If you've lost weight through dieting or other methods and are curious about how to get your period back, this article will explore the potential reasons for this change in menstrual cycles and what you can do to restore your period. It's important to note that if you're underweight, dieting, over-exercising, or missing your period for a month or more, it may be necessary to consult with a healthcare professional, as there could be underlying health reasons for your period loss. However, if you're experiencing amenorrhea after dieting and want to know how to get your period back, read on for more information on this topic.
What Does a typical Period Look Like?
Menstruation, also known as periods, is a natural process that happens each month. It involves the shedding of the endometrial lining in the uterus, which allows for the menstrual flow. This process is controlled by a complex system involving various hormones released by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries. The exact mechanism of Periods can vary but generally follows a pattern of about 28-30 days, with the timing depending on several factors such as stress levels, exercise routines, and medication use.
What is Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea refers to the absence of periods during reproductive years (approximately 12-49 years old). There are two types of amenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea occurs when a woman misses her period before the age of 16, while secondary amenorrhea occurs when a woman misses her period for three months or more after she had already started menstruating.
Why You Lost Your Period
Periods are largely regulated by hormones, and if there's a hormone issue, it's expected you'll see changes in your period or miss your period altogether. This can be referred to as hypothalamic amenorrhea. The hypothalamus stops releasing hormones responsible for starting the menstrual cycle, which in turn leads to missed periods. Additionally, if you're preganant, breastfeeding, or in menopause, you'll miss out on your monthly visitor. Other reasons for missing periods can include extreme exercise, certain medications, calorie restriction, and post-pill adjustment.
How Can Weight Changes Lead to Period Loss and Irregularity?
Weight gain causes an increase in fat cells in our body, which release many molecules such as adipokines that interact in the body to cause insulin resistance, inflammation, high blood pressure, increased cardiovascular risk, and oocyte maturation. On the other hand, weight loss due to undernutrition is characterized by low insulin levels, and since insulin regulates the hormones that lead to menstruation, low insulin levels = no period. Both weight gain and loss can lead to menstrual cycles that are shorter or longer, increased spotting, or even lack of periods completely.
How Can Weight LOSS Lead to Period Loss and Irregularity?
Extreme over-exercising and period loss are common among active menstruating individuals. Exercise can decrease GnRH, leading to low levels of FSH, LH, and estradiol. The result is a change in menstruation, and amenorrhea is very common among active people. In fact, athletes are three times more likely to develop amenorrhea than non-athletes. If you are a heavy exerciser and you lose your period, it may be advised to reduce exercise intensity and to see a doctor to find out if there's something else at play.
Medications
Certain medications can either intentionally cause people to lose their period (like taking birth control) or period loss could be a side effect. However, other medications such as some antidepressants and blood pressure medications can increase hormone (prolactin) levels that involuntarily stop ovulation and periods. Speak to your doctor if this side effect is not intended or desired.
Calorie Restriction
Dieting often results in weight loss, because it involves restricting a lot of calories which can get you a smaller number on the scale, but it's definitely not sustainable and can have a grave impact on your reproductive health. A five year retrospective study of athletes with menstrual disturbances found that increasing their dietary intake helped the return of their period. However, if you are cutting your calories and unintentionally losing your period, it's likely that your body is not getting enough nutrition to sustain some of its basic functions (like reproduction).
Post-Pill Readjustment
Post-pill amenorrhea is the failure to resume menstruation within 6 months of discontinuing any form of oral contraceptive. Research suggests that 2.2% of menstruating people experience no periods after discontinuing oral contraceptives (this is likely partially what happened to me – you can read all about my experience here). The loss of your period even after stopping the pill is caused by low amounts of two hormones (gonadotropic and ovarian hormones) and mild to moderate elevations of prolactin. Treatment is usually not required unless there is a desire for pregnancy. In my case, I didn't wait long enough (6 months, apparently) to see if my period did return before seeking reproductive technology.
Stress & Period Loss
Stress can lead to your menstrual cycle becoming longer or shorter or can cause it to stop altogether. How? Stress suppresses the hypothalamic gonadotropic-releasing hormone (GnRH), which in turn prevents ovulating and having periods. When that hormone is low, your body fails to ovulate, resulting in amenorrhea. It's also another really important reason to get the stress in your life under control.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among menstruating individuals and affects 6% of women. The key signs of PCOS include period irregularities, including absence of ovulation, high levels of androgens (hormones important in males) and ovarian cysts. Other symptoms include infrequent periods, heavy periods, infertility, excessive hair growth on the face, chest, belly, upper thighs (called hirsutism), acne, obesity and weight gain, pelvic pain, and areas of thickened, dark and velvety skin. It is always best to consult with a doctor if you identify with some of these signs and symptoms and to discuss how to get your period back.
How to Get Your Period Back
Incorporating a healthy balanced diet, getting adequate amounts of B vitamins, focusing on bone-strengthening foods, practicing stress-relieving activities, and avoiding extreme exercise can help you get your period back and maintain a healthy menstrual cycle.
