At the beginning of a normal menstrual cycle, your estrogen level increases, making the lining of your uterus able to grow and thicken. One of your eggs then starts to mature in one of the ovaries. At the mid point of your cycle, the egg leaves the ovary, which is known as ovulation. Your egg then proceeds to travel through the fallopian tubes and into the uterus. But when the uterus has no use for the extra thick lining, it starts to shed. This process of the uterus shedding is what we know as menstruation. Exercise is beneficial to your body and menstrual cycle, but there can also be negative effects to your body when you take exercise to the extreme.
Primary Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstruation. If you miss one or more menstrual cycles, then there is likely a reason for why your body has developed this condition. Primary amenorrhea is when a woman has reached the age of 16 and still lacks menstruation. This condition is common in very thin or athletic girls. For other girls the delay could be due to a condition known as Turner's syndrome, which is a genetic disorder where a girl's female reproductive organs function abnormally.
Secondary Amenorrhea
Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has had normal menstrual cycles in the past, but has stopped menstruating for more than three months. There are several reasons why women develop this condition, including birth control pills, emotional or physical stress, rapid weight loss, obesity, frequent strenuous exercise and cysts or tumors in the ovaries. Women who engage in extreme, high-intensity exercise are likely to develop amenorrhea as well as young female athletes. Sports such as gymnastics and ballet have more effect than any other sports.
Positive Effects of Exercise and Menstruation
Engaging in a healthy amount of regular exercise can have several positive advantages when it comes to your menstrual cycle. It helps relieve cramping, pain and bloating caused by menstruating. As you exercise your blood circulates through your body and creates relief from headaches. Endorphins are also released, which reduce cranky and depressed feelings. You may also notice that you sleep better at night. Exercise may help control your cravings for sweets and junk food.
Exercise Obsession
If you are obsessed with exercising excessively and engage in three to five hours of daily physical activity, you're putting your body at risk of developing serious problems. Working out requires a great amount of energy, and without proper fueling for your body, it can't keep up. So instead, your body starts to shut down unnecessary functions so that it can use the little energy it has to keep your basic life functions working. Because the object of your menstrual cycle is to reproduce, it's not critical to your life; so your body will shut down the function to save energy.
How to Start Menstruating Again
Lack of menstrual cycles can cause osteoporosis due to loss of bone density. So it's important for menstruation to return to normal as soon as possible. Reducing your amount of daily exercise will enable your body to receive the nutrients and calories that are necessary for normal function. It may take some time for your body to adjust back to normal again but you should begin to have menstrual cycles before you know it.
References
- Aetna InteliHealth: Amenorrhea
- Women to Women: Menstruation: Irregular Periods
- "Nutrition: The Complete Guide"; John Berardi, Ph.D.; Ryan Andrew; 2009
- National Institute of Child Health & Human Development: Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle
