Menstrual Cycle ?
 

Has anyone else experienced skipping a period?

For the first time, my period did not come on this month; it was due two weeks ago...(I'm not prego). What's crazy is that I had experienced all of my normal premenstrual symptoms, but my lil' friend never came to town...

If you've missed your period, I'd like to know your experience. BTW, how long does this usually last?

If anything mine have been more regular than they were before.

My first month on plan and it sped up my timetable and came a couple days early. Nothing's ever messed with mine before, so this is new.

My first TOM was abnormal also when I started, but I had the opposite problem. I'm on birth control and my periods only last 3 to 5 days, but when I started the program it lasted two weeks. Eventually I figured that all the water was flushing out the birth control I was taking at 3pm so I started taking my BC before bed and it solved the problem. Change in diet can affect your period, but maybe you should ask your doctor.

I have problems in this area even without this diet, but after getting down in weight the first time I had problems and the dr. said it was the speed in which I lost. I would go 2 months without and then have a longer heavier one. Just be aware of your body and go into the dr. if you question it. Better safe than sorry

I lost mine last JULY after being on the MRC diet for 1 1/2 months or so, and i havent seen it since! :(

Low carbing and extrememly low cals (As is MRC) can have SEVERE hormonal consequences, ladies

Once its gone, only eating at maintenace for a while will bring it back..... be very careful... like i said, mine still hasnt returned.

mkroyer.....You LOOK AWESOME!!!!! I remember you and just had to say you look amazing and I love seeing your stats in your signature. Thanks so much for posting!!!!

Oh wow! Thanks Jewelie! That was very (nicely) unexpected!! I hit goal in September or october or so.... thats not even a very good pic ;)

Mine was almost nonexistent in February (which doesn't bother me one little bit frankly) and I'm waiting to see what happens in March - should be end of this week.

Ha! me too...

I'll see if it comes on next week.

BTW you guys, I've been researching and it is quite normal for our cycles to be affected by weight loss, especially losing a significant amount of weight.

I was on MRC for 80 days and lost 40 lbs. My cycle seems to come every 4 1/2 weeks now....it's a couple of days late every month, where it used to be predictable down to the day. But, I am okay with that. It is normal when it does come. I just started back to MRC yesterday, and can't wait to see the results. I quit on Christmas Eve and havent been back until now!

If by normal you mean "it happens"!
It still isnt "ok" and its signalling that your body is under a lot of stress. The longer you wait to do something about getting it back though, the more likely you are to have permanent damage.

Look at it this way--- losing your period while in a deficit means that your body is much much MUCH smarter than we give it credit for. Your body realizwes it is "starving" and it is shutting down ALL functions NOT NECCESSARY to keep you alive. Basically your body realizes that it can barely keep YOU alive off what you are feeding it, let alone support the growth of ANOTHER human life.
Hence, reproduction has shut down...
This can go without consequences if only for a month or 2. Not having a period for longer than 3 months starts to put you at risk for bone thinning and other POST-menapausal diseases. If you go TOO long (6 months to a year or more) its possible that you will never be able to have children again.....

I used to have excruciating periods. My pill has fixed everything and taken away 99% of symptoms for the past several years. But my first period OP was weird. I was extremely irritable a few days before it and then felt like crying on one day for no reason. I also had cramping which is very unusual now. I'm hoping that first one was just adjusting and that the other ones will mellow out from now on. :dizzy:

What I mean by "normal" is that it is "not unusual" to miss a period due to weight loss. When we lose weight, our hormones change and we lose body fat which affects "some" women.

Now if it's been 3 or more months, then it does become a concern and should be addressed with a physician.

I spoke to aunt (who is an RN) about this and she told me that me this is "not unusual". She told me that she lost her period for a couple of months when she increased her running, as she trained for a marathon.

BTW, I experienced all of my premenstrual symptoms again this month and my period did not come on again. It was due last week. If my cycle does not return next month (April), then I will take necessary measures to address this.

Scary - have you seen a doctor?

i have lab monkey
she wants to put me on a round of progesterone to induce it.... i not sure what the point is though.....its not going to "magically" come back because they force it to one month!

mkroyer, I remember back a in the winter you posted that you run a lot of miles weekly, like 60? I can't remember. However, my doctor told me when I started to up my weekly mileage to keep it under 35 or I could expect unwanted changes in my body, ie. menstrual cycles stopping, infertility etc. Several years ago, probably 20, a very good friend of mine who was a very serious runner always had menstrual interruptions that caused her infertility and four times she became pregnant but miscarried as she could not give up the running. Her short runs were 15 miles at a pop, she ran 6 days a week and trained with a running trainer 4 days a week. Only after finally stopping the running did she have two healthy pregnancies, but she was right back to running between the two children. I hope your body soon adjusts, as you look amazing!

Good--I am glad to hear. Ugh, I wouldn't do that, either! If the body doesn't want to, it doesn't want to! But if nutrition or exercise would help, I'd do that. It does sound like you're in great shape, and you probably have a very low body fat percentage. I think a lot of athletes have problems with menstrual cycles.

I do agree that when the body stops producing a period, there is usually a good reason, whether it be for over weight, under weight, intense training or illness. I just thought I'd throw out there to those who might be interested... Eastern medicine can be excellent at helping to restore the balance in your body. An acupuncturist (especially one that specializes in women or fertility) can find an imbalance in your body and fix the issue with needles or herbs.

I once had a period that wouldn't stop and I was already anemic... They made up a gross packet of herbs for me to boil and drink, and I was fixed within a day. I don't think this solution is for everyone... sometimes just letting your body do what it needs for a while is good. But if anyone is very concerned with future fertility issues, this might be something to try. If nothing else, you will be more balanced overall. :)

On a side note: Almost every woman I know who was unable to conceive, after getting acupuncture fertility treatments, was able to have a baby. :) ... Where western medicine leaves off, eastern medicine seems to pick up.

mkroyer - This comment wasn't meant to be directed at you... I was just piggy backing off your comment. :)

Just thought I'd say that mine is back - absolutely normal in all respects. I will say that my weight loss has slowed some, which I'm not wild about, but I guess my body is just leveling out.

I did not have any issues with my cycle during this past year on program....however, I did have hair loss and am now experiencing my hair growing back in...I have short pieces sticking out all over my head! I first thought my hair was breaking, but no my hair dresser told me my hair was growing back after all the weight loss...sigh.

Are you serious? Did you take the EFA supplements or flax?

I haven't had one since I had my IUD put in 2 years ago.. but I will throw out there a warning my midwife gave me that any severe weight fluctuation (gain or loss but mostly loss) can cause the IUD to become displaced, so if you have one and have lost a LOT of weight you may want to get placement checked. I know I will be.

Well, I'm headed to the doctor because I haven't had a period in 3 months...

My TOM was always irregular and I attributed it to significant weight gain over the years. Since I've been on MRC I have been more regular. I think my body appreciates the lowering levels of estrogen. :D

librariandiva, so sorry I just saw this question from you. The first 6 months EFA then when my center ran out and it took two weeks to get more in I went and purchased a large bottle of Omega's 3, 6 9 with Flax - a combo bottle and took that instead, my hair was already falling out by then...as I have read and others have experienced this is a side effect of a low carb high protein diet. Three months ago I went to "Sally Beauty Supply" and purchased some wonderful shampoos and special conditioners for my hair and I am not having anymore thinning...I have hair growing back and eat 40% of my calories from carbs (veggies, fruits, whole grains, beans)