Running mess up monthly cycle?

JMCade
JMCade Posts: 389 Member
edited October 3 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone else had weird monthly cycles since starting running? I started running in May this year and all was ok til last month. Lighter and shorter than ever. Not that it was a bad thing...Just curious if this is common?

Replies

  • Malloryrae1211
    Malloryrae1211 Posts: 60 Member
    Mine is all screwed up now too! I'm not complaining since it was always heavy and lasted 12 days. Now I barely have one but spot more during the month.
  • mrau719
    mrau719 Posts: 288 Member
    If you are doing quite a bit of running it could! Everyone's different though.
  • rainunrefined
    rainunrefined Posts: 850 Member
    exercising more, losing weight, changing diet, stress, a number of things can change your cycle. Lighter and shorter.. live it up! :drinker:
  • CouleeRunner
    CouleeRunner Posts: 256 Member
    Lighter, shorter, and longer in between since I started running...very nice indeed.
  • brittneyadams
    brittneyadams Posts: 1
    When I first started working out and running all the time (I'm talking like 2 hours a day, everyday) I didn't get my period for almost 10 months.

    When you put your body though that much running and/or working out you stop getting your period Or at least that's what happened with me. I say it is completely normal. Many female athletes don't have a monthly cycle.

    I hope this helps.

    Brittney
  • TenLaws
    TenLaws Posts: 273
    I've heard that a women's period duration is usually longer, heavier, and more "crampy" than it should be because we don't exercise and we eat processed foods with too many hormones. My menses is usually affected by my diet and exercise.

    Keep up the good work!
  • pkiesch
    pkiesch Posts: 259 Member
    :grumble: Mine got heavier & my cramps increased, but I can't pinpoint it to running or my birth control:grumble:
  • MarisaJean82
    MarisaJean82 Posts: 11
    Mine was a week and a half early last month and I ALWAYS started on the same exact day every month. Don't know if it's from the running/ exercising heavily or what but I thought it was weird!
  • Cmccracken1
    Cmccracken1 Posts: 326 Member
    I have heard and notice that when i do really vigorous exersize that it's shortened quite a bit and i dont feel as crampy and mean.. that's a good thing..
  • JMCade
    JMCade Posts: 389 Member
    Thanks ladies! Iasked my doctor about it too and she said it was possible. I'll just take that little bonus! :)
  • Lula16
    Lula16 Posts: 628 Member
    mine has always been short (2 days!) but i did notice that once i started exercising regularly since february, i no longer cramp at all! i also have no headaches or feel fatigued.
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    I realize Im a guy, but I have a bit of knowledge on this topic.

    Actually often times, your cycle can completely stop. The more exercise, especially strenuous cardio, involving lots of leg movements, can slow, shorten, or stop your cycle. My sister went to a professional dance school 9 months of the year, and only had hers over the summer. Once out of school and in college (after deciding to no longer pursue dance) she turned to my girlfriend and said, its so weird having a cycle every month!

    Talk to your doctor and confirm that everything is ok, but it is pretty natural
  • sjdennis45
    sjdennis45 Posts: 6
    Mine always gets screwed up when I start a new work out or if I loose a lot of weight in a short period of time... it's just from the stress on your body.
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    Mine has gotten longer. It hasn't stopped, but it used to be around 28 days now it is more like 34. This time it was only 30 since I haven't been running as much as I did in the summer.
  • TenLaws
    TenLaws Posts: 273
    I realize Im a guy, but I have a bit of knowledge on this topic.

    Actually often times, your cycle can completely stop. The more exercise, especially strenuous cardio, involving lots of leg movements, can slow, shorten, or stop your cycle. My sister went to a professional dance school 9 months of the year, and only had hers over the summer. Once out of school and in college (after deciding to no longer pursue dance) she turned to my girlfriend and said, its so weird having a cycle every month!

    Talk to your doctor and confirm that everything is ok, but it is pretty natural

    I think I'm in love with you. Whether you're taken or you're gay, marry me anyway. Just keep talkin that "I realize I'm a guy but this stuff doesn't creep me out and I have something to contribute" sh!* to me.
  • fudgebudget
    fudgebudget Posts: 198 Member
    :grumble: Mine got heavier & my cramps increased, but I can't pinpoint it to running or my birth control:grumble:
    Ditto - I love my Mirena, but I've been bleeding every time I run and it's getting old.
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    Hasn't happened to me but it does happen to people when starting any new exercise regimen.
  • eatrunstretch
    eatrunstretch Posts: 233 Member
    Wow that clears up a few things I was starting to question!!! Love running even more now!
  • cinder701
    cinder701 Posts: 94
    I had to Reply to this because Im not sure what's going on...BUT for me I have been having heavier and way more Crampier periods..I just think I's an age thing...lol
  • KMS050308
    KMS050308 Posts: 3
    Since getting back into eating right and exercising I am waiting for mine to arrive again. I have PCOS.....without proper diet and exercise I have none at all. A few years ago when I lost 60lbs I had one every month and that was very strange to me.
  • kated930
    kated930 Posts: 132
    I can't pinpoint what exactly happened to me, but mine has completely stopped. Im running a lot and doing long distances which probably has to do with it. My Dr said that it might be the case, but she's not worried- but I kinda am!!!
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
    Could be just a fluke if it was just one cycle. I have charted my cycles (since I am using Natural Family Planning) for years now and when I started training for marathons, towards the end of the training and after the marathon, my cycle was a bit off (longer). But then soon returned to normal. After my fourth marathon, you would never know that I ran a marathon based upon the impact to my cycle. I think that the longer that you run, the less any negative impact on your cycle. (... unless we are talking extremes.) I think that the body adapts. Personally I believe that my running has helped my cycles become shorter, more regular, elevates my mood and takes my mind off of the cramping... maybe even improves my cramping/bloating and general malaise (aka "blah") feeling.
  • Katanthus
    Katanthus Posts: 346 Member
    My last one was 42 days ago and short, but the most recent one was 7 days long. I would have more luck predicting the lottery numbers than predicting when my next period will be.
  • cartoonfruit
    cartoonfruit Posts: 28
    that's normal because of the new exercise. but if it STOPS see a doctor straight away. that means you are putting too much stress on your body and it is really really unhealthy. anyway, saying that female athletes don't have a period is wrong. they only don't have a period if they clinically somehow stop it.
  • jadesign19
    jadesign19 Posts: 512 Member
    My doctor was ready to do an ablation or take my uterus . I got scared and decided to start running. My cycle is was lasting 9-12 days with maybe twoo weeks in between. Heavy so much that I wouldn't leave the house. Running, and diet, has helped me get this under control. I've had three consistent cycles, 4-5 days long with only 1-2 days of heavy bleeding. I'll take it! I've decided to hold off on any procedure.:smile:
    Plus, I even run when I'm having my cycle. Alleluia!
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