Ladies - Weight Loss and Missed Periods?

gillexplores
gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
edited November 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello my lovely ladies of MFP! This might be rather intimate for some people so I apologize in advance!
I have a question for you. For some background, I am:
20 years old
SW: 185lbs (highest) - Sept. 2015
CW: 161lbs
GW: 140lbs (we'll see haha)
Eating about 1350-1700cals
10K+ steps/day, +workouts 3x/week, in university, work as a busser at a pub (2x/week) and as a swim instructor (1x/week)
Now that that's out of the way (sorry, a lot of info!). I haven't gotten my period in 54 days. I haven't had sex since my last period (unfortunately haha), so I can't be pregnant! I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I listed all my info because everything that I have read says that amenorrhea (lack of a period) happens when you are eating too few calories or exercising too much, but I don't think that's the case for me! Could it just be a side affect of the weight loss? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Replies

  • norcogrrl
    norcogrrl Posts: 129 Member
    Low carb eating can bring about menstrual irregularities, but in looking at your food log I don't think that would be the reason. While you've had some "lower" carb days I don't think they're low enough to cause irregularities. And, I think your lower carb days would be offset by your higher carb days.

    I don't see anything in what you've written that raises any red flags.

    I don't want to alarm you . . . but I continued to have my period for the first five months of my first pregnancy. He's a happy and healthy 22-year-old now.
  • bendis2007
    bendis2007 Posts: 82 Member
    It may be hypothalamic amenorrhea. The sex hormones that induce ovulation each month need a precursor hormone (Gonadotropin releasing hormone) from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus also does precursor stress hormones as well for the adrenal glands. It looks like you have a pretty active lifestyle. If this is a newer change to your body then the decreased caloric intake with the added stress from new exercises ( coupled with other emotional stresses) may be causing some havoc on the hypothalamus (it hasn't adapted to the changes you've made or you're doing too much for your body and may need to back off a bit). GnRH is being released in suboptimal levels leading to no period. If you have any other symptoms I would recommend following up with your Gynecologist because they'd be able to address if there's something else going on - PCOS, cysts in the uterus, etc that caused a lack of menstruation for two months.

    Looking at your weights it seems you've lost about 24 pounds in 2 1/2-3 months. That's great! That may also be considered a drastic weight loss to your body which is why you may have lost the period temporarily. The good news is that this is not permanent - so once you stop dropping as much weight, or the body adapts to the new active lifestyle it SHOULD return to normal.
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
    You can skip a period sometimes I have had that before, the gynaecologist I was seeing at the time (not related to the skipped period) wasn't concerned, it could be caused by dietary changes, stress, etc. Maybe do a pregnancy test anyways and I would say seek a doctors opinion if it doesn't appear within the next 10days or so just for piece of mind.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
    No sex since last period... I'd still take a pregnancy test. Maybe it's my "I always ended up being pregnant" mentality but ya I'd definitely get one just to make sure lol
  • MorganMoreaux
    MorganMoreaux Posts: 691 Member
    I would make an appointment to see your doctor, they can run various tests. Good luck!
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    norcogrrl wrote: »
    Low carb eating can bring about menstrual irregularities, but in looking at your food log I don't think that would be the reason. While you've had some "lower" carb days I don't think they're low enough to cause irregularities. And, I think your lower carb days would be offset by your higher carb days.

    I don't see anything in what you've written that raises any red flags.

    I don't want to alarm you . . . but I continued to have my period for the first five months of my first pregnancy. He's a happy and healthy 22-year-old now.


    Thank you for looking into my diary! The low carb thing is a good thing to keep in mind. Also, lovely to hear that you have a happy, healthy son!
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    bendis2007 wrote: »
    It may be hypothalamic amenorrhea. The sex hormones that induce ovulation each month need a precursor hormone (Gonadotropin releasing hormone) from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus also does precursor stress hormones as well for the adrenal glands. It looks like you have a pretty active lifestyle. If this is a newer change to your body then the decreased caloric intake with the added stress from new exercises ( coupled with other emotional stresses) may be causing some havoc on the hypothalamus (it hasn't adapted to the changes you've made or you're doing too much for your body and may need to back off a bit). GnRH is being released in suboptimal levels leading to no period. If you have any other symptoms I would recommend following up with your Gynecologist because they'd be able to address if there's something else going on - PCOS, cysts in the uterus, etc that caused a lack of menstruation for two months.

    Looking at your weights it seems you've lost about 24 pounds in 2 1/2-3 months. That's great! That may also be considered a drastic weight loss to your body which is why you may have lost the period temporarily. The good news is that this is not permanent - so once you stop dropping as much weight, or the body adapts to the new active lifestyle it SHOULD return to normal.

    This is very in depth, thank you! All good things to keep in mind. Along with my weight loss, I am in university, so stress might be it for sure! Hopefully my body will figure itself out if it's thinking this is irregular.. Thanks again!
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    Duchy82 wrote: »
    You can skip a period sometimes I have had that before, the gynaecologist I was seeing at the time (not related to the skipped period) wasn't concerned, it could be caused by dietary changes, stress, etc. Maybe do a pregnancy test anyways and I would say seek a doctors opinion if it doesn't appear within the next 10days or so just for piece of mind.


    Good to know! Bodies are weird sometimes. I will take a pregnancy test just in case and keep an eye on it, maybe make a doctor's appointment if Aunt Flo doesn't show up soon..
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    blkandwhite77 wrote: »
    No sex since last period... I'd still take a pregnancy test. Maybe it's my "I always ended up being pregnant" mentality but ya I'd definitely get one just to make sure lol


    Haha always a good idea! I'll stop by the health centre here at the university and see if they have any. Otherwise, off to the drugstore I go!
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    MorganMoreaux wrote: »
    I would make an appointment to see your doctor, they can run various tests. Good luck!


    Thank you!
  • norcogrrl
    norcogrrl Posts: 129 Member
    Oh! I just had a look at your profile again. I see that you're in Calgary.

    If they don't have any tests at campus health, you can have a test done at the Pregnancy Care Centre. The Calgary location is along the 7th Ave C-Train line (205, 925 - 7th Ave SW). If you're at the U of C it is a quick train ride down. They have counselors available to help out in dealing with the emotions that can come from the result (positive or negative). I had a test done there. I was very concerned about how I would feel about a positive. When it did turn out to be positive (my happy and healthy seven-year-old son), the counselor really helped me work through and process things. The services they provide are free (and as I'm assuming you're a "starving student" as most are . . . free is good :)).

    That said, your system is probably just a bit messed up from all of the changes you've made lately. But, it is best to be sure.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    For several decades, a normal cycle for me was every 6 weeks, so I was not concerned about the occasional 3 month cycle. However, if all your life you have been 28 days like clockwork, perhaps a visit to your GYN is in order if this goes on much longer.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Nope, it's really not normal to just skip a period...unless you're pregnant. A friend of mine thought she couldn't be pregnant because her husband was on deployment and she'd had a period. The baby she couldn't have been pregnant with is in his first semester of medical school now. :) It's not typical, but people do spot sometimes and think it's an actual period.

    The GYN could tell you if you're pregnant or if there is a problem or if it's nothing.

    ...and the cheap pregnancy tests are fine. No need to pay for the expensive names. Doctors don't! :)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I would see a doctor just to check.

    My cycle has always been a bit wacky and anytime my CICO balance changes more than 250 calories either way for more than a week or so, I skip at least one period. That is my norm--I've been dealing with it for 25+ years--so I don't worry about it. Your missed period is out of your norm so, just to be sure, go see a medical professional.
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    norcogrrl wrote: »
    Oh! I just had a look at your profile again. I see that you're in Calgary.

    If they don't have any tests at campus health, you can have a test done at the Pregnancy Care Centre. The Calgary location is along the 7th Ave C-Train line (205, 925 - 7th Ave SW). If you're at the U of C it is a quick train ride down. They have counselors available to help out in dealing with the emotions that can come from the result (positive or negative). I had a test done there. I was very concerned about how I would feel about a positive. When it did turn out to be positive (my happy and healthy seven-year-old son), the counselor really helped me work through and process things. The services they provide are free (and as I'm assuming you're a "starving student" as most are . . . free is good :)).

    That said, your system is probably just a bit messed up from all of the changes you've made lately. But, it is best to be sure.

    I appreciate this! And yes, free is very good haha. I'm sitting ine wellness centre to a walk-in visit right now, so we'll see :)
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    blkandwhite77 wrote: »
    No sex since last period... I'd still take a pregnancy test. Maybe it's my "I always ended up being pregnant" mentality but ya I'd definitely get one just to make sure lol

    Yep
  • gillexplores
    gillexplores Posts: 151 Member
    Well, I'm for sure not pregnant! The doctor told me to get some blood tests for hormone levels, but I'm not worried. Ah well, being a woman haha. Thanks for all the imput everyone!
  • norcogrrl
    norcogrrl Posts: 129 Member
    gillexplores wrote: »
    Well, I'm for sure not pregnant! The doctor told me to get some blood tests for hormone levels, but I'm not worried. Ah well, being a woman haha. Thanks for all the imput everyone!

    Good stuff! Hopefully the doc gave you the blood work forms? If so, you can book an appointment on the Calgary Lab Services website. It saves sitting there in the waiting room for hours.
  • healthycanadian95
    healthycanadian95 Posts: 55 Member
    Oh I once lost 12 pounds and my period disappeared for 8 months!
  • Katiedriss1
    Katiedriss1 Posts: 93 Member
    Yes I was 6 months late when I started to exercise and lose weight I'm down 60 pounds 244 now.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    It happens. I didn't completely skip one until I got very lean and was taking in way too little fat, but they got wonky as I lost weight.
  • Lovee_Dove7
    Lovee_Dove7 Posts: 742 Member
    edited December 2015
    What is your height. Given your age and activity I think your intake is too low. Also, it's bound to happen at least a couple of times in your life to skip a period. I've only skipped 2 in my life other than pregnancy. Also low carb will not make you miss periods.

    This thread is a bit old.
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