Ladies, can we talk about ... *whispers* ... periods?

I started this journey at 330 lbs, give or take. I've lost about 12 since I started (last weigh-in was 26 days into the process). I had my normal period, but my body decided menstruating was such fun it wanted to do it again, so now I'm having my second one this month.

I've read that rapid weight loss or change in diet can mess with your cycle, but has someone else here gone through a similar problem? Did it ever level out? I'm not really keen on having 2 periods a month now, lol.

Replies

  • MoveitlikeManda
    MoveitlikeManda Posts: 846 Member
    there was a thread not a long ago on one of the boards (not sure which now) that had loads of ladies saying their cycle was messed up.
    some having no periods for months and some having normal periods and bleeding mid cycle << which is probably what yours is rather than an actual period even if the flow is like normal period flow.

    I however for the first time in years have just had a 28 day cycle istead of anything between 32 and 45 day cycle

    I think it will settle down and get back to a regular/normal cycle but probably once your weight loss have evened out to a steady path and your body has adjusted to the change in diet and exercise x
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    That could or could not have anything to do with your weight loss. Did you have a physical prior to starting your journey? I was irregular like that all my life, is this a new thing to you?
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I've never had any issues with my cycle since I first got my period. I would make a quick call to your gyno and ask them if is anything to be concerned about. They should be able to give you an answer without you having to go in for an appointment.
  • pixelatedsun
    pixelatedsun Posts: 165 Member
    I should add: I've never had an irregular period before with the exception of once in ... 2010, I believe it was. So this is highly unusual. I'm usually like clockwork.
  • rocktheboat1
    rocktheboat1 Posts: 12 Member
    I had this happen to me too - my period was randomly early this month and it has been all over the place since I started eating healthily. I'm sure its just because your body is adjusting to the change - if you have been exercising a lot too, that could have something to do with it. Keep a period diary for a few months to see if it evens itself out, if it hasn't by Xmas and you're still having 2 periods a month I would definitely see a doctor.
  • newhealthykim
    newhealthykim Posts: 192 Member
    Have you been hanging around any new girl friends a lot lately? I've had that screw up my cycle before.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I think it has affected me - but nothing extreme. My periods tend to be shorter now, and unpleasant side effects (cramps and such) milder.
  • My cycles have been a mess the last few months. More painful than usual, mid cycle bleeding, 53 days in between periods. I called my gyn about it and she put me on Provera to get things regulated again. She says it's a hormone issue.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Women store a lot of their hormones in fat (just by course of nature). As such, when your body starts metabolizing and processing the fat (whether in loss or gains), it will throw of your cycles until those hormones balance back out. Having started around 350, my cycles were 4 weeks, then 6 weeks, then 8 weeks, then after getting on birth control pills while losing down to about 250 now, I started having what I thought were two periods randomly, one kind of "on schedule" and another whenever the heck it felt like, but as someone mentioned above, it was just breakthrough bleeding while my body adjusted to all the hormone fluctuations. Except in extreme situations of stress, I don't have that problem any more. If the cycle is similar to your "normal" stuff in length, duration, flow, and smell, I wouldn't be overly concerned. The female body is a mysterious and whimsical machine. If you are concerned, visit your gyno doctor. if you just wondering and have no accompanying symptoms, I'd just wait it out, because as you lose half of yourself or so, your cycles will likely be all over the place. Developing patience now will be a blessing down the road.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    This is a question for your doctor.

    And you don't have to whisper about periods. Grown ups can discuss them without embarrassment and without worrying that men will go "Eeewwwwwwww! Periods!"
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Yes, my cycle changed. When I talked to my doctor about it, he said that he would be more surprised if it hadn't changed than by the fact that it had. It seems to be in flux still. It will normalize and then switch things up every few months.
  • persistentsoul
    persistentsoul Posts: 268 Member
    That happens to me sometimes. My cycles are between 30-45 days usually but often miss one making it 65+ days and i get light break through bleeding sometimes between periods. I also have occasionally had two full on periods within one month 14 day cycle. I can't say it is diet related in my case. I have PCOS but what really seems to mess things up is stress or emotional upset. My hormones are super sensitive to stuff like that. One really stressful week can lead to 6 months menstrual chaos for me. The only thing that levels my hormones out is rare times of calm.
  • independant2406
    independant2406 Posts: 447 Member
    I'd schedule a visit with your doc. It'll be worth the peace of mind. :)

    I've never experienced changes in my periods due to weight loss...only due to changes in my birth control. If no birth control is messing with my body I'm 100% on schedule every month like clockwork.

    My guess is its nothing... but hormone related stuff is not something to mess around with and can be a sign of something serious sometimes... Go get checked. :)