Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Hello, I am a bit concerned, I went off the birth control pill in January after being on for about 10 years.

I know that it is normal for your body to take a while to begin menstruating on its own, so i am wondering if it is normal... I havent had a period yet? (i took a pregnancy test, so no worries there)

Background that might be important : years ago i was half diagnosed with PCOS..there were cysts on my ovaries and my DHEA was elevated. But since eating paleo, losing weight, my blood work shows my DHEA levels back to normal etc.. so my doc said that its not really a concern anymore.

My question is, how long do i wait until it becomes unhealthy to not be menstruating? Does it become a problem? Is 2 months not long enough?

any other experiences would help...

The weird part is my body still cycles hormonally...still every 3 weeks, i get insane cravings and feel so tired etc...but i haven't had a period.

Thanks in advance!

edited Mar 27 2012 at 16:56

Bread-Eating Beelzebub
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asked Mar 27 2012 at 16:10

Paleo4ever
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Definitely also talk to your doctor about this. You might actually be menstruating and not bleeding. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Mar 27 2012 at 16:57

Oh! i didn't even realize that was possible. Is that dangerous? – Paleo4ever Mar 27 2012 at 17:08

No, it would be a sign up might be normalizing. It's good to know. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Mar 27 2012 at 19:35

the SAME exact thing is happening to me! i went off the pill in september after being on it for 9 or so years, and have yet to get my period. just like you, I get all the symptoms (cramps, bloating, irritable, etc.) once a month around the time i would have gotten my period had i stayed on the pill, but no bleed. im currently seeing my doctor and we're trying to figure things out. good luck! – Laura Mar 28 2012 at 4:46

HA · Answer 1 · 2012-03-27 18:01:54Z UTC

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how much do you weigh? You mentioned weight loss, and sometimes when body fat gets low, menstruation stops.

answered Mar 27 2012 at 18:01

HA
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5'9 140ish normal range – Paleo4ever Mar 27 2012 at 18:02

Laina · Answer 2 · 2012-03-27 16:19:09Z UTC

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When I went off the pill 7 years ago, I think it took 3-4 months to come back. Also, I had the joy of acne and insane mood swings to accompany the lack of steady hormones. It all gets back to normal, but I think your body is just slightly confused right now and it should work itself out.

answered Mar 27 2012 at 16:19

Laina
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Thanks! ok 3-4 months makes sense..ill keep waiting. – Paleo4ever Mar 27 2012 at 16:21

Heather · Answer 3 · 2012-03-27 17:14:55Z UTC

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WHat about your other hormones? thyroid, fsh, etc? I'd say wait another month or two, and then if it still doesn't return, see an endocrinologist.

answered Mar 27 2012 at 17:14

Heather
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JeJ · Answer 4 · 2012-03-27 19:50:52Z UTC

I would go to the doctor to get it checked out just in case. No point in waiting a few months if something might be up. If you already have a history of PCOS, you probably want an endocrinologist or OBGYN on your side while you stop long-term hormonal birth control, because you really want to make sure no cysts begin to form. Making sure your thyroid is ship-shape throughout these major hormonal changes is just a good idea in general too.

In my experience of going off hormonal birth control, the first time (after 5 years) I got my period a few days late, but it started the very next month. The second time, it didn't come back right away, but I only missed one month. My cycle is relatively irregular, but it still came back pretty quick, so I think if I was in your position it would be better to make sure your hormones are all good, rather than waiting 4 or 5 months, then coming in and finding out something was a just a little off the whole time.

Another thing to consider would be external factors- stress (physical and emotional), sleep loss, calorie deficiency etc etc could be contributing to a lack of menses.

Rissy221 · Answer 5 · 2012-03-28 00:49:16Z UTC

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I went off birth control over 2 years ago and i still dont have a normal cycle. Def get checked out but you are not alone!

answered Mar 28 2012 at 0:49

Rissy221
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Supernova. · Answer 6 · 2012-03-28 19:04:35Z UTC

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Ok, I snatch the opportunity and ask about my problem here. Hope you don't mind and would be so polite to answer. I haven't got period since december... And I wonder, is that because I've lost 14kg? Maybe my body fat is too low now (it's 10%)? I know that I should see a doctor (and I will, hopefully soon) but how can I fix this without putting on weight? I'm 170cm/52kg now.

answered Mar 28 2012 at 19:04

Supernova.
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Unless you have had a DEXA scan, and it came out saying that you were 10% it is probably really, really unlikely that you are 10% body fat. Those measuring devices at the gym etc tend to be at best only modestly accurate, and at worst wildly under-read. Most women can face problems with menses below 20%, and generally a majority of women cannot menstruate below 15%. 10% is considered an unhealthy extreme for a woman. If you are concerned about body fat percentages, I would talk to your doctor- they can do skin fold tests that better predict your actual fat percentage. – JeJ Mar 28 2012 at 20:08

After that, if you have that low of a body fat percentage, I would say you are probably going to be without menses until you gain back a small amount of fat so that your body can say "alright, we have a modest amount of resources, we can start menstruating again so if a baby happens it'll be viable". Also, make sure you have plenty of seafood/shellfish so omega-3's are a plenty with DHA and your body may be able to menstruate at a slightly lower fat percentage. – JeJ Mar 28 2012 at 20:10

Minnie The Minx · Answer 7 · 2012-03-28 20:16:39Z UTC

good idea to get it checked out by doctor. Also consider acupuncture, if you can find a good practitioner. My periods stopped low lh, estrodial etc but 6 months of acupuncture helped me. I think it's a good sign you seem to be cycling, I found that for a few months before I actually had a bleed.

Cm · Answer 8 · 2012-11-27 04:04:54Z UTC

Same thing happened to me. I started Paleo, at the same time stopped my birth control. It took 8 or 9 months before it came back. It happeneds when youve taken birth control for so long. Doctor said it was fine, my hormones just needed to readjust themselves!

No period..ladies help?

8 Answers