The reasons a woman may find an unexpected disruption in her menstrual cycles include excessive exercise. It is not the type of exercise or sport that causes periods to stop: any extreme exercise can lead to this problem. The key word is extreme. Most women will never reach that level of exercise unless they are athletes in training. When your period stops even if you do workout a lot, you should see a doctor to determine the cause.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the medical name for the absence of menstruation. When a woman's period stops for three consecutive months for any reason, she has amenorrhea. The main reason for this condition is pregnancy but the other that fits into the amenorrhea category is the late beginning of menstruation. Most girls begin menstruating around the age of 13. A teenager who fails to start her period by 16 years of age, is also diagnosed with this condition. The amount of exercise a woman does can lead to the development of amenorrhea.
Exercise and Menstration
It is not the exercise that causes periods to stop. It is the effect the exercise has on the body. Low body fat is one risk factor. Rigorous exercise will lead to a reduction in body fat. Burning unusually large quantities of energy will also put you at risk. It is essential to note that regular exercise, even if you do it every day, is not extreme. That amount of time a woman must spend training to develop amenorrhea goes beyond what most people do. To make a connection between exercise and the lack of periods, you must be a part of something that requires elite training such as a sport or the military.
Treatment
The treatment for amenorrhea will depend on the underlying cause. When the problem is excessive exercise, gaining a little weight may be enough. It may also be necessary to cut back on the training. A doctor may decide to start you on an oral contraceptive in an attempt to regulate your menstrual cycle if just reducing the amount of exercise does not work. Fixing the problem may include a combination off all three treatments.
Expert Insight
Unless you are a competitive athlete, developing amenorrhea may be a symptom of a medical or emotional problem such as an eating disorder or severe stress. Exercise addiction is a recognized mental illness, as well. Working out is healthy in moderation but when your body starts to react to the over-training, you have gone past that point. If your periods stop, don't assume it is due to exercise, let your doctor examine you to rule out a serious illness or pregnancy.
