Are women who are petite/skinny more likely to have irregular periods than average or heavier women?

Question

I'm 19 y/o, 5 feet tall, and weigh 95 lbs. I also have cycles that go for about 34-36 days, and sometimes my periods are even later. I know of other things that can contribute to irregular and longer than usual cycles but does weight have anything to do with it? (One of the nurses I work with told me once that it does) So I'm just seeing what other people think.
Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

It can, however you seem absolutely porportionate. That nurse probably just wants you to gain some wieght so you don't make her look so fat.

Answer 2

No. Not unless you are underweight but, given your height and weight I'd say you are in the healthy range. Having a 34-36 day cycle is not abnormal or irregular. 28 days is just the text book adverage but, many woman can have cycles much longer or shorter than that. It's also common for a woman of your age to experience irregular periods. If it bothers you a lot, you can get on hormonal birth control which will make your periods very predictable.

Answer 3

I to am on the skinny side. I no longer have my periods, but
when i did i use to have such awful bad cramping pains that
would almost last as log as my cycle, which was close to
seven days. I use to have blood clots real bad in my pads,
that i finally went to the doctor. He told me if i recall it had to
do with thinning blood. I'm the kind of person if i get a cut i
will bleed for some time. I had very irregular periods. I ask
your doctor about your blood count level and find out why
your cycles go on for that long length of time. There could be
a problem with the flow cycle of your blood system. Good
luck with finding the results you need to know.

Answer 4

Yes, weight does have an awful lot to do with a woman's menstrual cycle. This holds true for women who are overweight OR underweight. It's all about estrogen. Women store estrogen in their fat. Since heavier women have more fat than an average or thin woman, it's almost like they're taking the pill...they have all this excess estrogen stored in their body fat, so their body thinks they don't have to produce any. Hence, they don't ovulate and don't menstruate. Thin women (and I don't mean a few pounds underweight...I mean VERY thin women--thin to the point that it's unhealthy--have a similar problem, only it's not so much a matter of estrogen as it is, well, basically that the woman's body is so messed up (chemically, nutrient wise, etc.) that it doesn't know to ovulate and menstruate.

Answer 5

I'm not sure, but as a chronically heavy person (about 80 lbs. overweight), I've always had a really short cycle (I get about 17 good days between periods). Also, I started my period when I was just 9 years old! What about you?

I read somewhere a few years ago that some experts now believe that heavier adolescent girls tend to start their periods earlier--perhaps because the extra weight signals the go-ahead to our reproductive parts. So weight may affect when we start menstruating as well....

You might find these websites of interest:

http://womens-health.health-cares.net/menstruation-age.php

OR:

http://www.lifespan.org/adam/healthillustratedencyclopedia/1/003263.html

Good luck in your search!

suzannesmith.wordpress.com

Answer 6

Yes weight can affect your period. Too skinny women have no periods because they have no body fat. Being too skinny can also cause infertility. At 5 feet and 95 lbs you don't seem to be too skinny. A little under weight. Perhaps if you gain 5lbs your periods would regulate. Your also pretty young so I wouldn't worry about it too much until you want to become pregnant. When in doubt always ask your doctor.

Answer 7

teenagers (even 19 up to as high as 23) are going to have a high probability of irregular periods. It's perfectly normal. If it is inconvienient, get yourself on the birth control pill. That will even out your periods.

Answer 8

Yes because I'm 5'2 and weigh 107 and my periods in the beginning has always been irregular until i started taking birth control it made me regular and it stopped my horrible cramps

Answer 9

Yes, your weight may be partly to blame. However, one of my friends is 5'2" and 101 lbs and never had a problem with irregular periods.

Answer 10

I think it does, I'm a skinny and athletic 15 year old girl and I only get mine once every six months (I've had it since I was twelve)... my doctor said it was perfectly normally because of both my natural metabolism and my athleticism

Answer 11

Its usually only very athletic thin women who have such trouble. That said your pretty thin, but given your height I'm not sure your That thin. Stop asking us and visit your doctor is probably the best advice I could give you.