Question about Menstruation....

Hi,

So last year around this time, I decided to make a committment to myself to eat healthier and lose a bit of weight. I'm 17 years old and Im one of the captains for my X-C team, so I run a lot. However, my diet turned into a bit of an obsession, and lost 22 pounds. In about a year's time I started from 123 and dropped down to 101.2 (I'm 5'2) So I guess you could say I had a bit of an eating disorder. I was always feeling cold, lethargic, short of breath, and depressed. I constantly exercised all the time, and I cut back on a lot of foods, not just junk foods but some regular foods as well. I guess I wanted some control in my life. Anyway, I'm almost recovered and I've gained about 8 pounds back so I'm probably around 109-110 ish.

The only problem is that I still don't have my period back, and its been a couple of months. My doctor wants to put me on the pill, but I was wondering, is it possible for someone active like me to gain weight on the pill?

Thanks for listening : )

You might experience a little bit of weight gain on the pill in the first month as your body adjusts. Ii it happesn, I'd bet that it was mostly water weight.  Not everyone has this happen though since the hormones will react a bit differently for everyone.  Just make sure you keep an eye on things and talk to your docotor if anything worries you.

If you have low to no body fat- you will have problems menstruating- gymnasts hardly ever menstruate-

Read this, but I would be concerned.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm ?Thread_ID=320&topcategory=Women

i just wanted to say congrats on your recovery... :)

My doctor put me on birth control because I had lost my period for six months, and it actually hasn't made me gain any weight, although it does make me rather sick to my stomach pretty often. I'm on Loestrin, by the way. It kind of stinks because my body is so not used to having a period that I've now had three weeks of periods in the past five weeks. I guess that's what I get for not having it for six months!! But it's really important for you to get your period back, weight gain or not. You need the calcium if you don't want bad bones and health problems!

"However, if you are sure that you are not pregnant and you have no other symptoms, there is generally no harm in waiting several months before consulting a physician."

I'm loathe to agree that going on the pill is necessary at this point.  Is there any health repercussion to not getting your period for a few more months while you are putting weight back on? 

Since the problem is that you were (are?) underweight, you still have to address that, right?  Why is it that doctors are always so willing to give you a pill to fix a problem when there is a natural way to do it.

*EDIT* Canadianchick's link disagrees with mine - it shows health risks, so maybe I'm wrong to say you could wait.  

Wow, Thanks!

Everyone was really helpful. I also heard, that you are only able to menstruate once on the pill. Afterwards, it is difficult to start back up again. Is this true?

As a rule, if a women's body fat drops below about 18% or so (give or take) her body will stop having a period, as it thinks she is not capable of supporting child (physically).  Your body stops producing enough estrogen (ie why most gymnasts have little or no breasts)

I've never really been on the pill (too shoddy memory), but I've heard there can be a small weight gain for some women, but it usally evens out once your body gets used to it.

I just got OFF birth control (NuvaRing) three months ago. I haven't had a period since. :-\ So that's been two missed cycles. I didn't have trouble starting back up when I got off Tri Cyclen Lo, but this time around, I guess it's different. Ah, well.

i haven't had my period in a year and a half. i've been to the doctor and they said that they can give me birth control if i wanted it to start but i kinda like not being on it. i've gained weight since that time... sadly, about 15 lbs. i still haven't started! i'm 5'4" and now 130 lbs. this is not underweight by any means! should i start birth control?

Lizzlebizzle, I used to use the Nuva Ring too! Did you like it? I thought it felt weird and my fiance could feel it...I had bad symptoms from it even thought it is supposedly the lowest dosage of horemones available currently.