Are you suffering from irregular periods or have you missed ovulation? Know the link between weight loss or weight gain and duration to better understand how changes in your body can affect your menstrual health.
Weight plays an important role in maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. This directly affects the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Both weight gain and duration changes are closely linked, as sudden shifts in body fat can destroy the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Extreme weight loss or excessive weight gain can cause you to abandon this balance and have even missed irregular periods or ovulation. Conditions such as hypothyroidism and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) can make these hormonal variations even more common. Therefore, it is important to understand the link between losing kilos or weight gain and changes in duration, and how these are interdependent.
Weight gain and duration: Are you linked?
Yes, there is a relationship between weight gain and irregularities in duration. If you’ve been gaining weight recently and are currently overweight, it can affect your menstrual cycle in many ways:
1. Rare periods
If your body stores excess fat (fat tissue), it can cause an imbalance of hormones that destroy ovulation. Adipocytes produce more estrogens, and too much estrogen can ruin hormone levels, sometimes stopping ovulation completely and missing periods. A common cause of overweight women’s periods of overlooked is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), according to the Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome.
2. Heavy period
Heavy periods are another result of the link between weight gain and change in duration. Overweight women are more likely to experience more severe periods. Severe menstrual bleeding is defined as bleeding that lasts more than 7 days, requires frequent pad or tampon changes, or involves large blood clot transfer. If left untreated, severe bleeding can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which can lead to fatigue and weakness.
How does weight loss affect the duration?
Not only is there a link between weight gain and duration, but losing too much weight or weight can also affect your menstrual cycle. It can lead to lower estrogen levels and can disrupt the cycle. Here’s how weight loss affects your duration:
1. Light period
Rapid weight loss can result in low estrogen levels and delayed or irregular periods. Your body takes weight loss as a sign of extreme stress and starvation. This will further tell your brain to shut down your reproductive system to save energy.
2. Amenorrhea
If you’re too much weight, the duration can be completely stopped. This is called amenorrhea. This happens when there is no period of three months (and not pregnant), explained Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include acne, hair loss, headaches and excessive facial hair. This is more common in women with PCOS. Being low-weight can destroy hormone levels and prevent ovulation. In other words, there is no period. This can lead to infertility and affect bone health as low estrogen levels weaken over time.
How to maintain a healthy weight to manage your period cycle?
It is important to maintain a healthy weight as we find that weight gain and duration cycles are interdependent. Below are seven tips to help you stay on track.
- Focus more on eating healthy, balanced diets. Your diet should contain plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and lean protein. Avoid foods like processed sugar.
- Avoid extreme calorie restriction and go on a trendy or crash diet. These can have a negative impact on the production of important hormones.
- He engages in regular physical exercises such as walking, cycling, running, strength training, and weightlifting.
- Aim for 7-8 hours of sound sleep, as lack of sleep can affect your hunger hormones.
- Chronic stress can lead to emotional diet and weight gain. Therefore, we practice stress management techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation.
- Drinking large amounts of water throughout the day can help reduce your food intake and help you lose weight.
- Limit daily sugar consumption as it can lead to weight gain and other health issues. This can lead to weight gain.
When will you see the doctor?
There is a natural link between weight gain and changes in duration, but you should see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Your period suddenly stops for more than 90 days and you are not pregnant.
- After being regular for a while, your period will be irregular.
- Your period lasts for more than 7 days.
- You are bleeding heavier than usual or soaking in pads or tampons every hour or two.
- Your period is less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart.
- You will experience bleeding during the period.
- During your period you are experiencing severe pain that doesn’t feel normal.
Additionally, it is important to consult your doctor if you are experiencing other problems with your menstrual cycle or ovulation.
