What is considered normal when it comes to menstruation varies woman to woman; typically, menstrual periods occur every 24 to 34 days and last four to seven days. If you are experiencing irregular or abnormal cycles, several culprits are possible. One significant factor to consider is weight; being either underweight or overweight can affect your monthly cycle. If you're experiencing weight gain and irregular periods, it's important that you see your physician to find out what's going on internally.
Irregular Periods and Weight Gain
Signs that you are having irregular menstrual cycles include spotting between periods and changes in time between menstruation events, such as more than 35 days passing before periods. Having irregular menstruation itself does not cause you to gain weight; however, the root cause behind the abnormal cycle may be playing a role in your increasing weight. Keep in mind that gaining weight--even in the absence of an underlying health problem--can affect your hormones, causing irregular cycles. For instance, being obese can cause insulin resistance. Having excess insulin in the bloodstream can increase production of hormones called androgens that affect regular menstruation, according to a 2001 article appearing in "American Family Physician."
Perimenopause
Irregular menstruation is a major sign of perimenopause, which is the time period leading up to menopause. During perimenopause, ovulatory patterns become inconsistent. Perimenopause can last years and may start while you're still in your 30s. Longer periods of time pass between periods during the later stages of perimenopause; you may go 60 days without menstruating. This is also a time when your weight may increase; in fact, perimenopuase is the time of life when you're most likely to put on weight, according to MayoClinic.com.
Endocrine Diseases
Certain endocrine diseases can also affect both your menstrual cycles and weight. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, involves hormonal imbalances that affect menstruation. Excess androgen production is a key issue in this condition, affecting ovulation and causing cysts to form on the ovaries. Irregular or absent periods are significant signs of PCOS and women who have it are more likely to be obese. Another condition that causes similar symptoms is Cushing's syndrome, which primarily affects adults between the ages of 20 and 50, according to the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. Cushing's develops due to excessive levels of the hormone cortisol, resulting in symptoms such as upper body obesity and a rounded face. As with PCOS, women with Cushing's can have excess body hair and irregular or absent menstruation.
Treatments
Restoring menstruation and reducing other symptoms requires medical treatment if you have conditions such as PCOS and Cushing's. Prescription drugs to regulate hormones are the most important treatment for PCOS, as this disease has no cure. Treatment of Cushing's is complex because many serious problems cause excess cortisol, such as pituitary and adrenal tumors. While medications are available to control cortisol, surgery may be needed to remove tumors.
If you are going through perimenopause, hormone therapy may be used; however, the pros and cons should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor.
Whether your weight gain is tied to an underlying medical problem or you've just gotten lax in sticking to a healthy lifestyle, you will need to make eating right and regular exercise priorities. Losing even a small amount of weight can have a positive impact on your health and support hormone balance. In fact, a 10 percent drop in weight can restore menstruation and encourage more regular cycles, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Women's Health.
References
- MedlinePlus: Menstrual periods - heavy, prolonged or irregular
- "American Family Physician"; Impact of Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity on the Gynecologic Health of Adolescents; Marjorie E. Kaplan Seidenfeld and Vaughn I. Rickert; August 2001
- MayoClinic.com; Perimenopause; September 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Menopause weight gain: Stop the middle age spread; September 2010
- National Institute of Child Health & Human Development: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service; Cushing's Syndrome; July 2008
