WOMEN only - Advise please

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Replies

  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    I have to echo the "not eating enough." I actually did quite a bit of studying on anorexia when I was younger to write a couple of papers when I was in college. Your menstrual cycle will stop when you chronically aren't eating enough, have a super low body fat % or are working out to the extreme. It's your body's way of responding because you shouldn't get pregnant if you aren't eating enough to support yourself, let alone feed a growing child, at the same time.

    I'd suggest upping your calories a bit and talking to your doctor about your specific worries.

    If I have a low body fat, how come I am a bit fat? Isn't my body supposed to use that bit of extra fat before my periods stopped? I would stop dieting a long way before this would happen anyway, I am in no way unhealthy or trying to be.
    I will talk to my doctor. Yes, God bless the NHS! If only they were a bit more efficient!:wink:

    I am quite petite, 5.3' and weigh in 9.7 stone. I was thinking of quitting MFP because of this(nothing is more important that your healthy), it was making me so worried, but I am going to see a specialist before.

    thanks for all your replies. I'll definitely sleep a bit better tonight
    I wasn't saying YOU have low body fat but that it is one of the causes. Women who are body builders, ballerinas, gymnasts, etc. usually fall into that category. They eat enough to fuel their sport but have low body fat because of what they do.

    In your case, it's probably because you aren't eating enough on a regular basis.
  • Embell0830
    Embell0830 Posts: 105
    I don't know what healthcare is like in the UK, but might be time to find a new GP or maybe just see your OB/GYN. Everybody is different and everyone can only speak on their situation.

    Talk to your OB/GYN, they could potentially refer you to an Endocrinologist who would (at least should) to a full panel of blood tests to look at hormone levels.
  • clairification
    clairification Posts: 71 Member
    I saw you mentioned you are so stressed you aren't sleeping...Stress can make you skip your cycle. I went for 5+ months without mine during a particularly stressful time in my life. It came back, there was nothing wrong, it was just my body coping with the stress. I agree that you should check w/your doctor just to be safe, but for now don't worry. You are probably perfectly normal, different bodies cope in different ways.
  • JennyZD
    JennyZD Posts: 176 Member
    Hey! I don't think you should take any real advices here. You should talk to your physician and/or OBGYN as it may be a sign of a severe problem. However I will tell you that a couple of years ago, I missed my period for a couPle of months and it turned out that I had a lot of cysts on my ovaries. I had to go in for multiple tests for that and I don't remember one being an urine test. My OBGYN gave me birth control pills to regulate it but he said that in that case, I could be infertile if left untreated. For that reason you should schedule an appt ASAP. Good luck!
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    Your fertility won't be affected. But anyone who tells you your ability to conceive won't is just being crazy. Having irregular periods does negatively affect your ability to get pregnant. Not having periods at all makes conception extraordinarily difficult. So it's not an issue to ignore.

    I echo the people who are telling you that 1200 isn't enough calories. You WILL lose on 1500, so why stress your body? It just doesn't make sense, if the goal is health and not JUST weight loss for it's own sake.

    I also think you need to see a specialist in ob/gyn rather than your primary care. Female physiology is complicated.
  • janeite1990
    janeite1990 Posts: 671 Member
    The urine test was probably just to confirm you weren't pregnant. Your doc probably couldn't get much else from urine. Your height/weight doesn't suggest too low a body fat. Are you on hormones? Birth control? The Pill can disrupt your period over time. Also, something they don't tell you in sex ed in school is that your body changes lots during puberty, but it continues to change AFTER puberty, too. You can have weird fluctuations as you age, and it usually means nothing. Still November to March is a long time to go without. You might consider going to a specialist to be sure.
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    I have to echo the "not eating enough." I actually did quite a bit of studying on anorexia when I was younger to write a couple of papers when I was in college. Your menstrual cycle will stop when you chronically aren't eating enough, have a super low body fat % or are working out to the extreme. It's your body's way of responding because you shouldn't get pregnant if you aren't eating enough to support yourself, let alone feed a growing child, at the same time.

    I'd suggest upping your calories a bit and talking to your doctor about your specific worries.

    If I have a low body fat, how come I am a bit fat? Isn't my body supposed to use that bit of extra fat before my periods stopped? I would stop dieting a long way before this would happen anyway, I am in no way unhealthy or trying to be.
    I will talk to my doctor. Yes, God bless the NHS! If only they were a bit more efficient!:wink:

    I am quite petite, 5.3' and weigh in 9.7 stone. I was thinking of quitting MFP because of this(nothing is more important that your healthy), it was making me so worried, but I am going to see a specialist before.

    thanks for all your replies. I'll definitely sleep a bit better tonight

    If your body fat percentage is low then you body does the opposite of what you'd expect it to. It goes 'oh no, I've got no fuel better hold onto the fat for a while longer and shut down non essential functions so I can survive longer'. The lower your body fat percentage is the more you have to eat to lose. When you're nearly at your goal weight you should be no more than 300 cals deficit from your TDEE a day to prevent your body from doing exactly what it is.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    I have to echo the "not eating enough." I actually did quite a bit of studying on anorexia when I was younger to write a couple of papers when I was in college. Your menstrual cycle will stop when you chronically aren't eating enough, have a super low body fat % or are working out to the extreme. It's your body's way of responding because you shouldn't get pregnant if you aren't eating enough to support yourself, let alone feed a growing child, at the same time.

    I'd suggest upping your calories a bit and talking to your doctor about your specific worries.

    If I have a low body fat, how come I am a bit fat? Isn't my body supposed to use that bit of extra fat before my periods stopped? I would stop dieting a long way before this would happen anyway, I am in no way unhealthy or trying to be.
    I will talk to my doctor. Yes, God bless the NHS! If only they were a bit more efficient!:wink:

    I am quite petite, 5.3' and weigh in 9.7 stone. I was thinking of quitting MFP because of this(nothing is more important that your healthy), it was making me so worried, but I am going to see a specialist before.

    thanks for all your replies. I'll definitely sleep a bit better tonight

    You probably DON'T have low body fat, but your body won't burn the fat first if you cut your calories too low. It will burn muscle and save the fat, because that is more efficient. You are correct that nothing is more important than your health. SO WHY would you consider quitting MFP? This is NOT a weight loss site! It's about healthy eating and healthy exercise, and if you lose weight along the way, so much the better! Because your health IS more important, try the advice here and increase your calories to at least 1500/day for a few weeks. That will be MUCH healthier than the 1200/day, and you'll also probably lose more weight, and your periods may just regulate themselves. It makes a lot more sense than quitting.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Definitely consider increasing your calories. And keep seeking medical advice from your doctor. Do you know your body fat %?
  • Kidsrn23
    Kidsrn23 Posts: 45 Member
    I agree with the others, you are probably eating too little calories at this point. Plus the stress of worrying will also prolong your period. Don't worry this will restart. I had crazy cycles and now have 3 beautiful children. Good luck.
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