menstruation problems - help!

I have a lot of trouble with my menstral cycle when I start to get lean.  I've heard this is common among female athletes.  Is there anyone out there who has been through this and has some good advice?  I started using all natural progestrone cream and for awhile it seemed to help.  But I'm having problems again - AND I still have 12 pounds of fat to lose before reaching my goal.  I'm wondering if there are any supplements ... or specific exercises ... ANYTHING ... to help my body work properly.

kryptonite

It really depends on what the problem is.
 
I found that emu oil/fish oil/flaxseed oil helps. I dont know exactly how, but it helps with PMS and cramps. If your problem is that you are no longer regular then maybe you should see your doctor. He/she will give you the best advice.

I do have some trouble with cramping, so thanks for that advice.  But the biggest problem I have is with spot-bleeding.  It happens almost every day.  I still appear to have a regular (though-be-it light) period.  Last year I went to a GYN and she ran a test - said I'm not ovulating.  She wanted to put me on a synthetic progesterone pill.  Not happening!  That's when I started using the all-natural progest cream.  Like I said, that seemed to help for a little while, but now that I'm getting leaner again, I'm back to the drawing board.  I'm having spotting nearly every day.  I've heard this is common among women athletes and wonder if there are any natural things to do (or not do) to help get a body back in sync.  Hopefully, this makes it a little clearer what I'm asking.
 
Any input would be appreciated!

The pill really does help regulate things but if you are not interested in that, you can suffer amenoreah, loss of period when you get lean, the degree of leanness that triggers it varys in each gal.
Primrose oil is a good one for cramping etc.
I am wondering if you are taking any meds which may be fluxing your hormones?  Any supplements that may be altering your hormones?
We don't know about yoru diet adn training, that can be causing it if its very extreme in certain ways, starvation, omissions etc.
Linda

Come Visit my websites! www.figureteam.com www.lindacusmano.com www.bodyrushpersonaltraining.com

Actually I do have type 1 diabetes and Grave's disease, so I am on Humalog insulin and Levothyroxine.  I'm sure my hormones are out of wack.  I don't know my current body fat percentage.  I still have some excess body fat (10-12# worth) over where I like to be.  I don't consider myself too thin, yet I'm already having trouble with spotting.  I am quite muscular, however.  I do an hour of cardio six days per week (either power walking, eliptical, or stair climber), and I lift weights three days per week doing what most consider pretty intense workouts.  I no longer do "heavy" lifting, but keep my rep range between 12-15 reps.  I ALWAYS work out this way - year around, but I don't start having trouble with my period until I start losing the fat.  I eat 1800-2400 calories per day when I'm losing the fat.  Yes, it's a lot of calories, but the muscle eats them up.  I would be willing to go without a period during my "lean" cycle for a competition, but the problem is I desire to live at a leaner state than I currently am, and I'm already having trouble. 
 
I suppose I could ask my doc about the pill, but I hate the idea of taking any more meds.  I really prefer to do things naturally if at all possible.  My diet consists of lean sources of protein, veggies, fruits, nuts & seeds, oatmeal, yogurt and a little whole wheat bread.  I don't know if there are things I should or shouldn't eat in order to regulate hormones?
 
Perhaps I'm one of those lucky gals who starts having menstrual problems before an unhealthy body-fat percentage is reached.  Sorry for the sarcasm; I'm just feeling a little frustrated right now.  I also wear a diabetic pump and am having a difficult time using it because of my muscular frame (the needles keep getting kinked off by the muscle and aren't able to deliver the needed insulin).  So I'm facing all of these problems related to the way of life I've chosen - a way of life that I LOVE and don't want to give up.
 
Well, before this turns into a book, I'll sign off.  I appreciate your input so much.  Keep it coming if you can...
 
 

Ok, im a little confused here....
 
If you have Graves disease, why are you on levothryoxine?Graves is the most common cause of HYPERthyroidism so you should be on some sort of anti-thyroid medication (e.g. methimazole or propylthiouracil etc). 
 
Have you had radiation or surgery?
 
From the looks of it, it seems most likely that your menstrual irregularities are related to your thyroid dysfunction and the level of levothyroxine you are taking. Menstrual dysfunction is quite a common effect of Graves disease and side effect of levothyroxine.

Yes, I have had radiation treatment, thus the Levothyroxine.  I've been on it for over three years now.  I take a fairly high dosage, but my blood tests come back in range. 
 
So, I have a question.  If my blood tests indicate I'm on the right dosage of Levothryoxine, can the med still throw my menstrual cycle off?
 
My problems seem related to fat loss (since this happened both last year and this year once I started getting leaner), but I'm definitely not opposed to looking at other possible causes.  In fact, I'd prefer it in a way because I don't want anything to stand in the way of my goals.  If it's just a matter of switching meds, I can live with it.
 
 
 
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To the best of my knowledge, Yes the Levothyroxine can still throw off your menstrual cycle despite being in the normal range, especially if you are taking a high dosage.
 
Again, the fat loss if most likely tied to the high levels of Levothyroxine as it is a metabolic stimulant (as well as exercise ofcourse). So even though you seem to be connecting fat loss to  menstrual irregularities, what is quite possible is that both are being influenced (or caused) by the common base factor- high levels of levothyroxine.
 
Endocrinology isnt my specialty, so its best to discuss any specifics about medication dosages with your doctor.

I  do not blame you for being frustrated!!  Yes there are food items you can vary for homone purpose but it all depends on your hormone variables, progesterone vs estrogen levels which can vary in most women, yours is obviously off which is what causes spots sometimes but usually the pill sets it off and it ends up being pill which is not in the right p/e range but in your case I would say the meds do this and if you have to be on them for good you need to consider medical help and possibly the pill as a solution.  I would think that until you are off them and detoxed from them, you will continue with your side effect so these are the things you need to be real about and consider.
Linda

Come Visit my websites! www.figureteam.com www.lindacusmano.com www.bodyrushpersonaltraining.com

Thanks a lot everyone for your responses.  I'm beginning to wonder if the "spotting" has more to do with the way I go about losing weight rather than the amount of weight lost.  I've been reading everything I can get my hands on that ties to this and a common thread I keep running across is that too little fat in the diet can cause menstrual problems (as well as too little body fat, but I don't believe I'm there yet).  I eat plenty of calories while losing weight (1800-2200), but I may not be eating enough fat.
 
The hard part will be reducing carbs to up the fat.  As I'm sure you all know, fat is more than twice the amount of calories per gram which means not getting to eat as much - and I REALLY like to eat (ha).  But, I'm going to try to up my fat intake (with healthy fats, of course).  Some of you mentioned flax seed, fish, and various oils.
 
  I'm also thinking of getting a thermometer that monitors body temperature in smaller increments to try to figure out if I'm ovulating.  I figure as long as I'm ovulating so blood isn't collecting in the uterine (possibly leading to uteral cancer), then I'm okay.
 
In the long run I may end up back in a doctor's office for some answers - possibly even the pill if that's what's necessary to be healthy.  But I'm still hoping to get this problem fixed naturally.
 
Um, I did have one other question.  One of you mentioned that there are various foods that are good to incorporate into your diet depending on your levels of progesterone and estrogen.  If you know some off the top of your head, would you mind zipping me a quick list - things to eat if you are low on progesterone and things to eat if you're low on estrogen?  My guess is I've been low on progesterone, purely because the GYN was going to put me on a synthetic progesterone replacement.  But as I keep fiddling with this I may discover otherwise.
 
Again thanks.
 
Sherry

Ok, so I'm a guy but I can jump in here....
 
My wife has graves, and she had radiation treatment, and when she started working out with me she got into the EXACT same place that you are in... for a while we were both scared that something was wrong with her...
 
After a while we learned that, A) He thyroid levels were way out of wack, she was actually getting too much thyroid as her dose was based on her weight (about 30 lbs heavier) go see your doc and re evaluate your dosage every 20 pounds or so...  B) Working out got her hormones wacked out as well, but once she got her thyroid back in balance, and gave it a month or so for her body to get used to the elevated hormones her body adjusted, the cramping went away, and no more spotting....
 
Your body is going through some major changes right now, try to get a consistent routine and let your body get used to it and stabilize, but most importantly try not to let this get in the way of your goal, and stay motivated.

Eat...Lift....Sleep......Repeat

Enjoy the process.. but crave the goal.

Thanks for the insight.  That does make sense.  As a person's body weight changes, their dosage needs would seem to alter as well.  For the record (if anyone else is keeping up with this - going through a similar problem...) I've increased the fat in my diet and haven't been spotting.  I don't know if I'm on to something here, or if it's just coincidence.  Only time will tell.

thats great news. Im glad your problem has been resolved