Female Lifters, Amenorrhea and/or missed periods.

bbell1985
bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
edited November 17 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all. I'm looking to hear from fit, relatively lean women in a healthy weight range who weight train. I understand this excludes many, but this is my case and most other stories will not be beneficial to me (you are still losing a large amount of weight, you are under weight, you are overweight, you are new to exercise).

That said. After years of having a regular period, it stopped last July. It came back in October, I thought I was regular again, but I have still missed two of the months since then. I've basically had one regular cycle since last July, a 3 month period without, and two that were over 40 days apart.

Yes, I have been overweight but my weight has been lost for awhile. I bulked last winter from 128 to 144, tried to cut last May. Hit 137 and went back up to 144. I don't think that weight gain or fluctuation has anything to do with it.

Also, I'm not ridiculously lean. I have a decent amount of fat.

The only thing that has changed is my specificity of weight training to prep for power lifting competitions. I lifted all through weight loss, so exercise is NOT new. The frequency, intensity and volume have changed though.

I do NO cardio. It's not like I'm crazy over-training here.

I have been to the doctors. Everything looks fine. The ultrasound looked good. The doc said she could see that there were perhaps cysts that had burst, but nothing to worry about.

I thought that maybe the fact that I was eating a lot of soy, or basically overdosing on melatonin, might have had a negative affect on my cycle. I stopped with both and my period came back, but now it's being wonky again regardless.

Nutrition wise, my fat is typically up where it should be when in maintenance (which I am). Protein is fine, carbs fine. I eat a lot of veg, introduced more fruit back in a few weeks ago to help with IBS.

My mood during PMS has also changed from "a little cranky" to...psychotic. And because I don't know when my period is coming anymore, it's hard for me to write these moods off to hormones. I threw the hairdryer across the bedroom the other day into the wall as hard as I could and cried in my bed for 30 minutes straight because I was too embarrassed by the sight of myself to go to the gym or be seen in public.

I think the missed periods could be from lifting? But I really thought that women who experience this from training had low body fat percentages and were doing MORE than me. I mean training for marathons and competitive sports.

Anyway, that was long. Have any LIFTERS experienced this? I'm not talking about extremely lean ladies prepping for competition either. I am not that.
«13

Replies

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    edited April 2017
    Me..... 6 years and counting, with the exception of 3 periods in 6ish weeks last year. Which happened after the longest training break I've had since starting weight training about 7 years ago. (3ish months}. It stopped when I was losing weight for my wedding. I wasn't particularly lean at the time.

    I've been comp lean for a lot of time, but I've put weight/fat on to see if that helped, and stayed big, for me, for prolonged periods, I've eaten well, I've tried different diets, supplements, been tested, told I'm normal, you name it.

    Training is the only thing I can attribute it to...
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Me..... 6 years and counting, with the exception of 3 periods in 6ish weeks last year. Which happened after the longest training break I've had since starting weight training about 7 years ago. (3ish months}. It stopped when I was losing weight for my wedding. I wasn't particularly lean at the time.

    I've been comp lean for a lot of time, but I've put weight/fat on to see if that helped, and stayed big, for me, for prolonged periods, I've eaten well, I've tried different diets, supplements, been tested, told I'm normal, you name it.

    Training is the only thing I can attribute it to...

    So it didn't come back when you gained weight?

    And I see that the period came back during a training break, then stopped again when you started training?

    Interesting, thank you.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    @livingleanlivingclean During the times of missed periods, do you still ovulate? I guess as a woman I should know that. I just seem to read that you can ovulate and still skip a period, and sometimes I see that it is not possible.
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    That was me around 8 years ago. I didn't get periods for around a year, pms symptoms were crazy and I was just not a happy person.
    At that time I was lean( but not super lean), ate very good and was training very hard.
    To me, it was not worth it.
    So I stopped counting calories, gained around 15lbs( I am 5'9ish), and took it easy on training. Have been doing that for around 5 years and everything went back to normal.
    The last year I have gained 10lbs on top of the 15 I gained before, which I want to lose, but I am not going back to being lean and training like a mad woman.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Me..... 6 years and counting, with the exception of 3 periods in 6ish weeks last year. Which happened after the longest training break I've had since starting weight training about 7 years ago. (3ish months}. It stopped when I was losing weight for my wedding. I wasn't particularly lean at the time.

    I've been comp lean for a lot of time, but I've put weight/fat on to see if that helped, and stayed big, for me, for prolonged periods, I've eaten well, I've tried different diets, supplements, been tested, told I'm normal, you name it.

    Training is the only thing I can attribute it to...

    So it didn't come back when you gained weight?

    And I see that the period came back during a training break, then stopped again when you started training?

    Interesting, thank you.

    No, gaining weight didn't help. :(

    I'd lifted between 4 and 6 days a week for years, then had a break where I did 2 or 3 30minute interval/cardio based classes a week. It came back, I started lifting again and *poof* it was gone...

    At least I know my body can still work when it wants to? I have an appt with a Integrative Dr specialising in hormones/fertility/thyroid/sports performance to try and work out what's going on... In 6 months! None of the normal Dr's I've seen have any idea or seem to want to help. Im normal apparently!
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Leanness is not the only cause of amenorrhea. I've posted about it before but energy availability is a factor in losing your period. That's the calories you eat, less the number you burn in exercise. Once you go below a certain threshhold, you tend to lose your period and it can take a long period of eating more in order to get it back and keep it. I *think* I've seen you say that you maintain at 1800 calories (is that right?) and that number seems low for your activity and body composition.

    Are you a member of Lyle McDonald's bodyrecomposition.com FB group? If not, join and do a search for energy availability or amenorrhea, as there have been some good discussions about it.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    @livingleanlivingclean During the times of missed periods, do you still ovulate? I guess as a woman I should know that. I just seem to read that you can ovulate and still skip a period, and sometimes I see that it is not possible.

    I think I've read you can.... I'm not sure how to find out if you are or not (perhaps tracking temps?}
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Leanness is not the only cause of amenorrhea. I've posted about it before but energy availability is a factor in losing your period. That's the calories you eat, less the number you burn in exercise. Once you go below a certain threshhold, you tend to lose your period and it can take a long period of eating more in order to get it back and keep it. I *think* I've seen you say that you maintain at 1800 calories (is that right?) and that number seems low for your activity and body composition.

    Are you a member of Lyle McDonald's bodyrecomposition.com FB group? If not, join and do a search for energy availability or amenorrhea, as there have been some good discussions about it.

    So, I never said JUST being lean is a factor. I'm asking about training, and mentioning my stats so everyone knows they're not dealing with a stage ready lifter.

    And if I'm eating 1800 and maintaining, how can we say I'm not eating enough? I'm also a *kitten* logger. In reality I probably eat more.

    Yes I am a member of that group. I don't feel comfortable posting there until I've read more.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    @livingleanlivingclean During the times of missed periods, do you still ovulate? I guess as a woman I should know that. I just seem to read that you can ovulate and still skip a period, and sometimes I see that it is not possible.

    I think I've read you can.... I'm not sure how to find out if you are or not (perhaps tracking temps?}

    Oh I know when I am. I can feel it. I need to keep track of it better now. I felt myself do it late this cycle. I'll see if I do after this period.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Me..... 6 years and counting, with the exception of 3 periods in 6ish weeks last year. Which happened after the longest training break I've had since starting weight training about 7 years ago. (3ish months}. It stopped when I was losing weight for my wedding. I wasn't particularly lean at the time.

    I've been comp lean for a lot of time, but I've put weight/fat on to see if that helped, and stayed big, for me, for prolonged periods, I've eaten well, I've tried different diets, supplements, been tested, told I'm normal, you name it.

    Training is the only thing I can attribute it to...

    So it didn't come back when you gained weight?

    And I see that the period came back during a training break, then stopped again when you started training?

    Interesting, thank you.

    No, gaining weight didn't help. :(

    I'd lifted between 4 and 6 days a week for years, then had a break where I did 2 or 3 30minute interval/cardio based classes a week. It came back, I started lifting again and *poof* it was gone...

    At least I know my body can still work when it wants to? I have an appt with a Integrative Dr specialising in hormones/fertility/thyroid/sports performance to try and work out what's going on... In 6 months! None of the normal Dr's I've seen have any idea or seem to want to help. Im normal apparently!

    If you want to friend me and feel comfortable about talking about the results of the appointment, I'd love to hear. Same here...doc has nothing to say.

  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    Leanness is not the only cause of amenorrhea. I've posted about it before but energy availability is a factor in losing your period. That's the calories you eat, less the number you burn in exercise. Once you go below a certain threshhold, you tend to lose your period and it can take a long period of eating more in order to get it back and keep it. I *think* I've seen you say that you maintain at 1800 calories (is that right?) and that number seems low for your activity and body composition.

    Are you a member of Lyle McDonald's bodyrecomposition.com FB group? If not, join and do a search for energy availability or amenorrhea, as there have been some good discussions about it.

    So, I never said JUST being lean is a factor. I'm asking about training, and mentioning my stats so everyone knows they're not dealing with a stage ready lifter.

    And if I'm eating 1800 and maintaining, how can we say I'm not eating enough? I'm also a *kitten* logger. In reality I probably eat more.

    Yes I am a member of that group. I don't feel comfortable posting there until I've read more.

    Sorry. Didn't mean to upset you. Nevermind.

    No I'm not upset. I'm just saying. I really would like to hear if you think I'm not getting enough energy even though I'm maintaining weight. I mean, if I ate more, I'd gain, right?


  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Admittedly, I get upset when people pick at my TDEE because I am sad about it and jealous of others. But it's my reality :( Also, as I said, that PMS is just strong. I've felt miserable and out of control for days so even online I may come across short.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Me..... 6 years and counting, with the exception of 3 periods in 6ish weeks last year. Which happened after the longest training break I've had since starting weight training about 7 years ago. (3ish months}. It stopped when I was losing weight for my wedding. I wasn't particularly lean at the time.

    I've been comp lean for a lot of time, but I've put weight/fat on to see if that helped, and stayed big, for me, for prolonged periods, I've eaten well, I've tried different diets, supplements, been tested, told I'm normal, you name it.

    Training is the only thing I can attribute it to...

    So it didn't come back when you gained weight?

    And I see that the period came back during a training break, then stopped again when you started training?

    Interesting, thank you.

    No, gaining weight didn't help. :(

    I'd lifted between 4 and 6 days a week for years, then had a break where I did 2 or 3 30minute interval/cardio based classes a week. It came back, I started lifting again and *poof* it was gone...

    At least I know my body can still work when it wants to? I have an appt with a Integrative Dr specialising in hormones/fertility/thyroid/sports performance to try and work out what's going on... In 6 months! None of the normal Dr's I've seen have any idea or seem to want to help. Im normal apparently!

    If you want to friend me and feel comfortable about talking about the results of the appointment, I'd love to hear. Same here...doc has nothing to say.

    Of course... It won't be for a while though, unless I can *fingers crossed* get in a cancelled appt spot!
  • ocrXfitter
    ocrXfitter Posts: 123 Member
    After I had my son seven years ago I became extremely regular. I've been lifting for 4 years now and never skipped a period until two months ago. Too early to know if that's a pattern that will continue. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if it never came back.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    ocrXfitter wrote: »
    After I had my son seven years ago I became extremely regular. I've been lifting for 4 years now and never skipped a period until two months ago. Too early to know if that's a pattern that will continue. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if it never came back.

    Did anything in your training change in the past 3-6 months? Sometime different from the past 4 years?
  • ocrXfitter
    ocrXfitter Posts: 123 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    ocrXfitter wrote: »
    After I had my son seven years ago I became extremely regular. I've been lifting for 4 years now and never skipped a period until two months ago. Too early to know if that's a pattern that will continue. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if it never came back.

    Did anything in your training change in the past 3-6 months? Sometime different from the past 4 years?

    Not really. I've always done a pretty good mix of lifting and running. I've had times of more running less lifting, less running more lifting, and an even split (like now) but it's never seemed to affect my period before.
  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    I was always irregular (both overweight and relatively fit). I started taking 5000IUS of Vitamin D, and I have been regular ever since. I lift heavy, do a moderate amount of cardio, bulked and cut...with no problems.

    For me, the issue was the Vit D deficiency. That's a quick blood test at the dr's office.
  • amyinthetardis1231
    amyinthetardis1231 Posts: 571 Member
    If you have possibly had ovarian cysts, you could have PCOS. Have you ever had your androgens tested? Also, second the vitamin D comment above.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Yeah, I've had my bloodwork done and everything is normal. I've been taking D3, is that the same?

    I really don't think I have PCOS. Though I can feel painful little cysts when I ovulate, it's really the only symptom of PCOS I have.
  • ocrXfitter
    ocrXfitter Posts: 123 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Yeah, I've had my bloodwork done and everything is normal. I've been taking D3, is that the same?

    I really don't think I have PCOS. Though I can feel painful little cysts when I ovulate, it's really the only symptom of PCOS I have.

    I have cysts too. It's completely normal and I don't have PCOS.
  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    D3 works better for me than D2 (which is a prescription). It's normal to have at least some cysts. I had tests/ultrasound done for PCOS before the dr settled on Vitamin D deficiency.

    For me, my D level needs to be over 50. Some drs are weird about allowing your level to "get too high," b/c you can overdose on it. I would ask for the actual # on the bloodwork, b/c the "safe" level is something like 32-100. That's a pretty large scale.
  • Xymheia
    Xymheia Posts: 65 Member
    D3 is cholecalciferol, it's the same form that your body produces under UV B light and more bioactive than D2. D2 is found in foods like mushrooms and is vegan friendly, unlike D3 which is animal based. Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin but a fat soluble precursor to a steroid hormone which is why you need to be careful not to overdose. The upper limit for D3 is 4000 IU (international units) a day and I suppose the same for D2 but I don't recommend taking that much. Where I live they prescribe 800 IU D3 for mild deficiency, but given the ceiling of 4000 IU a day I would say you can take up to 2000 fairly safely in winter time and get your bloodwork checked regularly to see how it affects your blood level. Also make sure, like any supplement, to get it from a reputable place.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Xymheia wrote: »
    Hi bbell1985,
    I have had amenorrhea a couple of years ago when I went a little overboard with exercise and diet. I had a very hard time eating enough to fuel my workouts (lifting 3 times a week, running twice a week 4 km distance), sports training (field hockey 3 times a week) and daily trips to school (30 minutes cycling one way) and ended up at low body fat combined with high exercise load and inadequate diet, which eventually led to amenorrhea. Fast forward 1 year, I had cut my training load to nearly zero due to an overuse knee injury among others, gained a few kg and got my period back. This may not be exactly similar to your case but please hear me out.

    Since then I have learned that amenorrhea occurs when you stress your body too much through physical stress (little body fat, inadequate diet, heavy exercise/manual labor) and/or psychological stress. You do not necessarily need to have an excessively low body fat percentage to become amenorrheic, it is usually due to a combination of factors and this combination may certainly be different for you than it was for me at the time, and is for others who are amenorrheic right now. E.g. Intermittent fasting, while it works for many men, may wreak havoc for women, so if you’re doing this, you may want to stop. Same if you are eating low carb, you need some carbs to fuel your workouts and brain. Low carb might not work for everyone. If you are eating low carb, try upping your carb intake to a more moderate level and also make sure you eat at least 4 meals a day with adequate calories to maintain your weight. I would calculate your TDEE and eat approximately that and make sure to track your intake reasonably accurately, if you end up eating less while maintaining weight, try reverse dieting, which is slowly upping the calories, it is said to be a trick to get your metabolism back to normal after dieting, however I have never tried it myself. Aim to keep your weight stable for a few months while reducing your exercise load, both volume and intensity, to allow your body to regain its balance. I do not know your schedule but if it's anywhere near 6 times a week 1-2 hours at a time it may be a tad much. Also, if you're suffering from psychological stress, aim to reduce this through for example talking it out with friends, dealing with your stressor(s) assertively and/or meditation.

    It is really important to get your period back as soon as possible because your hormones, in particular estrogen, may be depleted/imbalanced and they play an important role in keeping your bones healthy. It is harmful not to have your period and has long term consequences if untreated: increased risk of osteoporosis and stress fractures. If you cannot get your period back within 6-12 months with lifestyle/dietary changes discuss with your physician if there is another way for you to balance your hormones until you do. In any case ask your doctor to check your hormones, vitamins and thyroid function, should be simple blood work.

    You would think - I have literally had arguments with more than one Dr about getting referrals for tests, despite telling them my history. I've been told I'm normal more often than not, it's a joke! When I have managed to get referrals for tests, they aren't complete enough to give a full picture...
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    Dunno if this helps, but I went through a ~7 month period of amenorrhea at the end of last year that just got more and more symptomatic over time. I've always weight trained 4-5x/week. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to lose weight. I'm also not super lean, likely higher BF than you are. First 4 months, started out with just irregular periods. Weight was maintaining at 1600, so I dropped my calories a little more. Developed hormonal cystic acne, anxiety, and insomnia and lost my period completely for the last 2 months. Suddenly couldn't even look at dairy or soy without breaking out. Weight was still maintaining. Didn't change my programming throughout. Even sadder, my strength pretty much plateaued, even lost a bit on my bench.

    Anyway, since then I'm eating more and still maintaining. No longer amenorrheic. I dropped my training volume slightly (it was not very high to begin with). Stress is a little more under control. At the time, I was pretty stressed mentally, plus some self-worth issues; though I couldn't tell you how much of it was from the havoc of hormones. IMO, it was more an issue of total stress load, physiological and psychological. Lifting is a physiological stress, after all, so if that's happening on top of whatever else, it could tip the scales. I know that's vague. I actually hope you find out its something specific like a vit deficiency, so you can just pop a pill and be done with it.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    lemmie177 wrote: »
    Dunno if this helps, but I went through a ~7 month period of amenorrhea at the end of last year that just got more and more symptomatic over time. I've always weight trained 4-5x/week. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to lose weight. I'm also not super lean, likely higher BF than you are. First 4 months, started out with just irregular periods. Weight was maintaining at 1600, so I dropped my calories a little more. Developed hormonal cystic acne, anxiety, and insomnia and lost my period completely for the last 2 months. Suddenly couldn't even look at dairy or soy without breaking out. Weight was still maintaining. Didn't change my programming throughout. Even sadder, my strength pretty much plateaued, even lost a bit on my bench.

    Anyway, since then I'm eating more and still maintaining. No longer amenorrheic. I dropped my training volume slightly (it was not very high to begin with). Stress is a little more under control. At the time, I was pretty stressed mentally, plus some self-worth issues; though I couldn't tell you how much of it was from the havoc of hormones. IMO, it was more an issue of total stress load, physiological and psychological. Lifting is a physiological stress, after all, so if that's happening on top of whatever else, it could tip the scales. I know that's vague. I actually hope you find out its something specific like a vit deficiency, so you can just pop a pill and be done with it.

    I can't respond in full at the moment but this is basically me. I tried to lose weight and that's when it happened. And I wasn't losing either.

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I still had my period during competition prep and when I maintained low body fat between two competitions. There are a variety of factors that go into losing your period, you may have to attempt some adjustments to training or macros.
  • katieann522
    katieann522 Posts: 15 Member
    Hormones are crazy specific. the right testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, magnesium.... etc. It is so hard to know that you're getting all you need for body functions. I have such strange cycles, it is too much sometimes. I understand the concern. just keep tracking, eating and checking in with the doctors when you can.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    ocrXfitter wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    Yeah, I've had my bloodwork done and everything is normal. I've been taking D3, is that the same?

    I really don't think I have PCOS. Though I can feel painful little cysts when I ovulate, it's really the only symptom of PCOS I have.

    I have cysts too. It's completely normal and I don't have PCOS.

    Ok thanks. I keep trying to tell people this and everyone wants to jump to PCOS.

    Those little buggers hurt though. Ovulation is not fun for me. Worse than period physically and emotionally.
This discussion has been closed.