Girls Only: Aunt Flo is (about to be) M.I.A

mjeanae125
mjeanae125 Posts: 42
in Fitness and Exercise
MFP ladies.

My menstrual cycle is about 4 days late, 22 years old, and a virgin. I lost a grand total of 204 lbs. since Dec. 27, 2010 by exercise/diet. I have not missed a period yet! I looked up "excessive exercise and missed periods" and the results said it could be due to hormone levels, physical stress on the body, and mental stress. Meanwhile, my younger sister (15 y/o, virgin, loss weight the same way I did) has not have a cycle since March. She went to a GYN that I'm going to see on Monday and she received hormone pills that is suppose to re-activate her cycle and she got some streaking but not her monthly cycle. Does anybody know what could be going on with our bodies?

Replies

  • RAGGEDYANN1970
    RAGGEDYANN1970 Posts: 115 Member
    exercise and weight loss can lead to lack of cycles or prolonged cycles. your body is basically feeling starved and a starved body isn't good for a baby, so your body is defending itself against a pregnancy. the fewer cycles you have in your life, the lower your chances of breast, ovarian and cervical cancer so unless you are TRYING to get pregnant (which by the sounds of your post, you are not trying to do) there is NO MEDICAL REASON to have a period. just enjoy it! your body will readjust and your cycle will start again.
  • nickymarie011
    nickymarie011 Posts: 152 Member
    No idea what the medical answer is to this. BUT, when I began strenuously working out, my cycle drastically decreased in regards to how long it was. It used to be the TOM for seven days and now its only for two days. It's odd. I do think my exercising has a lot to do with it. I would suggest you go to the doctor as well, as your sister did. Wishing you the best of luck!
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    I know I broke the rules by coming in here, but it's most likely that you're not eating enough dietary fat. Dietary fat is responsible for hormone production, and low fat intake for prolonged periods of time can cause women to miss their period. Eat at least .4g of fat per lb of body weight
  • Genetic_tea_drinker
    Genetic_tea_drinker Posts: 125
    Hey,

    I don't know if this is what you have. I'm not saying it is, because I'm NOT a doctor and I haven't trained at a medicalschool for 6-8years. However I feel this is what most people on the topic are refering to

    http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/women/a/Amenorrhea.htm

    I suggest you see your doctor. You are very young an dyou want to keep your period going no matter how much you may hate them. hehehe
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    MFP ladies.

    My menstrual cycle is about 4 days late, 22 years old, and a virgin. I lost a grand total of 204 lbs. since Dec. 27, 2010 by exercise/diet. I have not missed a period yet! I looked up "excessive exercise and missed periods" and the results said it could be due to hormone levels, physical stress on the body, and mental stress. Meanwhile, my younger sister (15 y/o, virgin, loss weight the same way I did) has not have a cycle since March. She went to a GYN that I'm going to see on Monday and she received hormone pills that is suppose to re-activate her cycle and she got some streaking but not her monthly cycle. Does anybody know what could be going on with our bodies?

    Only a doctor can give you appropriate information on this subject.

    ETA: There are numerous factors in play, limited information provided, no knowledge of medical history etc. Just be open and honest with the doctor on Monday and go from there.
  • mjeanae125
    mjeanae125 Posts: 42
    @AGericke haha that's ok!! A man's opinion is cool too! My sister and I started to eat a little bit more calories since we are still losing weight. We think that a slightly increased calorie intake would help with jump starting our cycle again.
  • RAGGEDYANN1970
    RAGGEDYANN1970 Posts: 115 Member
    @AGericke haha that's ok!! A man's opinion is cool too! My sister and I started to eat a little bit more calories since we are still losing weight. We think that a slightly increased calorie intake would help with jump starting our cycle again.

    if you jump-start your cycle naturally through increasing fat or calories, i think that would be much healthier than through hormonal therapies from dr's. i have had years of infertility issues and JMHO, be careful when dealing with your hormones so you don't mess things up for the future when you are ready to conceive. :smile: if they naturally stop, they *should* naturally start again when your body gets used to its new weight, etc.
  • hhayes06
    hhayes06 Posts: 189 Member
    Since your only 4 days late I wouldn't even worry about it just yet. Since you're a virgin you know that you aren't pregnant so I would give it another 2 or 3 weeks before going to see a doctor. It could very well be just that you ovulated late, which happens all the time. I have heard ( I can't remember where so I can't supply the source) that every 7 years a woman's cycle will change. Try not to be so concerned until it's super late. Even a little bit of stress can delay ovulation by a few days.
  • mjeanae125
    mjeanae125 Posts: 42
    **UPDATE**

    I went to see my GYN today and he gave me progesterone to jump start my cycle. I told him about the current exercise routine we do: 3 days a week we do a cardio exercise (Zumba, Hip-Hop Abs, etc) for 35-60 mins and strength training for 30-40 minutes in the same day. The other two days we do just cardio. He told me to do either do one or the other. My current cal. intake is around 1500 calories and he approves of my current calorie intake. If I do a short exercise that last about less than 60 mins can I do the remainder of my time doing strength exercise? ANY SUGGESTIONS?

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