Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I am 41, not menopausal but have had amenorrhea for 10 years as a result of overtraining and undereating. Though I stopped the overtraining, take estrogen and progesterone I still haven't got a period. Very frustrating and scary. It's as if my hypothalamus has shut down for good, which basically means other things are shutting down.

Update: After 6 months of no exercise and 2 months of eating refined carbs I have started menstruating. I am thankful and so glad my hypothalamus didn't shut down. ha!

edited Mar 7 2012 at 20:04

Bread-Eating Beelzebub
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asked Sep 17 2011 at 13:19

Flip
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read my comments to NDF about primary amenorrhea.jackkruse.com/the-leptin-rx-faqs/#comments – The Quilt Sep 17 2011 at 13:33

also read the follow ups to what I said to Mallory in the comments. Pretty important stuff for this condition. – The Quilt Sep 17 2011 at 15:37

WOW! I love this board. Thank you for all of the replies. I have a bunch of reading to do. For the first time in a very long time I feel encouraged. Honestly, I felt like I had started a domino effect of ill health (amenorrhea, osteoporosis, heart palps hair loss etc.) that wouldn't stop especially because of my age. Are your replies to Mallory on the PH forum or the jackruse? – Flip Sep 18 2011 at 3:08

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Melissa, I ate them. I know it sounds horrible but eating clean just wasn't working. I pretty much kept the thought process of NEVER training in a deficit and that every cell in my body would utilize WHATEVER calorie I fed it. Believe me, I had amenorrhea for over 10 years and had a lot of time to try most everything, including bioidentical hormones, which did nothing. My body needed quick fuel and rest. I didn't trust that this would work but it has. Again, I don't like the way I "look" but I LOVE knowing my body is happy again. I do believe you can have the best of both worlds but – Flip Mar 7 2012 at 21:39

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if you are severely undernourished and overtrained you might have to take the unconventional route and do what most folks say will never work. I learned a lot on the hypothalamic amenorrhea forum at FertileThoughts.com (goal was to get a period but it all works the same when trying to get a period.) If you have more questions give my your e-mail and I would be happy to share. I am still in shock but realize I am not out of the woods until I get at least 3 consecutive periods. I hope this is not a fluke and I have cellulite for no reason. LOL – Flip Mar 7 2012 at 21:42

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MNH · Answer 1 · 2011-09-18 00:56:53Z UTC

I can't speak to the scientific side of things, but I can give you my personal experience. I was on hormonal birth control (POPs) and also went through a few years of overtraining and undereating--severe restriction. Unfortunately, I "recovered" by beginning a long bout of binge eating--which has not resolved, but I'm working on it. It took a good 12 months of being above my ideal weight for my cycle to resume. (Between nursing my second child, the POPs, and the underweight period of time, I probably went about 8 year w/o a cycle).

I'm 46 now--and I think my cycle resumed about a year ago. Granted, I'm above my ideal weight now (I think my BMI is around 26) and I'm struggling like crazy with binge eating--but I do have the most regular cycle I had ever had in my entire life. I don't exactly recommend the binge eating or going above one's ideal weight (not good for mental health), but I think weight restoration plain and simple does have a lot to do with this.

Travis Culp · Answer 2 · 2011-09-17 17:54:30Z UTC

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Sounds like a classic case of zinc deficiency to me. Start taking 50mg of zinc picolinate a day (but not with a meal containing meat so you're still absorbing iron and copper) and up your oyster intake (don't combine oysters with meat for the same reason).

answered Sep 17 2011 at 17:54

Travis Culp♦
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Downvote this all you want, but while you do, take some zinc. – Travis Culp♦ Sep 17 2011 at 18:23

I think Travis may be on to something with the zinc suggestion and hormonal balance in general. I hope to report back with my n=1 experience. – Dragonfly Sep 17 2011 at 19:17

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Yeah, I mean overtraining greatly increases zinc excretion, and undereating obviously impedes repletion. High phytate and/or a low zinc diet (like the vegetarian below) will further exacerbate the problem. If your bodyfat is too low (female with visible abs) then yeah, your hypothalamus is receiving too weak a leptin signal and shuts down GnRH secretion, but it's far more common to simply be deficient in zinc, which has the same consequence of secondary hypogonadism. – Travis Culp♦ Sep 17 2011 at 19:47

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Zinc is a co factor in GNRH release so I personally see no reason why not. Most women with primary Amenorrhea need a jump start of their hypothalamus to get right with BHRT......adding a 25-50 mg dose of Zinc is not bad advice. Zinc really helps men with andropause. – The Quilt Sep 17 2011 at 21:43

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Mallory: I checked out your blog and you are a female at like 10% bodyfat. All you need to do is increase your bodyfat levels to correct this. – Travis Culp♦ Sep 18 2011 at 1:13

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Ashley · Answer 3 · 2011-09-17 17:47:37Z UTC

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Maybe do some reading on Maca? It's a natural supplement derived from a plant (just ground up, not added). It's good for restoring natural hormonal balance.

answered Sep 17 2011 at 17:47

Ashley
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	I use a lot of Maca in my practice. Mostly for adrenal fatigue and bad sleep. It increases DHEA and progesterone. Navitas sells a powder for the smoothie. – The Quilt Sep 17 2011 at 21:44
	wat about vitex? – Mallory Sep 18 2011 at 1:07

Lisa · Answer 4 · 2011-09-17 15:21:54Z UTC

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synthetic estrogen and progesterone don't work well, they are just not synchronous with the human body. I suggest a natural detox and repeat it every 3 months or so, read dr. lee's what your doctor won't tell you about premenopause and learn about topical progesterone, get a good deal of chiropractic care to rebalance your nervous system. hopefully you used chiropractic a lot during your training days. Good luck.

answered Sep 17 2011 at 15:21

Lisa
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	That's an excellent book suggestion!! Also check out naturallyknockedup.com. – Jamie Sep 17 2011 at 16:38
	Do you consider bioidentical hormone synthetic? I have taken vivell/progesterone for 6 months........no change. – Flip Sep 18 2011 at 3:25
	pills don't work, the digestive system and liver must be bypassed, that's why topicals are better. a compounded formula is usually the recommendation so the dose is individualized, patches might be hit and miss. a compounding expert may be the specialist to work with. – Lisa Sep 18 2011 at 16:27

jtl · Answer 5 · 2011-09-17 15:17:00Z UTC

Hi I'm 28 and have this happening to me. They say it's because of my over training. And I was on the pill for 5 years. My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for almost a year now and it's hard because I do not get a period. I was not eating meat for 4.5 years and started Paleo and I hope this will help me get a regular period and some fat in my lining :(

another secondary amenorrhea question *3/6/12 update

5 Answers