for a few months. This isn't rare for me. About two years ago I lost it for about a year and a half and then was prescribed some kick-start 10 day pills. Well, this worked but i lost it again shortly after. I lost my period due to low weight and excessive exercise. Well, this is a new year and my husband and I want to start trying for a baby in about a year or so. In order to do that I need my period. My question is, has anyone been through something like this? My plan is to go off my pill completely to let my body regulate itself, eat more, and moderately exercise. My question is, has anyone been through something like this before? I know I have to gain weight and i'm worried about that. I've worked so hard! lol. Just could use some inspiration or tips from anyone!

Replies

  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    Yes, I've been through it.

    Many years ago I stopped having periods due to too stringent dieting and exercising. Per my regular OB/GYN's orders, I took Premarin and Provera every three months to induce a period. He said I had to do that to maintain health. I was sailing along just fine doing that until DH and I decided we wanted to have a baby. Still under the guidance of my regular OB/GYN, we did a few rounds of Clomid with no success. My doctor referred me to another doctor within the same group who was a fertility specialist. After reviewing my file he told me in no uncertain terms that there was no way I was going to ever get pregnant until my cycles became regular again, and that very likely the only way that would happen would be for me to stop stressing my body so much with the dieting and exercising and to gain a few pounds. FWIW, at the time I was NOT anywhere near underweight according to BMI. I was about mid-range. But he wisely told me that my body knew much more about what was healthy for it than any math formula did. I cut back on the exercise and slowly started eating more. It took me a year or so to put on about ten pounds. I got regular again and we went on to have two healthy boys. They were very well worth those ten pounds!!
  • bmb42
    bmb42 Posts: 19 Member
    Thank you so much. It's great hearing another woman's similar experience! One thing I keep telling myself is that the weight be worth it if that means I can conceive.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,643 Member
    bmb42 wrote: »
    Hey guys,

    So i've been without my period completely for a few months. This isn't rare for me. About two years ago I lost it for about a year and a half and then was prescribed some kick-start 10 day pills. Well, this worked but i lost it again shortly after. I lost my period due to low weight and excessive exercise. Well, this is a new year and my husband and I want to start trying for a baby in about a year or so. In order to do that I need my period. My question is, has anyone been through something like this? My plan is to go off my pill completely to let my body regulate itself, eat more, and moderately exercise. My question is, has anyone been through something like this before? I know I have to gain weight and i'm worried about that. I've worked so hard! lol. Just could use some inspiration or tips from anyone!

    Sounds a lot like something called the "Female Athlete Triad". Maybe resources for that can help you as well.
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    i lost my period for two years when i was eating an aggressively low calorie diet and doing too much exercise so i understand

    it was terrible i was very malnourished and so i decided to raise my calorie goal way up (at least 2000 calories a day sometimes more 2100-2300) and eat at that consistently

    i still worked out but cut down on how much cardio i did

    within about 6ish months my period started to return and became regular within 8 months . Sure i gained 10 pounds but i felt so much stronger, healthier (both physically & mentally) ,happier my workouts improved my sleep improved yeah i just became a lot healthier

    i have continued with this and its been great its really hard and scary at first but im so glad i stuck with it

    I really highly suggest you do the same in fact you may need to eat a higher calorie goal than i did , check out the gaining weight boards & i also suggest talking to your doctor as well
  • hedwardsb
    hedwardsb Posts: 201 Member
    Mine was never gone completely, but I had long cycles--38 to 60 days--before I had my three children. I only conceived after gaining about 10 pounds even though my weight was already within the normal range for my height.
  • worldofalice
    worldofalice Posts: 148 Member
    After 5 years of anorexia, I'm still trying to get my period back now I'm a healthyish weight. One thing I'm currently doing in increasing my healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, coconut oil etc. I've already noticed that my hair is shinier, skin is better and boobs are growing so that's a sign my hormones are kicking in hopefully! Additionally I've reduced cardio from running 7 days a week to 3. It hasn't been long enough for me to get my period back yet but I'm positive that it will - it seems to have worked for countless other sufferers! Plus regardless of that, the other physical benefits have been great :) Good luck!
  • toe1226
    toe1226 Posts: 249 Member
    This has happened to me. At the time, I was seeing a male OBGYN and my weight was of a "healthy" BMI (5'10, 132, pretty much as low as possible) - HOWEVER, I was lifting heavy, so my body fat was really LOW, and the problem with BMI charts is...um, that they are like, totally irrelevant to health?

    While one person can be healthy at 5'10 and 132, I cannot. I ended up going to see a female obgyn who said she sees this a lot with athletes, and that menstruation is indicative of health and if I was not menstruating, I was at an unhealthily low weight for me - I did the minipill thing, but she forewarned me to put on some fat particularly if I wanted to conceive in the future, she also said it is important to practice being at a higher fat level and eating more for a bit BEFORE you conceive, to make sure you are in a healthy spot mentally and physically once the baby is cookin'.

    So, yes, I went through this. I went into a higher weight class with more body fat and got my period back without pills.
  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I havent had a period in two years now.. Ive had plenty of tests done but they've all come back fine, seemingly I'm still ovulating and would be able to get pregnant. My lowest was 105 and my high was 150 at 5'1. It took me a full 18 months to lose the weight and I did it slowly without cutting calories too low at any point. I lost it around 130lbs. I'm now around 110, still no sight of it. :disappointed: