why have my periods stopped

[jhollis81]

I am constantly watching what I eat. I weigh between 7stone12 and 8 stone and am 5ft 4ins tall. In the last year my periods have near on stopped but doctor says nothing is wrong. I'm not pregnant. I am always restricting what i eat as I feel fat. TYpical day I have gluten free cereal and skimmed milk for breakfast, 2 slices wheat free toast for lunch, dinner is chicken or fish with loads veg and then peach, cherries and grapes during day. Is this enough. I do have IBS so can't eat wheat and don't touch carbs. I'm 22.

[rja211077]

are you on the pill? this can stop periods in my experience (not first hand, i hasten to add)

[nicola_red]

It's a mystery if your doctor says there is nothing wrong, the normal cause (apart from pregnancy obviously) would be that you're underweight, at 8 stone your BMI calculates at 19.5 which is the bottom end of a healthy weight range so if it falls below 7st 12 regularly you are borderline underweight. Your diet does sound very restrictive and although I understand why you can't ear wheat there's no reason why you couldn't add in a few healthy carbs. Something extra at lunch like soy cheese, tofu or pulses would be ideal. However, your diet is probably the tip of the iceberg as there are underlying reasons as to why you're feeling fat when you're actually underweight. Why not ask to talk to another doctor - maybe a female would be better - and have a chat about how you feel? They can refer you to someone who can help you work out your problems. It would be confidential and you have nothing to feel ashamed of. Many women have problematic relationships with food - me included - but it seems like you know you need to put things back in perspective before your health deteriorates and your fertility is compromised. Once you have sorted out how you feel you'll be able to work on returning to a healthy balanced diet and then your periods will return in due course. Please don't think I speak from a moral high ground as I definitely don't - your question makes me feel concerned and I just hope I can help!

[woofgang]

If you have IBS, then even though you eat quite a lot, you may have compromised absorption of what you do eat, also your diet appears to be quite high in fibre which tends to "hurry" food through you and thus limit uptake. The other thing that you don't mention is whether you take a lot of exercise (which can affect menstruation) and have a high muscle to fat ratio which can give a false body mass index measurement. Like nicola_red, I'm a bit worried by your comments that you feel fat and don't touch carbs and that you are constantly watching what you eat. Have you "always" done this or did something trigger it off? Again I agree that help and support for you now would be the best thing. Do you have a good friend or family member who could help you get this sorted?

[becks]

You've answered your own question "I am constantly watching what i eat...i am always restricting what i eat", not having a properly balanced diet will make your periods stop becuase the body can't function properly, anorexics don't have periods for example. you don't seem particularly underwight but i wouldn't have said at 8 stone and 5'4 you should feel fat, i'm 5'6 and weigh 9 and a half stone, so maybe you actually need to to put a bit of weight on. Are you taking any supplements and why don't you touch carbs? Are you exercising as well becuase if so you need carbs to burn off as energy. I suspect that your body has stopped periods because you're exercising too much with too few carbs. I would speak to the doctor - going on a diet and exercising is fine, but your periods stopping at 22, is nature's way of telling you something's up.

[Miss Zippy]

I agree that your missed periods are diet related. Although you appear to be eating a healthy diet, you are probably not be eating enough (especially if you're also exercising as someone else pointed out) and if your body is not getting enough fuel. In these circumstances, your body will ensure that its vital organs are getting the nourishment they need and forego everyting else. Your body simply doesn't have anything in reserve for it to prepare itself each month for a baby (i.e. lining the womb with fresh blood and releasing an egg). This is how my dcotor explained it to me when I lost weight once (caused by loss of appetite due to stress) and missed 4 periods. Perhaps consider getting expert advice from a dietician on the type of foods you need to eat to fuel your body whilst not aggravting your IBS.

[tracymort]

I'd also agree with your diet also if you have IBS i'm guessing you are a rather anxious person and that in itself can stop your periods. Your body will not let you get pregnant (most of the time!) if you are not fit enough to deal with it. making a baby takes alot of energy and at the moment your body does not have that to spare.

[tracymort]

PS i hope you are taking a good quality probiotic for your ibs - http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/factsheets.asp?articl e_ID=408

[Janetex]

I was that height and weight and too thin, but my periods were still regular. You sound conscientious, maybe eating the same amount but more often each day could help. Porridge (not instant) is great for bowel problems. Try introducing this as an extra meal or snack along with say a banana or nuts as well.

[salena_123]

 ok im only 15 years old and i feel differnt now cause i had sex three times and i took two pregancy test and they say im not prego and i fell so so fat and i am fatter and i been eating alot and i havent started my period for three months goin on my 4...and im scared to death yes my mom knows but i need answers wont somebody plz help me i need your guys help!!!

[colette2011]

hi i am 36 years old im sexually active with my husband but i havnt had a period for 4 months and my periods are normally regular and it only since i had colposcopy done i hae had a urine test done and it came back negative i had a scan done and the said i aint pregnant and i also had a blood test done and it came back slightly high blood count what else can i do