change in periods?

[Ransomed One]

Have any of you experienced a change in your periods that you attribute to weight loss? Mine have been heavy for the past year or so (I am creeping up on the perimenopause thing) and I am hoping losing weight will change that -- I read something about hormone production occuring in fat tissue, so am wondering if losing weight will help things balance out there. Any experience along these lines? TIA

[Tina_30]

I noticed when doing the low carb thing I had a period that lasted like 3 weeks vs a few days when not doing the low carb thing. I asked another gal that was doing lc with me and she had the same thing, it was just a really long period. After rejoining WW in late July i'm just NOW getting one (I think) I only have some spotting and no i'm not pg. I've been OP for 6 weeks. I guess the exercise and eating better have had an effect. I have spotty periods usually anyway because of the birth control pill I take but I don't normally go this long between them.

[nancyny]

Ransomed one, most likely the changes in your cycle are due to "creeping up on the perimenopause thing." First they change a little, then they change a lot.

[Stac30781]

I don't know if this is related, but while on Atkins, I skipped my TOM for 3 months. Could've been malnutrition, my doctor is giving it one more month until I have to see him. I'm not pregnant but did go on and off the pill because I thought it would affect weight loss on Atkins (hence the waiting another month).

It was explained to me, and I'm 23 btw, that some diets, when altering your food intake such as nurtrients, vitamins, etc (even fats), can change your hormones for a temporary amount of time. On Atkins, for me, it could've been my body wasn't receiving enough of what it needed to even have a healthy cycle, therefore skipping months at a time.

After a full month on WW, I'm hoping to go back to normal, but diets do play a role on your period in more than one way.

[Stac30781]

Does anyone know if you gain/lose while taking the Yasmin BC pill while on WW (Flex)?

I was on Ortho-Novum back in June and I started retaining water while doing Atkins so I stopped taking it. I just wanted to know which brands of pills anyone experienced similar problems with.

I heard Yasmin was good during weight loss....anyone taking that?

[Paris Madeleine]

I've experienced major changes in my cycle, and I am actually seeing my NP about them next week. When I was at my top weight I had very little PMS, a longish, but spotty TOM and I was pretty regular. However, as I lose weight, my PMS is mega-bad, I am gaining water during PMS and my TOM is shorter but very heavy.

:confused: Paris

[Ransomed One]

Paris, if your NP has any helpful insight, I would be interested in what he has to say. Hope he can help you out. :)

[Stac30781]

NP??? Who are you seeing for this?

[latebloomer]

I think NP is nurse practicioner ( I know that is misspelled!). It is an educational level above nurse but still not an M.D. I love mine. Still very caring like a nurse but can legally do some doctor stuff.

Just wanted to say after 2 weeks on core I got my period 4 days early. I am also in perimenopause. Will be interesting to see what happens next month...

[Christena]

Stac, Yasmin has a diuretic in it that is supposed to prevent water retention associated w/your cycle. However, the diuretic is only in the active pills, not the placebo pills, which is when I need it the most. I was on Yasmin for 1 year and it was fine. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference from the diuretic as opposed to other birth control pills but a big difference from not being on the pill at all. But then again, the diuretic is not marketed alone, so it isn't very potent.

[Pensguys]

My NP said that some heavy periods can be attributed to insulin sensitivity. I had/have a uterine fibroid and had one in my breast (that one is gone now). I was diagnosed 2 years ago by her as insulin resistant and she said all the above comes with that.

I changed my diet this summer doing a modified Body for Life, always combining a protein with carbs and I could not BELIEVE the change in my periods....after 2 years of heavy periods and then a NORMAL one! I also had VERY little PMS or cramping before hand...I never knew when I was going to start until the day of.

My new dr. says that fat will store excess estrogen and that losing weight and exercise should help with the heavy periods. Last month I had been eating bad (I was not yet back to WW and I also stopped combining foods) and my period was back very heavy just like before.

[dimpledn]

I take Yasmin have for over 2 years or so. Hasn't seemed to bother my weight loss at all as you can see below. I have noticed that mine has become a lot lighter since I have lost weight.

[Christena]

dimpledn---congratulations on your loss!!! What an accomplishment! Your picture is so pretty!

[Trishq]

I used to have very irregular periods but after I lost weight they started to regulate. Now they are like clockwork.

[jengro]

Hi there, my periods have been irregular for the last few months. I havent lost any weight yet really because I just started WW a couple weeks ago.. But you should get it checked out by a gyne doc. I went for my yearly pap last week and mentioned how irregular my period was so he ordered a ultrasound to ck it out.. and I have to go for surgury on Friday to remove multiple cysts and scrape my uterus--this is what has been causing my irregularity.. Im sure that weight loss/gain can affect cycles, However just a reminder to everyone get your yearly pap regularly..

Good luck!!!
Jenny

[ameliaamy]

I'm on Ortho Evra (the patch) and have been since well before starting weight watchers. I've actually been more emotional and craving more chocolate before TOM lately. It has been the last 2 months, might also be that we're coming in to Fall and less light is affecting me. The other thing is that it's starting a day earlier, even though my patch day hasn't changed. I'm not sure if it's weight related - happened when I crossed the border from "overweight" to "healthy weight" for my height - or just an odd batch of birth control.

-Amy

5' 3.5", 26 yo
HW/SW/CW/GW
172/164/133/132