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5840 Views 31 Replies Latest reply: Jul 2, 2008 10:06 PM by nmjm123 RSS 1 2 3 Previous Next
Guest
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Dec 10, 2002 1:33 PM

light menstral cycles

Since starting to run 5 months ago, I've noticed a decrease in my flow and number of days. Is this normal? I'm running about 20 miles a week. Twice I've barely had a cycle at all. I'm
5" 7 and weigh 135lbs.

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Dec 10, 2002 1:39 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    I've been running on and off for almost 4 yrs, and it seems that when I'm running, my cycles are also lighter.  I'm 5'8 and 140 pounds.  I don't know if this is normal or anything, just thought I'd let you know I go through the same thing. You could check with your doctor to find out.

  • Guest
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    2. Dec 10, 2002 6:45 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    yes>>> i think it happens to everyone>  not nessesarily shorter or less< but just not normal

    ----


    They have a word in the Finnish language called sisu, which basicly means guts.  It's the strongest word in the Finnish language.  You tell a Finn that he doesn't have sisu, that's like spitting in his face.

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Dec 10, 2002 9:03 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    Yeah, I know what you mean. Also, when I really get into the cross country season, I'll skip 2-3 months...kinda scary, but it happens, and hey, I DON'T MIND AT ALL! lol

    ----


    *briea*

    "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Dec 10, 2002 9:41 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    yikes i havent even HAD mine for a good year and 1/2

  • royalrunner Amateur
    royalrunner
    28 posts since
    Jun 22, 2007
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    5. Dec 11, 2002 5:22 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    quote:

    Originally posted by bubblesbas:

    yikes i havent even HAD mine for a good year and 1/2

     



    not to scare you or anything, but you are in BIG trouble!!! If you go much longer like that you are going to have more stress fractures than could ever imagine. an abnormal absence of your period is called amnorhea. If you suffer from amnorhea for more than a couple years, usually two to three, you will start to have major injuries.
    do me a favor. read this article.
    http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1038922204257750.xml[/URL" target="_blank">

    PLEASE read it cause no matter what i say you have to sea and hear it for yourself. when you dont have your period your body doesnt create enough estrogen. estrogen has many roles and one of them is to absorb the calcium into your bones. without estrogen you wont absorb calcium which weakens your bones, giving you stress fractures, and setting you up for osteoporosis later in life.
         I know all this because it happened to me.  I didnt have any injuries cause i went to see a doctor after 6 months.

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. Dec 12, 2002 10:36 AM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    I agree with RoyalRunner – it is something to be concerned about.  During my marathon training, my cycle was extremely screwed up.  (Trained from April – Sept.)  Now we’re trying to get pregnant and I’m learning that even those months when I did get AF, it didn’t necessarily mean I ovulated.  Take care of yourselves now; think long term not short term when it comes to exercise and nutrition. From what I understand, amenorrhea (?) is caused by either low body fat or not taking in enough calories.

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Dec 12, 2002 10:54 AM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    Being a runner who has had amenorrhea and a physician in training I can tell you a few things.  One, having lighter, but regular periods is a normal adjustment to running harder than your body has been used to. Two, skipping your period for one or more months on a regular basis is not normal, and is not okay.  Previous responders are correct when they say that without enough estrogen to produce a period you also do not have enough estrogen to lay down good bones.  I have seen young high school cross country runners with bone ages of an 80 year old woman because they went so long without menstruating.  It is primarily due to not enough body fat or not enough calories (i.e. starvation mode).  Some people find that being on birth control helps to regulate their hormones and give them the estrogen they need.  In any case if you are missing your periods you really should see a doctor, preferably a gyn specialist who knows about this.  Often family docs and pediatricians are at a loss.  If you have been without normal periods for a year and a half, you should have a bone scan!!!  Hope this helps.

  • swedechick Legend
    swedechick
    1,194 posts since
    Dec 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Dec 23, 2007 8:08 AM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    quote:

    Originally posted by Cynthia Lavender:

    Since starting to run 5 months ago, I've noticed a decrease in my flow and number of days. Is this normal? I'm running about 20 miles a week. Twice I've barely had a cycle at all. I'm
    5" 7 and weigh 135lbs.

     



    i used to have a heavy flow until i started running but nothing seems to be wrong w/ my system since i have been running for 3 yrs. it might have jsut been a coincidence too b/c your periods can change and get on a fixed cycle after you have been getting them for 2 yrs and i started running about 2 yrs after i started mine. (yeah i was a late bloomer, most of my friends were 9,10, or 11 and i was 12 and a half.) but anyway, i wouldn't worry too much. looking at your height and weight you sound healthy.

    p.s. i am proud of you that you had the nerve to speak about this sort of stuff on a board that has more guys than girls on it even though it looks like this thread has brought most of the females all in one thread.
    ----


    Tasha

    to report me at a meet: just call 1-800 I BEAT YOU.

    webpages:
    http://www.littlerunner.blogspot.com/[/URL" target="_blank">
    or
    www.freewebz.com/runningchicksarehot[/URL" target="_blank">

    This post was brought to you by
     some running chick[/URL" target="_blank">

    [http://This message has been edited by swedechick (edited Dec-12-2002).|http://This message has been edited by swedechick (edited Dec-12-2002).]

  • swedechick Legend
    swedechick
    1,194 posts since
    Dec 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Dec 12, 2002 12:13 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    quote:

    Originally posted by bubblesbas:

    yikes i havent even HAD mine for a good year and 1/2

     



    if it has been that long i think you need to see a gyno about that. when you quit getting periods that can be bad. 

  • swedechick Legend
    swedechick
    1,194 posts since
    Dec 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Dec 12, 2002 12:15 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    quote:

    Originally posted by RunnerBabe05:

    Yeah, I know what you mean. Also, when I really get into the cross country season, I'll skip 2-3 months...kinda scary, but it happens, and hey, I DON'T MIND AT ALL! lol

     



    yeah, during xc season mine come like every 40 days instead of the usual every 28-31. i sometimes worry if i haven't gotten one in awhile but that time of the month usually comes eventually, it is jsut alittle late.

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    11. Dec 12, 2002 5:57 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    I'm 5 ft.3 and 120 lbs. Ever since I started running about a year and a half ago, I've noticed my period only comes for like, 3 days.... glad to know this is kind of normal, I guess...  lol

    ----


    Jess

    Ellsworth Running Ladies:
    "We take the cake." GO EXC!!

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    12. Dec 12, 2002 9:17 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    actually i went to the gyno and they put me on the bc pill and it really helped regulate my cycle and give me the right hormones and everything BUT i got so incredibly sick from the pill they had to take me off it. i was throwing up CONSTANTLY. now that cant be healthy... anyways now my docs dont know what to do with me. they think maybe if i gain a few more pounds it will eventually come back, so im working on it.its hard though, right now i only weight about 90 pounds (im 5 ft) and they think i should weigh about 100

  • swedechick Legend
    swedechick
    1,194 posts since
    Dec 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    13. Dec 13, 2002 2:29 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    5 feet and 90 pounds is not that bad. i have a pretty muscular build since i have been doing weightlifting and speedwork which really made my legs really big. but when i got weighed i only weighed 103 pounds and i'm about '5 "4. i think i'd be around 90 if i didnt have any muscle. offseason i weigh about 106-110. i weighed 110 when i went in to see a doctor last december and when i came back last august for my sports physical they said i weighed 103 and that was after a whole summer of weight training but also hard running 6 times a week. i do notice i have less body fat than i did last track season but i always get periods anyway. that is kind of weird that you don't get them even being at a good weight. are you medium or large-boned? i have a small bones so if i weighed 90 pounds i'd still be alright. i think it's jsut the muscle that i built up why i weigh around 103-107.

    ----


    Tasha

    to report me at a meet: just call 1-800 I BEAT YOU.

    webpages:
    http://www.littlerunner.blogspot.com/
    or
    www.freewebz.com/runningchicksarehot

    This post was brought to you by
    some running chick[/URL" target="_blank">

  • Guest
    Currently Being Moderated
    14. Dec 13, 2002 5:13 PM (in response to Guest )
    Re: light menstral cycles

    I am medium boned, I guess. My friends all think I'm little but they're mostly 5"9 and taller! I have cycles, they are just very, very light. Before I started running, they were heavy. Thanks to all who replied!

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