How greatly can exercising affect menses?

mo'Nique · 05-14-2008, 04:20 PM

I've been going to the gym once a week for the past three weeks doing an areobic 1 hour class and I feel great! But the thing is, is that period has changed somewhat

(sorry about the graphic nature of this!)

A "normal" period for me would be to feel slight cramping followed by the menstrual flow....with some clots. My periods, on average, are 4 days tops......now that I've been exercising my periods seem lighter and spread out the course of 6 days with no blood clots, and virtually no cramping)
My period last month was "normal"

Also, lately I've been drinking lots of fluids (tea, juice, water...mainly tea!) Overall, I feel fine...I'm just hoping this is the result of my areobic regimen!

Im on no birth control or any meds of any kind......thanks all!

kuiks8 · 05-14-2008, 04:22 PM

Drinking more fluids definitely helps with your flow...and exercise can help your mood i don't know how much it effects your flow if you are only doing it 1x/week.

GypsyMuse · 05-14-2008, 06:06 PM

Exercise can change your periods quite a lot. Some women even stop menstruating if they exercise regularly and have low body fat. It rarely indicates problems (no harm checking it with a doctor but usually there's nothing to worry about).

Menstruating once a month might not even be "normal" in the long-term view of things. It may be a result of modern life and abundant food. It's possible that our ancestors, during times when activity was higher and food was lower didn't menstruate every month, and then, when people settled down and food was more abundant, may have become more fertile. Many mammals are only fertile a few times a year.

I know lots of female athletes who have light periods or no periods. If they want to get pregnant, they lower their activity level and eat a bit more and usually don't have problems conceiving. I wouldn't recommend it as a method of birth control, though.. lots of thin, fit women have regular periods and get pregnant as easily as those who are heavier and less active.

As for the cramps, those can come and go whether you're active or not. It's hard to know if exercise is what makes them better or worse.

**annie24** · 05-14-2008, 07:21 PM

i've lost 30 lbs and my period has changed. first off, i have worse PMS and it's also intensely painful. i'm incapacitated for about 36 hours before it starts. it's awful. i'm hoping once my weight stabilizes, it will go back to normal. my period has actually gotten longer for some reason!

05-14-2008, 04:20 PM	#1
mo'Nique Offline Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Among the reptilians... Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 898	How greatly can exercising affect menses? I've been going to the gym once a week for the past three weeks doing an areobic 1 hour class and I feel great! But the thing is, is that period has changed somewhat (sorry about the graphic nature of this!) A "normal" period for me would be to feel slight cramping followed by the menstrual flow....with some clots. My periods, on average, are 4 days tops......now that I've been exercising my periods seem lighter and spread out the course of 6 days with no blood clots, and virtually no cramping) My period last month was "normal" Also, lately I've been drinking lots of fluids (tea, juice, water...mainly tea!) Overall, I feel fine...I'm just hoping this is the result of my areobic regimen! Im on no birth control or any meds of any kind......thanks all! __________________ ........Think Green

05-14-2008, 04:22 PM	#2
kuiks8 Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver Gender: Female Posts: 3,271	Drinking more fluids definitely helps with your flow...and exercise can help your mood i don't know how much it effects your flow if you are only doing it 1x/week.

05-14-2008, 06:06 PM	#3
GypsyMuse Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Roving gypsy Gender: Female Posts: 170	Exercise can change your periods quite a lot. Some women even stop menstruating if they exercise regularly and have low body fat. It rarely indicates problems (no harm checking it with a doctor but usually there's nothing to worry about). Menstruating once a month might not even be "normal" in the long-term view of things. It may be a result of modern life and abundant food. It's possible that our ancestors, during times when activity was higher and food was lower didn't menstruate every month, and then, when people settled down and food was more abundant, may have become more fertile. Many mammals are only fertile a few times a year. I know lots of female athletes who have light periods or no periods. If they want to get pregnant, they lower their activity level and eat a bit more and usually don't have problems conceiving. I wouldn't recommend it as a method of birth control, though.. lots of thin, fit women have regular periods and get pregnant as easily as those who are heavier and less active. As for the cramps, those can come and go whether you're active or not. It's hard to know if exercise is what makes them better or worse.

05-14-2008, 07:21 PM	#4
annie24 Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 26,827	i've lost 30 lbs and my period has changed. first off, i have worse PMS and it's also intensely painful. i'm incapacitated for about 36 hours before it starts. it's awful. i'm hoping once my weight stabilizes, it will go back to normal. my period has actually gotten longer for some reason!