Amenorea

Posted by: @Maya

My last period was in the beginning of July. Since then it just disappeared, but I still seem to get pre-menstruation symptoms. I never had a regular menstruation, but 90 days late is way out my "regular" period phase.

I had an ultrasound check, I don't have PCOS, I am not pregnant, I am not anorexic, but still, although my doctor say he is not worrying, I start to get quite anxious about it.....

True, I have been dieting, and got below my setpoint, but I stopped about a month ago and did a 2 weeks diet break in which I gained 3 kilos back. I eat clean and workout almost every day (light and heavy "maintenance" workouts combined with a little HIIT and long walks outside to keep me lean and comfortable with my body).

I am pretty strict about my diet as far as carb intake (I am cycling carbs), and I pay close attention to my fat intake (getting sufficient amounts of saturated, mono, w-3..).

Lab tests are as followed:
TSH - 1.85
LH - 6.9
FSH - 5.1
Estradiol - less than 200 pmol/L
Progesterone - 1.5 nmol/l
DHEA-S - 1.76 micmol/l

My doctor said it's normal and scheduled me an appointment to try and fix this. I think he wants me to start taking pills again. I am far from liking this idea. I was on the pill for almost 15 years nonstop and stopped last year.

I am considering making myself a formula (tincture) of the followings: Vitex, Angelica Sinensis, Dioscorea (wild yum), Avena Sativa. I am well aware that it will take at least 2-3 months for the herbs to start effecting, but right now its the only natural solution I can think of.

If any of you have any suggestions/comments/tips/experience with this problem, I'll be more than happy to hear.

Upper your dietary fat,mono and satured,reduce poly and Omega 3,eat foods containing zinc,cut stims,train as little as possible,try cutting cardio,rest/sleep enough,check your stress levels and psychological status.

same thing happened to me when I got lean, even after I gained a bit of weight back, my hormones were all out of whack. Acupuncture and TCM herbs helped me, but ultimately I didn't get it back until I'd done that for a few months and gained some more weight. I'm hoping I'll eventually be able to get leaner again while keeping a healthier hormonal balance, but I don't think I'll ever be as lean as I was while keeping hormones balanced. Some women can do that, but my body doesn't seem to work that way.

Just thought you might find this interesting when I saw the title of this post. While this doesn't address amenorea as a result of severe dieting it is interesting to see the relationship between nocturnal melatonin and the disruptions in menstrual cyclicity. How are you sleeping during this diet phase? (Hope its OK that I posted in this thread) - Carl

QUOTE
1: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Dec;1057:393-402.

Effects of melatonin in perimenopausal and menopausal women: our personal
experience.

Bellipanni G, DI Marzo F, Blasi F, Di Marzo A.
Menopause Center, Madonna della Grazie Health Institute, Via Salvo D'Acquisto 67, 00049 Velletri (Rome), Italy.
[email protected]

The purpose of this clinical trial on possible effects of nocturnal MEL administration in
perimenopausal women was to find if MEL by itself modifies levels of hormones and produces
changes of any kind, independently of age (42-62 years of age) and the stage of the menstrual
cycle. It is accepted that a close link exists between the pineal gland, MEL, and human reproduction
and that a relationship exists between adenohypophyseal and steroid hormones and MEL during the
ovarian cycle, perimenopause, and menopause. Subjects took a daily dose of 3 mg synthetic
melatonin or a placebo for 6 months. Levels of melatonin were determined from five daily saliva
samples taken at fixed times. Hormone levels were determined from blood samples three times over
the 6-month period. Our results indicate that a cause-effect relationship between the decline of
nocturnal levels of MEL and onset of menopause may exist. The follow up controls show that MEL
abrogates hormonal, menopause-related neurovegetative disturbances and restores menstrual
cyclicity and fertility in perimenopausal or menopausal women. At present we assert that the sixmonth
treatment with MEL produced a remarkable and highly significant improvement of thyroid
function, positive changes of gonadotropins towards more juvenile levels, and abrogation of
menopause-related depression.
PMID: 16399909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Posted by: @triceptor

How are you sleeping during this diet phase? (Hope its OK that I posted in this thread) - Carl

Thanks for your reply, Carl.
I am sleeping ~8 hr, no trouble falling asleep, and I usually have a very good and deep sleep. I go to sleep at 22:30 and wake up at 6:00-6:30.
I find that my sleep is actually improving during diet phases. I feel lighter. I am not heavy or bloated.
Last night I took 1 mg melatonin because my legs hurt a little and it woke me up, but this happens rarely.

Posted by: @Jinx Me

same thing happened to me when I got lean, even after I gained a bit of weight back, my hormones were all out of whack. Acupuncture and TCM herbs helped me, but ultimately I didn't get it back until I'd done that for a few months and gained some more weight. I'm hoping I'll eventually be able to get leaner again while keeping a healthier hormonal balance, but I don't think I'll ever be as lean as I was while keeping hormones balanced. Some women can do that, but my body doesn't seem to work that way.

Hi Heather thanks for your reply.
I guess my body doesn't seem to work that way either. I wonder if I'll ever be able to go below 132lb without interfering with my hormones. It's not just that. I am not a thin, tiny woman. I am 5'7 I have big bones and a fair muscle mass. I think I look my best at -128-129 lb and its depressing thinking I won't be able to go there without messing up my hormonal balance.

Posted by: @Maya

Hi Heather thanks for your reply.
I guess my body doesn't seem to work that way either. I wonder if I'll ever be able to go below 132lb without interfering with my hormones. It's not just that. I am not a thin, tiny woman. I am 5'7 I have big bones and a fair muscle mass. I think I look my best at -128-129 lb and its depressing thinking I won't be able to go there without messing up my hormonal balance.

to me that sounds too damn lean for a girl your size. I'd be happy to be 130 and I'm 5'4".

Posted by: @Jinx Me

to me that sounds too damn lean for a girl your size. I'd be happy to be 130 and I'm 5'4".

The difference between us it that you have more muscle.
I have this stubborn fat around my waist and hips.
Believe me, I am not that lean at all....I'll try to take a picture and post it here soon.

Posted by: @zuper1

Upper your dietary fat,mono and satured,reduce poly and Omega 3,eat foods containing zinc,cut stims,train as little as possible,try cutting cardio,rest/sleep enough,check your stress levels and psychological status.

Thanks Zuper, what is the clinical basis for these suggestions?
I am not stresses, as far as I know myself, I get enough sleep, and I the only stims I use is a cup of coffee 2-3 times a week, before workouts.