How do you periods affect your rides?

[channlluv]

I get really tired and cold the first couple of days and I treat it as a cleansing time, so I take it really easy in all things. I don't get on the bike. I may do a light workout in the pool, but then follow that up with a sauna.

Roxy

[redrhodie]

I actually don't have problems from my periods, but if I get passed during it, it's a nice excuse!

[roadie gal]

On the first day I tend to have less energy and my back gets more sore. I adjust my riding ambition for the day to my energy level.

I'm 52. Hopefully it won't be a consideration for much longer.

[nscrbug]

I'm 45 and definitely in the midst of "peri", but for the most part...I try and not let it affect any of my workouts, be it cycling or the gym. The 2nd day is my heaviest and most troublesome, when it comes to planning bathroom stops. I generally can't go more than 2-3 hours without a tampon change on day 2. Aside from feeling a lack of energy (which in my case, is nearly everyday anyways) and perhaps a headache, neither of those things would stop me from riding on my period.

[Miranda]

Jiffer... I totally feel for you... and am right there with ya!

I'm 42 and peri-menopasual. Exhausted like first tri-mester prego, craving red meat, and the water weight loss is the WORST! It is nearly *impossible* to hydrate properly.

My OB/GYN happens to be a cyclist, and so is his wife the peds doc (killer household income, eh? lol). We discussed my bonking hard on some century training rides during this time. I weighed myself, and basically dumped my 5lbs of monthly gain within few days. Plus, what I sweated out. At that time, my body weight at 5'5" was 120lbs, so basically 4%+ total loss. Significant.

I dranks like crazy, got my electrolytes, salty foods, whole nine yards. The only thing he had to suggest was maybe taking a pill to prevent the weight gain. But, that makes you dehydrated to not gain the monthly bloat. Kinda defeats the purpose we decided.

Just sux *sigh*!

[crazycanuck]

I officially need help with this:

A few days before my period starts, I get super duper itchy, enlarged inner upper legs etc & have a hard time biking. No matter what type of knicks I wear, it's quite painful to ride. I can't wear a tampon on the bike as they itch & just have to keep on going to the loo. I have been reduced to very short rides w a pair of knicks I don't love, during that time of the month. (yes, everything gets washed right away when i get home).

What to do de do?

The only thing that helps me during my period is strenuous exercise...

[Susan]

I generally feel bad during the first days of my period, I'm in a bad mood, sometimes tearful for no apparent reason, my whole body and especially my back and abdomen hurt and I have cramps. My always low blood pressure drops even lower and sometimes makes me feel dizzy.
I still try to exercise because really helps with the mood and cramps, but I don't push myself if I don't feel like it. Using the mooncup really helps with all kinds of exercise during my period.
As a teenager I was very unhappy with these monthly problems, and even took the pill for some years to avoid it. It got better since I treat this week as a time to take it easy and relax. I try to see it a bit like an ancient ritual - sounds stupid but makes me feel a bit better about it

[pinkbikes]

I officially need help with this:

A few days before my period starts, I get super duper itchy, enlarged inner upper legs etc & have a hard time biking. No matter what type of knicks I wear, it's quite painful to ride. I can't wear a tampon on the bike as they itch & just have to keep on going to the loo. I have been reduced to very short rides w a pair of knicks I don't love, during that time of the month. (yes, everything gets washed right away when i get home).

What to do de do?

The only thing that helps me during my period is strenuous exercise...

There can be lots of things that cause itchiness that lurk around and pounce on you when your resistance is a bit low. Three that come to mind are dry skin dermatitis, thrush and herpes virus. All three can cause itchiness in this area and can spring on you when you are feeling low. It would probably be worth getting checked out by a doctor when it is actually happening to have some chance of diagnosis as to which?

I know I have in the past used a soap which caused the dermatitis along the elastic line of my knickers. I have also had thrush from time to time that was pretty damned itchy. The most annoying thing is that I assumed the former was the latter the first time it happened and treated it with canestan (as you would if it was thrush) only to find that the anti-fungal was so drying that it made the dermatitis worse!

The other stuff many of us may be stuck with, but you should not be suffering with this sort of itchiness as a routine thing. I think it would be a good idea to get it really checked out.

[hebe]

I'm quite lucky in that I'm not affected too badly. However, the couple of days beforehand I would really rather spend on the sofa eating chocolate. My period itself is fine though, I have Mirena coil which has made my periods much much lighter, and they have been pain-free since having my daughter. I did find tampons a pain with cycling and have switched to a menstrual cup which I always forget is there.