Why did I lose my period? NOT UNDERWEIGHT

I have been working on weight loss for maybe a year now. I've gone from 84th percentile on the kid's BMI to 68th - my current BMI is 21. During the past year, I've become involved in gymnastics, so my body fat percentage is dramatically lower than it was last year - right now it's an estimated 15% - 19%. Healthy, right?

I've had my period since I was 12. I'm now 14. My last period was in Februrary or January (I don't really pay attention). Why? I don't mind losing the blood (ewwww), but osteoperosis does not sound fun. What can I do to get it back, without sacrificing my high muscle percentage?

You sound healthy, so I don't think you losing your period is a result of any fat loss or anything like that. Since you're young, and going through puberty it's really likely that your body just decided to stop having it. It happens. Sometimes you can skip several months and then it'll come back. I think that's more likely than you being too muscular for it, haha.

You should probably go see your doctor. I got my period when I was 11, and now I'm 15. I haven't had a period since the beginning of March, and I'm in the process of being diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which is very common and usually first presents in the teen years. The most common symptom is not having a period for more than 3 months.

About 1 in 10 of menstruating women have PCOS, which isn't very dangerous unless left untreated for a number of years, and can be managed by putting you on the birth control pill.

kassanovella might be right, but you should talk to your doctor anyway just to be sure. Good luck. :)

Oh wow I didn't know about PCOS. That's scary. Yeah definitely go to a doctor :O

Yes, I agress with veggie_head. I was told that when you're a teen your period can be irregular but if you miss it for more than three months in a row then go see a doctor. Better safe then sorry.

Thank you for your suggestions. Losing my period was really weird because it's always been super regular, ever since the first month...I did go see a doctor two months after it happened, and she didn't really say anything - she thought it was probably because of so much exercise combined with weight loss. But she said to come back in a couple months for a checkup, so I'll keep hoping it's not PCOS...EEK!

Actually, I had this problem. I have had mine since I was 13 and it was super regular. I am almost twenty now so it was weird when it did stop. I upped my running just a bit, but ate normal. Mine stopped during my finals for exam time. I didn't even realise I felt so stressed, but apparently my body thought otherwise. After not getting my period for four months I went to the doc, they did a blood test, and nothing was wrong.

Your probably okay! good luck

It also could be iron deficiency which is very common and not harmful, so don't panic. :) I once lost my period for a whopping 4 months (when I had a BMI of 21), then I took iron supplements and ta-da, it magically returned.

My period has never been regular though, and I'm already 20. It may also be partly due to genetics. My mother is healthy but almost never had her period until she was 24.

The most common causes of loss of periods are

• Low body-weight (and you don't have to be clinically underweight to have a low body-weight)
• Losing more than 14lbs in a three month window
• Low body-fat % .... 20 - 30% is healthy in a young woman.
• Over-exercising
• Poor diet (insufficient fat, iron, carbohydrates, calories)
• Stress
• Medical reasons
• Pregnancy

If you skip more than three periods in a row you should see a doctor.  Leaving it two years could have put you at risk of permanent problems.

Could it be from stress?

I lost my period for almost 6 months when my grandfather died