Question:
Can obesity be the cause of irregular periods

I have irregular periods. I have had them for years, but i noticed the more weight i gain the worse they get. I might have a period every 3-4 months. But in between those times i will spot or bleed a couple of days and that will be it. When my period gets here it is very heavy for about a day and a half and it is clotty. What should I do?    — greevy (posted on August 12, 2004)

August 11, 2004
Yes your weight can cause your periods to be all screwed up b-4 I lost all my weght I was the same way and i wouldcramp a wk b-4 while I was having it and a wk after it was over with They was all heavy periods now that I have Lost 126pds they have got much etter except for my last one but it could have been due to my nerves cause i had it from 7-5 to 7-26 I started again a few days ago but figured it was due to the operation for TT hernia reapir i had cause I knowalot of times when a woman has a operation for some reason a few days later she usally gets her period but if you have not talke to your dr about it then tell him you are concrened Take Care Huggs Beth
   — wildbrat

August 11, 2004
Yes, your weight can have and effect on your periods.
   — RebeccaP

August 12, 2004
My periods problems were always blamed on my weight. It turns out that I have an Endocrine disease- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS can cause irregular periods, acne, skin tags, hair loss, unexplained weight gain,cyst on your ovaries,insulin resistance. You do not have to have all the symptoms to have this disease. I don't. It needs to be treated. I see a great endocrinologist that has helped me put everything back on track. Hopefully you don't have this disease. Here are some links for more info: www.pcossupport.org and www.soulcysters.com Good Luck
   — Allison M.

August 12, 2004
Darci - What you should do first and foremost is to go and see your OB Gyn and share all of your symptoms. If you have PCOS or any other endocrine (hormone) or reproductive disorder you need to have it diagonsed and treated. Not treating these things can lead to many unwanted and more intensive problems such as infertility, cancer and worse. I don't mean to scare you, but after being diagnosed with PCOS myself and doing some research on it, I realize just how delicate and serious something as simple as not having your period can be. When you go see your doctor, make certain you take the time to write down all of your symptoms - including any physical and mental conditions - even if you think they are silly and unrelated. You'd be amazed. When I went to my doctor I had a list of my symptoms including fatique/insomnia (I know, I know - it's very contradictory), irregular periods, weight gain, uncontrollable sugar cravings, hair loss on my head, hair growth on my chin and upper lip, irritability, aggressiveness, increased sex drive, depression, and more. I had a huge list. I wanted to get to the bottom of it and I knew there was a chemical reason for the problems. Another thing to do is to type your symptoms into a search engine and start doing some research. As far as your question re: your weight affecting your menstral cycle - absolutely. In fact, several things can contribute to the health and regularity of your cycle - including stress, eating habits, weight loss and more. I wish you the best on your journey, and I hope this information was helpful. Sincerely, Jenn
   — Jenn T.

August 12, 2004
This is the Correct Link: http://www.pcosupport.org/support/quiz.php It has a quiz to see if you may have PCOS
   — Allison M.

August 13, 2004
Yes, but as someone suggested check with your OB/GYN specialist.
   — Anna M.

August 14, 2004
The more weight I gained, the futher apart my periods got. There was nothing wrong with me except my weight. My OB/GYN said it had to do with hormone balance (just the same way the exteremly thin people, like underweight, might not have periods at all). Now that I've lost 111 lbs, everything is normal. I went from 7 day long periods (every other, to every 3 months periods) to 4 day long light cycles (of course, the pill helps).
   — Renee B.