Your diet can affect you menstrual flow. If you starve yourself by eating too little and exercising too much, your body will shut down the reproductive system, and you will not have a period. Conversely, if you are morbidly obese, the hormones produced by fat cells interfere with the estrogen required for regular periods. Getting your weight under control and eating a sensible diet can help get your menstruation back under control. If you have not had a period for more than three months and you are not pregnant, have your doctor determine the cause of your symptoms.
Menstrual Cycle
In a normal woman, the menstrual cycle starts between the ages of 12 and 14, according to the University of Chicago Medical Center. The entire menstrual cycle, from the first day of bleeding to the day before bleeding starts, lasts about 28 days. Ovulation is the process in which the egg descends into the uterus through the Fallopian tubes. This usually occurs around day 14 of a 28-day cycle. Some cycles can last up to 35 days, but if you are having periods that are further apart than this, check with your doctor to find out why. Diet is just one reason the menstrual cycle can become irregular.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the medical term for missed periods. Primary amenorrhea is failure to start menstruation at the appropriate age, and secondary amenorrhea is when a previously menstruating women misses three consecutive periods, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. Pregnancy is the most common cause for a missed period, but a poor diet can also cause amenorrhea. Malnutrition, excessive dieting, anorexia, bulimia, overexercising and morbid obesity are diet-related causes of decreased menstrual flow. Other causes are medications such as contraceptives, conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and congenital abnormalities such as lack of a uterus.
Anorexia
One of the primary side effects of anorexia is the hormonal changes it causes, particularly its effects on estrogen. Estrogen is lower in anorexia patients, and menstrual periods are irregular or stop entirely, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This can also affect a woman's fertility. Normal menstruation does not return for 25 percent of anorexics, and fertility treatments for anorexic women do not work as well. Pregnant women who are anorexic also put their babies at risk for low birth weights.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that includes obesity and amenorrhea as its two primary symptoms. Other symptoms include acne, undesired hair growth and dark patches of skin in the armpits and neck, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. To get your periods regulated, your doctor might prescribe a birth control pill. However, losing weight and exercise are treatment modalities for this condition. Getting your weight under control is a way to make your periods regulate themselves.
References
- University of Chicago Medical Center: The Menstrual Cycle: An Overview
- New York University Langone Medical Center; Amenorrhea; Diana Kohnle
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Eating Disorders - Complications of Anorexia
- New York University Langone Medical Center; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Debra Wood, R.N.
