Lost period, new year.

Yes, I've been through it.

Many years ago I stopped having periods due to too stringent dieting and exercising. Per my regular OB/GYN's orders, I took Premarin and Provera every three months to induce a period. He said I had to do that to maintain health. I was sailing along just fine doing that until DH and I decided we wanted to have a baby. Still under the guidance of my regular OB/GYN, we did a few rounds of Clomid with no success. My doctor referred me to another doctor within the same group who was a fertility specialist. After reviewing my file he told me in no uncertain terms that there was no way I was going to ever get pregnant until my cycles became regular again, and that very likely the only way that would happen would be for me to stop stressing my body so much with the dieting and exercising and to gain a few pounds. FWIW, at the time I was NOT anywhere near underweight according to BMI. I was about mid-range. But he wisely told me that my body knew much more about what was healthy for it than any math formula did. I cut back on the exercise and slowly started eating more. It took me a year or so to put on about ten pounds. I got regular again and we went on to have two healthy boys. They were very well worth those ten pounds!!

bmb42 wrote: »

Hey guys,

So i've been without my period completely for a few months. This isn't rare for me. About two years ago I lost it for about a year and a half and then was prescribed some kick-start 10 day pills. Well, this worked but i lost it again shortly after. I lost my period due to low weight and excessive exercise. Well, this is a new year and my husband and I want to start trying for a baby in about a year or so. In order to do that I need my period. My question is, has anyone been through something like this? My plan is to go off my pill completely to let my body regulate itself, eat more, and moderately exercise. My question is, has anyone been through something like this before? I know I have to gain weight and i'm worried about that. I've worked so hard! lol. Just could use some inspiration or tips from anyone!

Sounds a lot like something called the "Female Athlete Triad". Maybe resources for that can help you as well.

Mine was never gone completely, but I had long cycles--38 to 60 days--before I had my three children. I only conceived after gaining about 10 pounds even though my weight was already within the normal range for my height.

This has happened to me. At the time, I was seeing a male OBGYN and my weight was of a "healthy" BMI (5'10, 132, pretty much as low as possible) - HOWEVER, I was lifting heavy, so my body fat was really LOW, and the problem with BMI charts is...um, that they are like, totally irrelevant to health?

While one person can be healthy at 5'10 and 132, I cannot. I ended up going to see a female obgyn who said she sees this a lot with athletes, and that menstruation is indicative of health and if I was not menstruating, I was at an unhealthily low weight for me - I did the minipill thing, but she forewarned me to put on some fat particularly if I wanted to conceive in the future, she also said it is important to practice being at a higher fat level and eating more for a bit BEFORE you conceive, to make sure you are in a healthy spot mentally and physically once the baby is cookin'.

So, yes, I went through this. I went into a higher weight class with more body fat and got my period back without pills.