High BMI and No periods

HayleyA95
HayleyA95 Posts: 29 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone looking for some help! I'm 21 I was 230lb at my heaviest I'm now 210 bmi 31.9 I haven't had a period in 6 months, I have pcod! Cysts on my ovaries but my hormones are fine! The doctor wants me to lose weight and see if they return but I personally believe it's the cysts stopping them and not my weight! Anyone know what's going on I'm so confused! If its weight related how much do you need to lose to get your periods back on average I know everyone is different! I've lost 20lb already and nothing yet! Need some help I'm so lost and confused Tia

Replies

  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Nobody can give you a simple answer on this, your doctor is genuinely the one best placed to know, and even so, won't necessarily be able to tell for sure. Periods are complicated. I do know that stress can stop your periods, and being very heavy is a big stress on your body. Losing weight will improve your health generally, so it's worth a try, isn't it?
  • HayleyA95
    HayleyA95 Posts: 29 Member
    edited August 2017
    My doctor is unsure on what's wrong she never mentioned weight as a problem until she had nothing else to blame! I am losing weight either way! Was just hoping someone had some experience with periods being absent because of weight and how they got them back and what they lost!
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Disclaimer: not a doctor.

    It's my understanding that in PCOS the cysts are a symptom and not the cause of the other effects. Since obesity makes the other symptoms worse, losing weight is the first thing to try. My guess is that you should expect some difference when your BMI dips below 30, in other words when you are no longer obese.

    If you feel like your doctor isn't listening to you, you could try another doctor. There are a couple of other treatments you could ask about, such as metformin or birth control pills. Regardless, pcos causes loss of periods AND it causes cysts, one does not cause the other.
  • Javagal2778
    Javagal2778 Posts: 74 Member
    I have PCOS and have found that a lower body weight (and BMI) along with regular exercise have kept my periods more regular. For me, regular is every 5-6 weeks. The more sedentary And heavier I am, the longer the span between them.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    Not a doctor but here is my experience. I have PCOS, (ultrasound also found very cystic ovaries) losing weight made my periods more regular. I do think being overweight aggravates and is tied to PCOS, it wasn't until my BMI was under 23 that my periods started getting under the 5 week mark. My doctor was the one who also advised me to lose weight, it isn't easy but weightloss alone has definitely cured nearly all of my symptoms, I have never taken medication for PCOS because she wanted me to try the weightloss route first (my doctor also has PCOS) so it is 100% the weightloss that has helped in my case. Good luck.
  • Heather4448
    Heather4448 Posts: 908 Member
    My cycle started getting more and more regular as I lost weight. At 75 pounds lost, they started coming like clockwork-- every 4 weeks starting on my weekend off. Ugh.
  • Big_YEET
    Big_YEET Posts: 152 Member
    Heather4448 wrote: »
    My cycle started getting more and more regular as I lost weight. At 75 pounds lost, they started coming like clockwork-- every 4 weeks starting on my weekend off. Ugh.

    Same here. I was 215 lbs at my highest and I'd go 3-4 months without a period. As soon as I got in the healthy weight range (under 160 lbs) they started coming every 30 days without fail, and they were less painful and lighter.
  • HayleyA95
    HayleyA95 Posts: 29 Member
    Thank you everyone! I will definitely keep losing weight and trying to get a healthy bmi! My doctor wants me back the end of this month for a weigh in! Set me a target of losing 7lb in 4 weeks and I've lost 5 so far been almost 2 weeks and will definitely keep eating less calories and exercising every day! I will hopefully be seeing a fertility specialist once I've lost some weight as I'm ttc another baby x

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