weird things with menstruation- need "period" help

[FitDiva]

Hey- any other gals out there having "ammenorhea"- absence of the menstrual cycle? I am on birth control pills and have been for years. Getting ready for a contest in a couple of months and have stopped getting my cycle, even when I'm supposed to , on the week of the placebo/sugar tablets.
I was under the impression that if your body fat drops below 12% your cycle will stop, but that if you're ON the pill, it is still supp. to regulate you? I know it's not pregnancy.
Just didn't want to be getting my period now at random times of the month.
Anyone else having this? How far out from contest?

[Nicole]

The same thing happened to me. Now that I am finally eating again, I got it back. Your body is under a tremendous amount of stress when preparing for a contest. It is really nothing to be concerned about. Your period will return once your bodyfat goes up a little and levels out. I didn't have mine for almost a year and everything seems to be fine. I guess that means my bodyfat has gone up. Darn!

[Sweetness]

LOL!! 12%!!! OMG! Im never losing weight! (Im at 13%). Actually....on second thought....might not be so bad....lol.

[RedheadHardBody]

My periods stopped completly when I was on depo-provera. I got put on the pill to start regulating my periods again. Depo messed my body up big time. I'm on a birth control with very low estrogen now.

[Nicole]

I was on Depo for a year and for my last contest I just didn't get my next shot. I am thinking of going back to Depo because it is the best for helping with my endometriosis. I am just not sure if I want Depo or the pill again. Do you guys think it makes you gain that much weight if you are active and watch what you eat??

[RedheadHardBody]

I put on weight when I was on depo. I also put on weight while being on the pill too.

[FitDiva]

I know the Depo provera shot is the only birth control out there that specifically mentions probable weight gain in their package insert. I believe 6 or 8 pounds a year on the average. Yikes. It's a different hormone than what's in the pill, and it's known for stimulating the appetite, which even if you are working out, why fight a ravenous appetite all the time?
Lots of physicians prescribe birth control pills for endometrosis, I recommend a low-dose oral contraceptive. You can even skip the week of placebo pills every month and take them continuously, which will allow you to skip your period! Ask your Dr. about that, most are pretty cool with it. Just don't do the DEPO !
I never hear anything good about it.

[icequeen]

I take Yasmin, one of the newer pills and it has not made me or anyone I know gain weight. I have also read that it actually helps you reduce BF, but that may be due to its mildly diuretic effect. It also curbs the PMS.
I love it. I take it to have a period at all--my BF is below 10% and before I began taking it my periods were crazy. My doc says that I need to have a period--something to do with osteoporosis later.
My sister had trouble with Depo.

[Iron-T]

This is a serious subject ! I used to take my dieting to extremes and even though I am 'normal' now, or know better...I still do not have my period. It's been a couple of years actually ! My doc prescribed a low dose of the pill, just to get my hormones back up ( apperantly I alomst don't have any estrogen ). There is nothing funny about being in your twenties and going to get a bone density scan ! That woke me up ! But damage is done. I love bodybuilding , but know that I am also more educated and a certified trainer I made it my mission to prevent others from 'destroying' their body.
The safest way to get you period back is to cut down on training ( or avoid overtraining ) and gain some weight. Most likely your BF is too low, which kicks the body into 'preservation mode'.
Think long term health...you only have one body