Danger: SOY!

I haven't had my period for two months, and I'm at a healthy weight now so it confused me why it disappeard.  I had it even when I weighed less than this, so I couldn't figure out what was going on.  But today in my sexual reproduction class, I heard about how soy can affect the levels of estrogen in the body and in turn alter menstruation.  A lightbulb went off in my head - so that's why I haven't been getting my period!  I've been eating so much tofu every day, that I must have thrown off my hormones.  From this day on I'm cutting out soy and will watch to see if my period comes back.  If it doesn't, I'll have to do some more detective work.

Anyone else seen the effects of soy on their cycles?

EDIT: These effects are seen in unfermented and processed soy (like tofu or soy milk) and not in fermented soy (like miso and tempeh).

Just an FYI to clarify.  It is UNFERMENTED and processed soy (tofu/soy milk/soy cheese) that causes these and other estrogen related problems. It may also be linked to reduded thyroid function.

Fermented soy, such as miso and tempeh are perfectly harmless and excellent sources of protein.  

Oh, yes, I forgot that part!!!  Thanks for the clarification.  Not all soy is bad or dangerous!  And even unfermented soy can be okay in moderation.

I drink a cup or two of soy milk every day now, have for the last two months, eat a fair amount of faux meats and occasionally indulge in chocolate covered soynuts and/or tofu as well, and haven't noticed any change whatsoever in my period. =/

I think you might want to look into other things, like if you're eating enough fat (25-35%, if you're under 18, [source] or 15-30% if you're an adult [source]), if you're overly stressed physically or emotionally, if you've changed drastically something recently in your diet that might create a shock effect, if you're not eating enough calories, or if you're pregnant. 

I too eat tofu, and drink soymilk with some degree of regularity, and it has never effected me. I know this is a controversial subject, but perhaps it was the amount you were eating, or perhaps the problem is something else, or maybe for your body soy is not good, but, I don't think that it is necessarily dangerous.

Also, I just checked your profile, and if it is accurate, then your BMI is 18.3, which is actually underweight.   I'm not trying to discount you, but there might be more going on here than the soy.

Trid

It happened to me too, and I certainly was not underweight or underfat at the time.  I am vegan, so it's easy for me to eat an excessive amount of soy, but I now try to balance it with other protein sources.

Original Post by laughingspirit:

Just an FYI to clarify. It is UNFERMENTED and processed soy (tofu/soy milk/soy cheese) that causes these and other estrogen related problems. It may also be linked to reduded thyroid function.

Fermented soy, such as miso and tempeh are perfectly harmless and excellent sources of protein.

Isn't that what auresvita has already said?

valcatraz, I added the edit after I read what laughingspirit wrote.  sorry for the misunderstanding!!!

That's kind of interesting. I didn't know that tofu could throw off your period. I certainly eat a lot of it. Also, stress, weight loss, low fat & high fiber diets, etc can screw up your period, so all those factors together can mess you up. (My problem)