female only Weight loss and periods?

[Kayc7227 0]

So I'm wondering if losing weight affects your periods, or if irregularity of periods can be caused by being overweight? Since I started mine when I was 13 they have been REALLY irregular. I would either not have one for months and months or I would have one that lasted for months! Because of this I got on birth control to keep them regular and have been on it since I was 15. Even now if i stop taking the birth control for a couple months, I don't see a period until I start the BC again. So are there any that have been in the same situation? And if so, did your periods become regular or what?

[Jodi_620 37]

Have you ever been diagnosed with PCOS?

Symptoms include:excess weight (especially around the middle), irregular periods/infertility/miscarriages/heavy periods, excess facial hair, thinning hair/mail pattern Hair loss, cystic acne, skin tags, depression/mood swings, ovarian cysts/ovarian pain, insulin resistance.

It affects woman differently so you could have a few or all of the above symptoms. Fasting glucose test is the best way to be diagnosed and an endocrinologist is the best type of doc to see for it. Some do treat the symptoms with birth control but to treat the root cause the best treatment is insulin sensitising drugs. Weight loss is possible with the condition but it may be more difficult and you definitley have to watch starches and sugars. If you have a few of the above symptoms you should be tested because if you do have it, the type of food you eat will be an important factor in sucess with your your band.

But to answer your question, I have PCOS. I had most all of the above symptoms and I was on Metformin for five years and that helped to regulate my cycles and keep most of the symptoms under control. Since shortly after surgery I came off the medication and have normal 28-day cycles and most of the symptoms have gone away 100%.

[Kayc7227 0]

Have you ever been diagnosed with PCOS?

Symptoms include:excess weight (especially around the middle), irregular periods/infertility/miscarriages/heavy periods, excess facial hair, thinning hair/mail pattern Hair loss, cystic acne, skin tags, depression/mood swings, ovarian cysts/ovarian pain, insulin resistance.

It affects woman differently so you could have a few or all of the above symptoms. Fasting glucose test is the best way to be diagnosed and an endocrinologist is the best type of doc to see for it. Some do treat the symptoms with birth control but to treat the root cause the best treatment is insulin sensitising drugs. Weight loss is possible with the condition but it may be more difficult and you definitley have to watch starches and sugars. If you have a few of the above symptoms you should be tested because if you do have it, the type of food you eat will be an important factor in sucess with your your band.

But to answer your question, I have PCOS. I had most all of the above symptoms and I was on Metformin for five years and that helped to regulate my cycles and keep most of the symptoms under control. Since shortly after surgery I came off the medication and have normal 28-day cycles and most of the symptoms have gone away 100%.

No I don't think I've ever been tested for that, and don't really have any of those symptoms except for the irregular periods. But my sister is also overweight and has the same problem with her periods, so that's why I'm wondering if maybe it's because of our weight? And kind of hoping it evens out as I lose weight.

[itsjustducky 0]

I've always had irregular periods (skipped periods) too, but after being banded and loosing some weight, I became pretty regular. :biggrin: I'm not a medical professional, so I'm not sure if this will happen to you, but I've heard that your periods can be influenced by your weight. :biggrin: Apparently, just as gymnasts can loose their periods b/c their too thin, plus sized women can loose them b/c their overweight. Go figure :tt2:

[Fae 0]

Since I lost weight on the lap band, it actually made my birth control completely stop working for awhile. I was on the depo shot and had to switch to pills. My hormones became completely out of control, along with my period. That was around 170 pounds. I started out at the 230's. Then when I lost another 30 pounds, my body seemed to even itself out and I could use my regular birth control again. So yes, weight loss will effect your birth control and your periods.

[Kayc7227 0]

Ok, thanks for all the help! I was just hoping that things wouldn't be so out of wack once my body got down to a healthy weight. Guess now I have one more thing to look forward to lol. Thanks

Edited May 11, 2009 by Kayc7227