My menstrual cycle is all messed up now

Love4fitnesslove4food2

If you're not getting a period, something is OFF. Period. There's no good reason a woman would stop menstruating (unless she's going through menopause or has yet to start her period). You should get your hormone levels checked--odds are your estrogen levels have declined (which can have an adverse impact on your bone density) or your LH/FSH ratios are out of proportion or synchronicity.

BurningAway

Wow what a mess. Seriously. For years, I've had regular periods, absolutely horrible ones though, very heavy and painful. Plus the lovely joy of having horrible cramps when I ovulate (started after I did IVF).

The last 3 months though, I ovulate (horrible cramps still), and the next day my period shows up. So I pretty much have it 2 weeks after the last one ends! I guess it's a good thing I'm not trying to get pregnant. My period is light and so much better, but still.

Has anyone else noticed huge changes in their cycle with weight loss? I'm seeing a GYN tomorrow and expecting to run some tests.

Yes, i skip periods usually but honestly they have been so much better pain wise since i started exercising ovulation hurts a bit more but yoga usually helps that pain as well for me anyways. I also noticed a severe change in the amount, overall id say mine is much better then it was before. With IVF when did you start this? This could be the ultimate reason why yours are they way they are now especially if you have already undergone the shots and such, did u have a successful pregnancy with IVF? If not your body will ovulate more since they are fertility drugs, also your not having two periods, spotting is an ovulation sign sometimes it may be heavy and is a very good sign that your fertile.

(All this was told to me by Beaumont fertility specialists as ive got a bicornate uterus. )

BurningAway

If you're not getting a period, something is OFF. Period. There's no good reason a woman would stop menstruating (unless she's going through menopause or has yet to start her period). You should get your hormone levels checked--odds are your estrogen levels have declined (which can have an adverse impact on your bone density) or your LH/FSH ratios are out of proportion or synchronicity.

With heavy exercise its very common for a womens menstural cycle to decrease and sometimes stop due to the extra stress she is putting on her body, this isnt a bad thing but it is certainly a sign your body is under stress if it is causing the woman discomfort or worry its recommended that she slow down her exercises and gradually increase back to where she was.

This was told too be my Gynecologist about three months ago when i was having what i thought were pregnancy symptoms as well as a missed cycle.

Love4fitnesslove4food2

If you're not getting a period, something is OFF. Period. There's no good reason a woman would stop menstruating (unless she's going through menopause or has yet to start her period). You should get your hormone levels checked--odds are your estrogen levels have declined (which can have an adverse impact on your bone density) or your LH/FSH ratios are out of proportion or synchronicity.

With heavy exercise its very common for a womens menstural cycle to decrease and sometimes stop due to the extra stress she is putting on her body, this isnt a bad thing but it is certainly a sign your body is under stress if it is causing the woman discomfort or worry its recommended that she slow down her exercises and gradually increase back to where she was.

This was told too be my Gynecologist about three months ago when i was having what i thought were pregnancy symptoms as well as a missed cycle.

It is a bad thing if you want a properly working reproductive system.

Seesawboomerang

I am regular still but I do spot at ovulation which I never used to. However this may be more to do with my age (perimenopausal, perhaps) rather than the effects of diet change and exercise.

One thing I know for sure is that regular steady workouts make my cramps lighter (thus the flow is lighter), and PMS is controlled more.

rednose83

The timing of mine hasn't changed. The flow and intensity have gotten much more bearable though. Oh, and it's only 3 days instead of 7. A HUGE plus in my book

crystalbluewolf13

I get really weird periods due to have PCO. Some months i don't have any at all, other months i get really heavy ones that last a week, or they'll be heavy for 2-3 days then stop. It's really annoying cause i can't tell when it'll be. Although recently i'm getting cramps first luckily lol

Bobbiezilla

Wish I had seen this thread yesterday I put hubby on high alert.... Dear, it could be
1. Nothing
2. Changes due to weight loss
3. Pregnancy
4. Miscarriage

My TOM has been like clockwork on the ONLY birth control I like, I'm sure my early spotting is normal due to weight loss over the last 3 1/2 months.....had to put hubby on yellow alert though so I didn't have to worry alone.....or spring a surprise later! ;-)

ImSoOTired

I'm the opposite. 2011 I was at my heaviest (without being pregnant) at around 180. I had cycles as long as 70 days and the husband and I wanted to ttc so it was hard to track ovulation without a period for so long. I missed a lot of periods. I lost about 30lbs in 4 months using MFP and my cycle came back to normal but with a vengeance. I definitely see how losing/gaining weight can mess with cycles.
In Feb and March of 2012 I had 2 perfect 28 day cycles but they were super heavy and very painful. Then I got pregnant. I was 152lbs at the time. I resumed having periods in May of this year after I stopped breastfeeding and I was on the mini pill. I began bleeding every two weeks and I still am even though I've stopped the pill. I have a Gyn appt later this month so I hope that he has some suggestions on how to return to a 28 days cycle. I'm 3 lbs away from pre preg weight now so losing weight hasn't helped regulate the shorter cycles.

12skipafew99100

New meds or stopping old meds can mess with your cycle too.
Hang in there.

Francl27

Well the GYN said all this is normal. So whatever I guess...

Neikx

So glad I found this thread, cause I'm have the same problem. I don't think I'm ovulating and seem to get my period constantly, without any cramps (I used to have really bad ones). I don't seem to have a cycle at all right now, it's just random. I feel relieved to know that this is really common. So thanks everyone for sharing.

Neritel

Thanks for digging this out! I joined mfp 35 days ago and lost 21 lbs in that period, the rest of my weight loss before that happened at a slightly lower pace. Now i got my period a second time in one month with spotting in between. I am having a lot of cramps.
I am not on the pill and had a health check just before i joined mfp. The blood test said my hormones are all how they should be.

Raechel_R

So glad to read this. Since January 10 to March 4 I've lost 14 lbs. Today I started my period. No cramps at all. Egg white phase a few days then boom period. Only 14 days between cycle. You Google it and get nothing. So I searched here. I'm not on birth control for 5 months. So i guess my body is confused by 2lb a week weight loss. I'll try slowing it down to 1 lbs a week now. I only have 9 lbs to go anyway. Thanks ladies. I feel better now.

rachylouise87

mine changed - at 174lbs i did not have periods, then at around 158 i did and now they are regular 34 -35 days but now i suffer with painful cramps and horrible pms which i cannot control so the change has not been for the better for me

klkateri

Since losing the weight I've gone from wacky "It shows up roughly 28-35 days... maybe.... SURPRISE!! A week early with no supplies and at work" to "27 days spot on". My cramps have also gotten better. Instead of driving me crazy for several days, now I get them the first day... maybe a day before. In fact, my symptoms have gone down so much (PMS, Cramps, Bloating) that I think I might be pregnant every month!! Except for a massive appetite, My period has gone from curse to inconvenience!! I'm thrilled!!

Francl27

So for the record, this is an old thread. It came back once I started eating closer to maintenance. PMS is way worse though.

NicoleisQuantized

Actually, in the last three months I have been getting a period twice a month, where it lasts 3 days (2 light days, 1 heavy). I had an ultrasound and blood-work done last week and will see my physician next week. I am afraid I have premature ovarian failure or premature menopause (I am 28 yrs).

Edit: I just read the posts above and am really happy I did... I am glad I am not the only one to have gone through this...

lemon629

This is a hormonal issue caused by fluctuating hormones which is fairly common as women get older. I started having periods like this when I was in my early 30s. At first it was just a few days of spotting, then nothing for a week or so, then my real period would start. Gradually the breakthrough bleeding got longer and longer. By the time I was 38, there was only a day or two between that and the regular period, totaling about two weeks of bleeding. I finally saw a doctor for it in 2008. He put me on the Nuva Ring and I haven't had any problems since.

jgnatca

glitterstreet wrote: »

I haven't had my period for 7 months and I've had all the tests; pregnancy, blood, ultrasounds, thyroid etc... Would love to hear some suggestions as to what to do next. I ate 1200 calories for like 5 months without eating exercise calories and I wonder if this might have caused some damage..

Yes, not eating enough for an extended period will stop your period. It's your body's way of saying you don't have enough reserves to have a baby. Your cycle SHOULD come back when your diet becomes more reasonable and you have replenished your reserves. Check your iron levels.

boy_samantha

I feel like I am in the same boat as you ladies as well. My menstrual cycle is all messed up as well.

I stopped birth control in December and had my period like I normally do. Then waited a month to see if I would get my period again, seeing as there has been a lot of talk about not regaining your period after stopping birth control. I had my annual in January, a week after my last period. Then in February nothing, and still nothing up until now. So now I'm in week 7 from my last period. I don't believe I'm pregnant seeing as I have taken tests every week since my missed period.

I just believe this is amenorrhea, but has anyone else experienced this going off of birth control?

spoonyspork

Though this is an old thread, glad to see it. Mine got weird around Christmas time, which was when I was dropping the most weight (and eating closer to maintenance, go figure). Twice in one month including last month... really light for almost a whole week then one HEAVY day then bam off (so yes -- that means more than half a month bleeding!). I've been free for three weeks now though, so hopefully now that my weight loss is slowing it's leveling back off. That or I'm pregnant. Which would figure. XD