Low Progesterone Levels

Problem solved with advice from my Midwife.:)

I may be going through something similar too, but at the same time I'm not sure if it's for the same reasons. I haven't had my period since September of last year, seemingly due to restricting my calories, starting to work out lightly, and going on and off birth control pills. I think the lowest weight I ever got was 110, starting eating more protein or whatever and was staying steady at 115, but the past couple of months I've been eating more bulk food like you said  (but I don't think I'm eating over 1500 calories), and at first I wasn't gaining much at all. I took provera and finally got a bleed (after 3 previous times of not getting one), and then a month later...so in the beginning of february, i got pms symptoms, but was still 115. However, my hormones levels were still low. Shortly after that, I've gained about 7 pounds (115 to 120-122), but I think it's really really weird how I can gain that much but eating healthier foods (For carbs, besides fruit, I'm only having like a bowl of oatmeal a day, and maybe a piece of bread). My gynocologist only checked my FSH and LH levels recently, and they had improved a lot to a normal level...still no period though...

Anyway, I'm not positive, but I think my weight gain may be due to hormones as well? Except it's weird, because I wasn't having weight issues the entire time I haven't been getting my period, you would assume I had low progesterone then too?

Sorry if this doesn't help, but just want you to know that I'm having similar confusion too. I wonder if our cycles are just really sensitive, and that's why it's taking longer for our hormones to come back, so in the meantime, we're gaining weight but not getting our periods? I'm not sure =/

Well, at least we're not alone! Thanks for sharing, and I do hope that you get things figured out.:)

if you aren't eating over 1500 cals, that's the problem.  Its a diet intake for your weight.  and, chances are, your fats are too low for that total.

Have some real carbs.  Eat more food.

You make a good point, for_zev...unless she's sedentary and short. I have no clue why that didn't click in my head. I don't know if the same goes for me, but I'd guess that you just need more food, weffyy. I think that your body is more likely in starvation mode than in a hormonal imbalance. Just MHO, though.

I am not sure but it sounds like you really need to follow something prescribed by your doctor. I would ask since you have a condition to see a nutritionist.I always feel with added health complications it is good even for a few sessions to learn what may help your condition. Also it sounds like you need a recheck by your doc. In any regards playing with your body in an unhealthy manner does not help fight what ever condition you have. To get back your period and health you have to be consistent and not yo yo with diet and activity. Hang in there and take care

I think I probably am eating around 1500 calories, but in comparison to others who aren't experiencing weight gain, I eat really healthily.

Typically I'm having:

Breakfast: Oatmeal (maybe an egg if I get the chance)

Snack: Handful of nuts, apple

Lunch: Salad with turkey or chicken cold cuts (about 5 or 6 slices), olive oil, (def more than a tablespoon), maybe a piece of bread or beans

Snack: Another piece of fruit, handful of nuts or a lowfat or nonfat plain yogurt

Dinner: Piece of chicken, salad with olive oil, starch like lentils, black beans, peas etc.

Snack: Another piece of fruit

On top of this, every week I have a "free day" where I just have whatever I want, whenever I want. (I've been doing this since my junior year in high school) The next day I'm not AS hungry, so I usually don't have oatmeal or bread, but thats really the gist of my intake. But lately, I haven't really been hungry at all =/.

At first when I was changing my diet to have these things, I really wasn't gaining much weight at all. But then I got symptoms of my period, but didn't bleed in the begining of february...and now, in about 2 months I've gained about 7-8 pounds, when I didn't really change much (maybe I added more bread, and got a little more serious, but overall, I don't think I should have gained so much?)

Why would I be in starvation mode NOW, when months ago, when I wasn't eating this much, I wasn't experiencing weight gain? And why would I recently get the weight gain only after I got those symptoms...I'm really not sure...=/

But also, this is Truthi's topic, so I'm sorry for putting my whole thing in here. I'm just wondering if the weight gain I've experienced is from hormones coming back or a hormonal imbalance.

I know we've chatted about this before.

Unless you are weighing all your foods, you can't know you are eating exactly that many calories.  'a handful of nuts' can be anywhere from 150 - 400 cals. 

1500 cals is too low anyway.  your diet is very very low, even with that free meal.

some of that weight is probably water.  as I said before, if I were you, I would try to put on a little more weight, rest, make sure you are well nourished, and be patient.  You're still at a low weight for your height.

I know for_zev, I'm sorry for always trying to milk this problem for any solution or explanation. I'm working with a nutritionist on it too, and I think 115 and 122 are okay for my height, not low. I'm just below 5'1. I know I'm already at the lowest amount of calories I should take in, I just don't understand this weight gain. I really don't think I'm in starvation mode--I don't even really feel hungry, and I've steadily been at 122-124 for more than a month now, so it doesn't seem like water weight. If I was going to experieince water weight from adding these things ot my diet, it should have happened in December when I really started to...not now?

Abbi- Fair enough. I was already going to ask my OB-GYN everything that I asked here, it'll just be a while until I get that chance. My doctor had no advice hen I asked him, and my dietitian's meal plan was exactly what I'd been following before increasing my cals; she had me on 2400 per day, with the knowledge of the 16-18 hours of exercise that I preform per week and the fact that I live a generally active lifestyle. Again, I was not "dieting" at all; I have not attempted to lose weight once during this period of time--I only followed the advice of my dietitian and realized that it was harming me. She's a very "standard food pyramid" dietitian and I think that she might have the idea drilled into her head that teen girls never need more than 2400 cals because the USDA never suggests more than that for females. All that I know for ure is that my body was NOT happy with the meal plan she gave me.

Thanks anyway, guys...I shall just have to wait for my next appointment for advice/experience. I just hope that I don't screw my body up even more until then.

Everyone here also needs to consider having Thyroid Labs drawn as well.  Even though you are young, you may have hyperthyroidism. That would cause your periods to stop, and fluctuations in weight.  Also, irritability, loss of energy,racing heart beat, increased appetite , and insomnia.

I am having the same exact issues.

I am 20 years old, 5'6", and I weigh 130.

Over the past two months (approximately), I have gained about 10 pounds, even though I have started a healthier diet and started working out more. I don't know where this weight is coming from.

Everything tells me it's a thyroid issue because I have irregular, heavy periods, irritability, extreme fatigue, and no stamina when I work out (I get very lightheaded and sick to my stomach).

However, I've had several blood tests done - some of which I'm pretty sure were thyroid screens - but my doctors have not found anything "conclusive."

It's super frustrating and I don't know what to do.

Let me know if you guys come to any solutions.

I'm joining in as well - exact same issue - hadn't got my period after stopping BC in January 09, since then I have gone from 111 to 117 on a good day, but my weight can jump up to 122 from one day to the next.  I'm 5'2", eat healthy, and exercise 5 days/week. I can't shake this weight and don't recognize my body - had two blood tests done and it's not a thyroid issue, plus my hormones are normal.

My doctor gave me Progesterone pills to make my period come back, which it did two days ago (very painfully), but now it's disappeared again, and none of the weight has been lost.  Í'm really hoping that if my period comes back to normal, the weight will shed as well.  I'm getting really stressed about this though, which is leading me to eat less, exercise more, and just get more depressed because the weight doesn't come off.

Hope this can get figured out sooner than later for all of us!