Reader Nora writes:
I was recently told that if a woman exercises enough, she will stop menstruating. I can understand that but I have a diseased called endometriosis which is an obscure term for “really painful cramps” (not really but that’s a major problem amongst other things). Someone just advised me to start exercising so much that I no long have a period to bypass the monthly cramps. Somehow I don’t feel like this is a really healthy thing to do, maybe I’m wrong. I just wanted to hear your take on it. Too much exercise or seemingly valid advice?
I just got this question and had to answer it right away. It might seem ridiculous to some of you, but if it’s a misconception that’s out there, let’s put it to rest. Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor and not qualified to give medical advice. But I do know one thing: The person who told you that overexercising causes some women to stop menstruating is absolutely right. However, it’s extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs! Overexercising to the point of ceasing menstruation is called exercise amenorrhea. This article from WebMD says:
When a woman’s menstrual cycles stop, it means her estrogen levels have dropped to those of a postmenopausal woman. Estrogen, of course, is vital for the normal development of bone — which reaches its peak in women in their mid 20s. If a woman’s estrogen levels dip too low during this critical time, she may start losing bone mass instead of building it.
So essentially, if you exercise to the point where you stop having a regular period, you could easily lose bone mass and sacrificing other aspects of your heath. If you have intense cramps, that’s certainly not the way to avoid them! I’ve actually found that eating omega-3s in the form of ground flaxseed has eased my cramps immensely (this article explains the research and here’s another testimonial from a fellow tumblr). Whatever you do, do NOT try to stop your period by overexercising! I’d like to think whoever advised you to do that was joking, but somehow, I doubt it.
