Sports induces amenorrhea

[Anelia]

There are many active women in this forum and I wonder if there are others like me who are among the 20% of the active women who miss their period due to exercise. I am 33 years old and I have one child. I have my period missing since I started exercising vigorously. Sometimes I get it but it happens 1 or 2 times a year. I also had a very long amenorrhea when I was breastfeeding my son. My period didn't show up until my son was 2 (I breastfed him until he was 3). Now I don't remember the last time I had my period but I think it's over a year. I don't miss it. It is something that I hated as a teen because of the pain and suffering I've been through. After the birth the pain dissapeared and the quantity was less. But now it's none. I went to see a doctor about 2 years ago and he prescribed me contraceptives. I really disliked them because they made me sensitive, I cried a lot and was moody all the time. I hated that and I stopped them. Since then, I don't have my period and I enjoy this but also I am worried a little bit.
I am not undeweight and I eat a lot: carbs, protein, fat...everything. I just exercise too much because it makes me happy and I race.

[margo49]

This happened to me once too. But only one month.
In my totally amateur opinion - just go ahead as long as you're eating ok, not exercising like a crazy woman and not neglecting your child...
Think to yourself if at some point you might want another child (children)...might be better if all the system is in good working order.

[OakLeaf]

I don't know much about it, but I thought that happened when your body fat got too low, and it carries a risk of osteoporosis and other health problems. Are you sure you're eating enough? Have you had your body fat measured by an experienced practitioner? +1 on a second opinion.

[Catrin]

Perhaps look for a second opinion?

This

What is exercising too much? The only context in which I've heard exercise causing this in women was related to teenagers who were athletes but didn't eat enough...and you've avoided that trap. A second opinion might be a good idea, and even if they do determine that you need hormones there are so many types out there and you may have simply needed something else.

[lph]

I don't know much about it, but I thought that happened when your body fat got too low, and it carries a risk of osteoporosis and other health problems. Are you sure you're eating enough? Have you had your body fat measured by an experienced practitioner? +1 on a second opinion.

I agree with Oak. I've only experienced this once, and for me it was a sign of extreme stress, so I would be worried if it happened again. If it turns out that you're fine and healthy, all the better.

Breastfeeding is another thing again, amenorrhea then is normal and due to hormones.

[Crankin]

Get a second opinion. The osteoporosis threat from lack of periods is real.

[shootingstar]

Just get yourself more thoroughly checked by ob-gyn.

I've had uneven periods for different times of my life and a certain part due to lots of cycling (triple the amount of mileage compared to now), have been slightly underweight (not now though) and stress.

ButI never got painful cramps during my periods. Just normal periods.

I'm in perimenopause....I haven't had a period for past 6 months but am in my early 50's.

[pll]

I've heard of amenorrhea in athletes, for the reason Oak mentions: low body fat... your body cannot produce enough estrogen. I would second a check up by a gynecologist who may know more about this, to rule out other underlying causes.

[maillotpois]

I missed mine for a full year when I lost weight and started exercising. (I got down to 145 lbs, so I wasn't "underweight", but realized that's too thin for me). Anyway, I was in college and grad school and I didn't think much of it at the time - that was almost 20 years ago. Looking back on it, I wish I'd consulted with a doctor about it because the effect on bone health is not good at all. It didn't have any apparent effect on my ability to later have a kid, etc.

[mandiam]

Let me first say that I really dont know much about the subject, other than my own experiences... i am 23 and have been riding for four years.


This happened to me when i first got my bike--- only for 2 periods i believe. I am sure it's because of the body fat that dropped off. However, it went back to normal

--until i had my bike wreck which caused my body to go into shock (and unable to do physical activity for 8 months). Then i lost it again for 2 months. I was convinced i was the virgin mary and somehow got pregnant without my knowing ha!!!

however, NOW that I am training everyday--it's like my body decided to go turbo on me. 7 days straight of womanhood...wahh

So yea, i second the checkup with the OBGYN. At least give their nurse line a call--they should call you back by the end of the day and give you some kind of info. Hope this helps!! Good luck

[ny biker]

Low body fat can certainly cause your periods to stop, regardless of your diet.

There are reasons your period stops that are unrelated to body fat -- I have a relative with empty cella (sp?) syndrome, which basically means her pituitary gland no longer functions. One result was no more periods; her doctor told her it was early menopause, but by seeking a second opinion she found out the real reason.

[Wahine]

It's already been said several times, but +1 on the second opinion because of the bone health issue.

And yes, you can have an unhealthy level of body fat and still eat a lot. I would get your body fat tested as well. Use a reliable source like a performance testing center that does hydrostatic weighing.

[westtexas]

I agree with all the savvy ladies who have posted before me. But I did want to add my own personal experience.

I haven't had a period in well over 2 years now - maybe longer. I can't even remember the last time I bought tampons or pads. Every OB/GYN I have been to in this period (3 different ones in 3 different cities trained at 3 different schools) have never been concerned. What they told me is that with my activity level and the way I eat (I'm thin but I definitely have to be a t least 20% body fat... there's some squish there) that I have neither growth (increased endometrial tissue) nor shedding each month as my hormones fluctuate.

I'm not a human doctor (dogs/cats/llamas/what have you are totally different from primates!!!) but a second opinion couldn't hurt. In my own life, I've never been told, even though I've asked, that this is going to be harmful to me later in life. They always say it's just my unique set of hormones and body chemistry.

[pll]

Check some of the recent research publications about amenorrhea using http://scholar.google.com -- there is the osteoporosis issue, but risk of cardiovascular disease that counters the benefits of exercise is linked to estrogen deficiency. See, for example, this review article: http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/96/12/3638.short

[Anelia]

After winter, I really train either hard or long and sometimes both. But in order to survive all that riding, I began to eat a lot in order to have energy for the rides and then to recover after the ride. So my weight increased. From 113-115 lbs in winter, I am 120 now. Today I got my period after months without it.
I was sorry to gain weight but maybe my body is supposed to be heavier and healthier than thinner and periodless.