Girls only - tons of missed periods?

zlottery
zlottery Posts: 25
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone,

So I should have probably been more concerned about this than I have.. but I began losing weight back in July and thus far have dropped about 30 lbs all together. Overall, I've been losing about 6 lbs/month.. I've been doing it VERY healthily I have virtually never even went below 1300 and usually am much higher in calories. My exercise is intense when I do it but I only do it a few times a week so it's not like I exhaust myself. Despite all of this.. I haven't had my period since last August! That is almost 4 months! I am not sexually active, nor am I on any kind of medications, and I'm in perfect health. What could this possibly be? Has anyone else experienced something similar??

Replies

  • soliddreams
    soliddreams Posts: 37
    I've read that women, once they drop below a certain body fat percentage, will start to "lose" their periods. It seems like it's normal.

    Obviously I'm not a woman, but I've been reading a lot of forums and things (lady bodybuilding etc because my girlfriend is interested) and I stumbled upon that little bit. Most people say if you drop below 15% as a woman, it goes away.

    If you're really worried, go see your OB/GYN, remember we can only speculate, they'll know for sure.
  • tehzephyrsong
    tehzephyrsong Posts: 435 Member
    soliddreams: you're not wrong about that body fat percentage thing, amenorrhea is a thing that can happen if a woman's BF% drops below a certain threshold. However, if OP's avatar is her, BF% is not her problem.

    OP, see your doctor or OB/GYN as soon as you can. If there's no chance at all that you're pregnant, then you should definitely get that checked out. You're an adult woman, your cycle should have stabilized by now.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I missed one period and had one fairly late/heavy/crazy when I was losing and there was NO chance I was pregnant and miscarried (for those who would guess that)... I chalked it up to hormonal changes from dieting. Just losing the weight can cause a shift in hormones (I'm now always cold too), but if it has been continuing for months now I'd see if a doctor can get a better answer for you. If it were just one or two I wouldn't worry, but for months... get it checked and rest easy.
  • tashapoop
    tashapoop Posts: 7
    If you lose increased amounts of weight in a short period of time you will generally lose your period, it'll come back when your weight levels out a little more.
  • batgirlmama
    batgirlmama Posts: 99 Member
    It may be that your body is adjusting a bit, but I would see somebody soon. Fitter women usually do have lighter and shorter periods, but they should not disappear completely. I would really go talk to an OB. Not to pry, but has this kind of thing ever happened to you? I come from a family with all kinds of female issues (like going a couple of years without having one). It can signal some not so healthy things.
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    Hey everyone,

    So I should have probably been more concerned about this than I have.. but I began losing weight back in July and thus far have dropped about 30 lbs all together. Overall, I've been losing about 6 lbs/month.. I've been doing it VERY healthily I have virtually never even went below 1300 and usually am much higher in calories. My exercise is intense when I do it but I only do it a few times a week so it's not like I exhaust myself. Despite all of this.. I haven't had my period since last August! That is almost 4 months! I am not sexually active, nor am I on any kind of medications, and I'm in perfect health. What could this possibly be? Has anyone else experienced something similar??

    I've never ever experienced missing out on my menses because of physical exertion - from when I'd first had my menses until now. I've lost a whole lot of poundage - and my period was on the dot and healthy. And I've lost over 90lb.

    I am so sorry.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    First two words in forum topic title = "Girls only"

    First response is from a guy.

    Sounds about right.

    LOL
  • Softrbreeze
    Softrbreeze Posts: 156 Member
    See your OB/GYN for sure. I missed my period just once (except during pregnancies) and that was when I first went vegan. I figured it was the sudden absence of all the hormone-laden foods (meat/dairy etc) that I had been eating. It picked back up the next month right on schedule though. It was not calorie or exercise- related at all and I took 2 pregnancy tests- both negative. But if you continue to have missed periods, it definitely warrants a look-see by someone who knows more than us armchair specialists ;)
  • hannahcall2
    hannahcall2 Posts: 175 Member
    I actually went to my doctor recently about the same thing. She said that quick and abrupt situations can cause your body to skip them. Instead it puts the extra effort into maintaining your bodies day to day functions. She said that losing a lot of weight over a shorter period of time or vigorous exercise that your body previously wasn't used to can cause it to skip. Your body has just chosen to focus on keeping you healthy. Since there are no worries, I would enjoy it while it lasts! :wink:
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Who cares who the advice comes from whether its a male or female.

    Anyway, low energy availability is usually the cause. I only read Sunday's and Monday's entries but noticed this:

    Sunday: Ate 1639 Exercised 1171 = 468 net
    Monday (planned): Ate 1117 Exercised 508 = 609 net

    That's pretty low energy availability if you ask me.

    Read this study about calorie restriction affecting LH pulsatility and ovarian disruption and do the math using the included formulas to see if you are perhaps crossing the threshold:

    http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/88/1/297.full

    I did the math for you below:

    Weight: 158
    Body fat %: I estimated you at 29%, thus, you have a lean body mass of 112 lbs (51 kg).
    TDEE: I'll state 2100 although many calculators put you at 2270.

    30 cal x LBM kg ( 51 kg) x 1 = 1530 calories eaten
    15 cal x LBM kg (51 kg) x 1 = 765 exercise calories

    Thus, 2100 - 1530 = 570 calorie deficit
    570 + 765 = 1335 total deficit
    2100 - 1335 = 765 calorie net threshold

    According to both Sunday and Monday, your nets have been 468 and 609 calories, which are below the projected threshold of 765 calories. The above study mentioned that disruption didn't occur at said threshold, but going below at some point will.

    Thus, if your actual TDEE is really about 2100 calories and you are 29% bf and you established a net lower than 765 calories over 5 consecutive days, then you risk disruption of ovarian function and LH pulsatitlity.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    First two words in forum topic title = "Girls only"

    First response is from a guy.

    Sounds about right.

    LOL

    We gate crash the 'guy only' threads all the time.

    OP: it is relatively common with calorie restriction. I would however see your doctor or OB/GYN if it persists.
  • MegMorrisonWilson
    MegMorrisonWilson Posts: 14
    I heard you can work out excessively, like an athlete, you can miss it.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    It's normal when your body is stressed out for you to miss periods. I went to my doctor because of it, and she told me that it's normal and not to freak out, but that when it comes back, it might be incapacitatingly painful. She gave me the choice to take hormones to force it, or just to deal with whatever happens. I chose to deal. That is what MY doctor said to ME, so I'm not suggesting that it's necessarily the same for you since I am not a doctor, or even close to one, but yes, since starting to work out a lot, I've become even more irregular that i was to start with.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    What geeky jock said.

    Although I would add that twice I have switched to intermittent fasting (keeping the same calorie deficit) and both times I've missed at least one period. Other women report into this with fasting as well.

    Also, losing 6 lb a month is a lot if you don't have much to lose. Might want to add 250 or so cals a day?
  • steelmaggie228
    steelmaggie228 Posts: 75 Member
    I haven't had a period in 4 years. It's been awesome!
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    I haven't had a period in 4 years. It's been awesome!

    Isn't it bad news to lose your periods at the age of 18? Or are you just trolling?
  • sarahisme18
    sarahisme18 Posts: 574 Member
    I haven't had a period in 4 years. It's been awesome!

    Isn't it bad news to lose your periods at the age of 18? Or are you just trolling?

    Srsly.
  • steelmaggie228
    steelmaggie228 Posts: 75 Member
    I haven't had a period in 4 years. It's been awesome!

    Isn't it bad news to lose your periods at the age of 18? Or are you just trolling?

    Srsly.

    Not trolling. And I am actually really happy about it, I thought I lost it due to my birth control, but I went off it a couple months ago and haven't gotten them back yet, thankfully.
  • Kasya007
    Kasya007 Posts: 165 Member
    I wouldn't worry about it, but I would definitely make an appointment to see your ob/gyn in the near future, especially if it does not show by the time 6 months rolls around.

    Oh periods...mine disappeared last January (326 days ago), oddly enough, only 2 months after starting MFP. Looking back in my reports, I was only 120 at the time and it disappeared despite being of a normal weight, eating a good healthy net and only having lost 4 pounds at the time. I could understand losing it at the weight I'm at now, but not then, so I see my ob/gyn next month.

    Honestly, it's LOVELY to not have it, but please be safe and see a doctor. You've got to take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Has anyone else experienced something similar??

    I haven't missed a single period since Christmas '89 and I was really sporty. In my lifetime, I've only had the sedentary phase for about 2 years, where I'd prioritised work and studies over training and healthy eating. I usually averaged about 4hrs of strenuous workouts per day. It was normal to start a training session with 100 laps every stroke - before sprints. Then in my adulthood - road running, trekking and the more meditative options became a thing for me.

    As of September this year, I have lost a large amount of my weight and my menses are still regular. Having read various articles about training, weight loss and its effects, I psyched myself just in case it happened to me. I anticipated it happening in September, October and November - NO. It flowed as it should, with my usual degrees of 2 heavy days, one medium and the 4th being the lightest. My OB/Gyn simply told me that it happens to "SOME" women and not all.

    I'm really sorry. Have you been stressing about it? Sometimes it helps to relax and spend time with other women who've comfortably shared their flow patterns with you, for some believe that menses love company which is why sisters, women in the same family including the mums, friends and sometimes work peers who spend a lot of time together are in sync.

    EDITED: I would even qualify under what would be termed as starving for about 2 years - I still had my periods.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Who cares who the advice comes from whether its a male or female.

    Anyway, low energy availability is usually the cause. I only read Sunday's and Monday's entries but noticed this:

    Sunday: Ate 1639 Exercised 1171 = 468 net
    Monday (planned): Ate 1117 Exercised 508 = 609 net

    That's pretty low energy availability if you ask me.

    Read this study about calorie restriction affecting LH pulsatility and ovarian disruption and do the math using the included formulas to see if you are perhaps crossing the threshold:

    http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/88/1/297.full

    I did the math for you below:

    Weight: 158
    Body fat %: I estimated you at 29%, thus, you have a lean body mass of 112 lbs (51 kg).
    TDEE: I'll state 2100 although many calculators put you at 2270.

    30 cal x LBM kg ( 51 kg) x 1 = 1530 calories eaten
    15 cal x LBM kg (51 kg) x 1 = 765 exercise calories

    Thus, 2100 - 1530 = 570 calorie deficit
    570 + 765 = 1335 total deficit
    2100 - 1335 = 765 calorie net threshold

    According to both Sunday and Monday, your nets have been 468 and 609 calories, which are below the projected threshold of 765 calories. The above study mentioned that disruption didn't occur at said threshold, but going below at some point will.

    Thus, if your actual TDEE is really about 2100 calories and you are 29% bf and you established a net lower than 765 calories over 5 consecutive days, then you risk disruption of ovarian function and LH pulsatitlity.

    ^^^^

    Great advice. I recently experienced an early period, but the last time I missed one completely was several years ago when we were in real bad shape financially and I was stressed out and definitely malnourished/under-eating from the lack of money to buy food. Other than that, I haven't missed one other than during pregnancy.
  • donnajean84
    donnajean84 Posts: 4
    Missing periods like that can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. It would be wise for you to go and see your OB/GYN and talk with them about what all you have been experiencing and have some blood work done. I took birth control for a while to manage severe cramping and when I stopped taking it I stopped having a period. I had blood work done and discovered that I have PCOS. It might be nothing, but it might be something, and if it is a hormonal imbalance it could make it harder for you to lose weight.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Who cares who the advice comes from whether its a male or female.

    Anyway, low energy availability is usually the cause. I only read Sunday's and Monday's entries but noticed this:

    Sunday: Ate 1639 Exercised 1171 = 468 net
    Monday (planned): Ate 1117 Exercised 508 = 609 net

    That's pretty low energy availability if you ask me.

    Read this study about calorie restriction affecting LH pulsatility and ovarian disruption and do the math using the included formulas to see if you are perhaps crossing the threshold:

    http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/88/1/297.full

    I did the math for you below:

    Weight: 158
    Body fat %: I estimated you at 29%, thus, you have a lean body mass of 112 lbs (51 kg).
    TDEE: I'll state 2100 although many calculators put you at 2270.

    30 cal x LBM kg ( 51 kg) x 1 = 1530 calories eaten
    15 cal x LBM kg (51 kg) x 1 = 765 exercise calories

    Thus, 2100 - 1530 = 570 calorie deficit
    570 + 765 = 1335 total deficit
    2100 - 1335 = 765 calorie net threshold

    According to both Sunday and Monday, your nets have been 468 and 609 calories, which are below the projected threshold of 765 calories. The above study mentioned that disruption didn't occur at said threshold, but going below at some point will.

    Thus, if your actual TDEE is really about 2100 calories and you are 29% bf and you established a net lower than 765 calories over 5 consecutive days, then you risk disruption of ovarian function and LH pulsatitlity.

    Loved the read. And from a man.

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