Secondary amenorrhea is when you stop having regular menstrual periods for six months or longer. This condition may occur for a variety of reasons, including a change in your exercise routine. Reducing the intensity of your workout can help your periods return to normal. Contact your doctor if you experience an abrupt change in menstruation, especially if you think you may be pregnant.
Secondary Amenorrhea
Unlike primary amenorrhea, secondary amenorrhea occurs only in women who have already begun menstruating. According to the MayoClinic.com, women who participate in activities that involve rigorous training are more likely to experience an interruption in menstrual cycles. Factors that may contribute to the cessation of periods include a high expenditure of energy, loss of body fat and stress. A new exercise routine that causes your body fat to drop below about 17 percent increases your risk of secondary amenorrhea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Moderate Exercise
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends participating in moderate exercise, rather than extreme exercise, to prevent secondary amenorrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderate exercise increases your heart rate and causes you to break a sweat, while still allowing you to talk. Examples of moderate forms of exercise include playing doubles tennis, participating in water aerobics, walking fast and riding a bike on slightly hilly or level surfaces. Vigorous exercise routines, the type that may disrupt your menstrual cycle, include jogging, running, swimming laps and playing basketball or singles tennis.
Considerations
Although a change in your exercise routine may be the reason for delayed menstruation, other conditions can also cause you to miss periods. Common causes of secondary amenorrhea include eating disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid malfunction, mental stress and brain tumors. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause are natural occurrences that cause a temporary or permanent cessation of menstruation. Certain medications, including antipsychotics, chemotherapy, antidepressants and blood pressure drugs, can disrupt your normal periods.
Precautions
Hormonal imbalances that affect your periods may signal the presence of a serious medical condition, making it important to consult your doctor if you experience unusual changes in menstruation. Secondary amenorrhea may involve an overgrowth of your uterine lining, a condition that may increase your risk of uterine cancer. A change in menstrual periods generally reflects a change in fertility, potentially making it difficult to conceive while exercising at a level that disrupts your periods.
Member Comments