What are some reasons OTHER then pregnacy that can make you "skip" a period?

Question

what are some reasons OTHER then pregnancy that could make you "skip" a period?
I'm 22, 138lbs, I've recently been working out a lot and have dropped 16lbs in the last month, completly changed my eating habits (for the best). My last period was on September 12th, and the only person that I've been with has had a vescetminy (or however you spell it). I'm not really stressed out. The other thing is that I'm also having increased discharge too. I usually have a 26 day cycle and this means that I am officially 5 days late now.

I was going to wait a little longer to talk to my ob/gyn because I have my yearly on November 8th and was going to just hold out going early. Should I go early, or take a HPT or is it true that dropping that much weight can make you "skip" a period?

Also, YES i have a clockwork cycle, and NO i haven't started a new job. And I am NOT stressed out.

i ask in "diet and fitness" because if anyone else in here is losing weight maybe they've had this happen to them? and yes i am taking herbal supplements, if that makes a difference.

Answer 1

Reason 1:Stress can disrupt a normal period cycle.This is mostly because of the cortisol having an adverse effect on androgen levels.All kinds of different stress hormones can disrupt your cycle.Physical stress from working out is still stress to your body and endocrine system.
Reason 2:Androgens are made in our bodies by several components.Two of these components are fats and cholesterol.Cholesterol is chemically only two steps away from many androgen hormones.
Reason 3:A drastic drop in weight may cause your body to "think" that it has fallen on hard times thus sending a message that now is a bad time for conception.

Answer 2

YES! your diet and excercise regimen can definetly alter your menstrual cycle. If you are an excerise-aholic, and have recently changed your diet, that is most likely the best bet to why you are late. Just make sure that if you say youre eating 'healthy', that it means youre eating 'right'. And not eating less than you should be. That can majorly trigger your lateness, excercising too much and eating too little. My advice? Try to eat a meal with main contributions to the major food groups: Protien, Meat, Carbohydrates, and (yes!) sugars. Vey little of the latter though.. sugars can help OR harm you.

Hope it helped.. let me know how it goes!

xx

Answer 3

Amenorrhea (absence of periods) can be caused by the rapid loss of body fat, yes. Remember GI Jane? Well, ok, so maybe I'm one of the 6 people that actually watched the movie, but Demi Moore's character lost a huge amount of body fat in rigorous SEALS training and Amenorrhea was one of the results.

If you're not overly concerned about it, I see no reason to visit your gyno before your scheduled visit in November. You'll probably have a period by then, anyway.

Answer 4

since you are not stressed, i would say it could very well be the weight loss. four lbs a week is a bit on the fast side for weight loss. for optimal health and lasting results, you might want to slow it down to 1-2 lbs a week. also excessive excercise can cause you problems so you might want to back off a bit there too. it is possible to lose weight and excercise and be healthy, of course, just don't do it too fast.
and congratulations on your positive changes. and it probably wouldn't hurt to wait for your november appointment. either way, good luck

Answer 5

Exercise and weight loss will make you skip periods. When I really intensified my workout I went a whole year without a period - not saying that is good. See you doctor and he/she can give you some estorgen replacement pills - it can wait 'till your appointment so you don't need to rush right in. Relax - stress also can delay your period.

Answer 6

skipped period any woman stress, RAPID WEIGHT LOSS or gain, illness, drugs (certain tranquilizers) may have disrupted cycle
sexually active pregnancy
using the Pill Pill brand is too low in estrogen
former Pill user body hasn't yet adjusted to life off the pill; see doctor if periods don't resume in 3 months
using Mini-Pill, Norplant, or Depo-Provera common side effect of progestin-only methods of birth control — drug is probably suppressing ovulation as well as period, effect may be prolonged; most common among new users of Norplant and long-term users of Depo-Provera
lighter / shorter
period any woman missed ovulation (no egg released from ovary)
sexually active early pregnancy — some bleeding may occur on implantation; ectopic pregnancy — especially if accompanied by sharp pain on one side
using the Pill less endometrial build up, a common Pill side-effect
using Mini-Pill, Norplant, or Depo-Provera common side effect — drug is probably not suppressing ovulation if periods are regular
heavier / longer
period any woman fibroids (benign uterine growth)
sexually active possible miscarriage, esp. if period is late and with severe cramps and clots in blood
an IUD user device may have irritated the uterine wall — a common IUD side effect
using Mini-Pill, Norplant, or Depo-Provera longer periods are a common side effect; heavier periods are a less common side effect, but iron supplements or discontinuation may be necessary
new mother an enlarged uterus, resulting in the accumulation of more lining; a cervix widened by childbirth releases more menstrual fluid at once with less cramping
bleeding / spotting between periods any woman stress; an infection, cyst, or polyp of the cervix, vagina, or uterus
a new Pill user breakthrough bleeding, common in first few months of use, may indicate brand of Pill is not right for user
current Pill user missed a pill or taken one late
using Norplant, Mini-Pill or Depo-Provera a common side effect, especially during the first few months of using the Mini-Pill
an IUD user a local infection or inflammation caused by the device
pregnant normal hormone fluctuations in first trimester can cause spotting

Answer 7

Stress and exercise will do it. I'm not sure I would believe that old line about a vasectomy without seeing the paperwork.