No periods, very active, thin lining (low estrogen?), and wanting a baby!

Bride3887 · August 2011

Hi ladies!

This is my first post and I have joined in hopes that some of you have been in a similar situation to me.

First of all, my period has always been very irregular. I have always been very active as a gymnast and such and actually had an eating disorder for a couple of years, a few years ago. I have been at a healthier weight for a couple of years now, but my period has not come back. Now, my husband and I really want a baby and of course, you can guess the problem.

I have currently started with a new reproductive/fertility doctor and he wants me to get blood work done. He did an internal exam and mentioned that my lining looks really thin, especially considering I haven't had a period in the last 7 months.

Has anyone had a similar situation? If so, what did you do to get pregnant or what did your fertility doctor prescribe for you?

Oh also, I am still active and work out 4-6 days a week. I don't feel like it is very intense, but is that something I should cut back on? My BMI is 19.

Thanks for your help ladies.

kittylove · August 2011

How long has your BMI been at 19? We had a friend whose BMI was lowish 17 and then uped it to 18 -18.5 and it took a while for her period to come back. It took her body a yr at a healthy BMI to get her period back. My linning was low more borderline and my accupuncturist suggested a healthy diet of green leafy veggies. She said it would help my linning and IMHO it did. Otherwise Drs will have drugs to help you build a linning, but I would also try natural remidies as well. Good luck!

happytracy · August 2011

We are somewhat similar as I was also a very active gymnast with irregular periods (although I stopped gymnastics 15 years ago and put on 30lbs since). My main issue was also my thin lining. We tried a lot of different things and my lining was always so thin. I also have PCOS but my RE said my main issue getting pregnant was my thin lining.

Here are some things I tried which may help: various lining fertility meds- (estrace, femtrace, viagra suppositories, endometruim), accupunture, pom juice, green leafy veggies, hot packs to the area- (the theory is that you want to increase bloodflow to the area), also orgasms can help because they increase blood flow too (blush!). I am trying to remember if there was anything else- but I can't think of anything right now. My RE had told me although it is harder to get pregnant with thin lining- it is not impossible. The cycle I got pregnant with my daughter we almost cancelled because my lining was only a 5.something- which is very low... but we went forward with it anyway. I thank GOD we did because I got my sweet little girl.

Good Luck!!!!

perry7285 · August 2011

i have a similar situation--infertility secondary to an eating disorder (i was a dancer).

i think a BMI of 19 is too low for trying to get pregnant. when we were ready to TTC, i broke out the ice cream and intentionally gained weight until i got to a BMI of 22. of course, it depends a little bit on the size of your bones, but i would say with a BMI of 19 it would definitely do you good to gain just a few pounds.

and exercising 4-6 times a week, i honestly think is too much. i decreased my exercise too when i wanted to TTC. i think i cut back to something like 30 minutes 3 days a week (before that i would do as much as an hour six days a week).

i know that these changes are hard to make, but it will be worth it! we were able to get pregnant (with the help of fertility treatments) in 5 months, which is pretty good for an infertile girl.

MaybeMore · August 2011

Your BMI may be 19, but if you're very muscular, your actual body fat could be way too low to menstruate. When I was a teenager until age 20, that was my situation, "healthy" BMI but not enough body fat to support any kind of reproductive cycle. (At 116 lbs, I had less body fat than supermodels despite that I'm only 5'6". I had a 23.5" waist and a killer 6-pack.) I had no eating disorder. I was just crazy-active (in cross country AND track, weightlifting, etc., etc.).

Have your actual body fat measured at your gym or by someone certified to do so, and if it's low, cut back on the workouts and raise your food intake. If you're having problems trying to conceive, there's good evidence that cutting workouts below 4 hours a week can help.

Some women can have babies at scary-skinny sizes. Some can't with levels of activity and body fat that would be fine for most women. It's the same with being overweight. Some women can't conceive because of weight issues at 180lbs. Others can pop out babies with no problems at 300lbs and more. It's just about how your body deals with fat in a hormonal sense.

I have only carried a baby successfully above 20 and below 21 BMI. But that was losing about 10lbs of muscle and replacing it with 10lbs of fat in addition to the extra weight, too.

I'm still a dancer. I'm just a very fat dancer. :-P I just deal with being the fattest person on the floor at my level or close to it! Babies are more important than being slim enough!

lahachi · September 2013

Hi everyone,

I know I am late to this conversation, but I wanted to see if anyone had any advice for me. I went off birth control 6 months ago and haven't had a period. My OBGYN did the progesterone challenge to induce a period and I only had light spotting. She checked my levels and told me I have very low estrogen (17). I went to a fertility specialist and he said he thinks it could be due to the fact that I have lost weight (15-20lbs in 2 years) and my exercise schedule. I am not underweight by any means (5'3" and 120lbs) but I do work out 5 times a week. He is putting me on 30 days of estrogen and told me to gain 5 lbs. After the 30 days I will go back in for more tests.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is there hope? I really want to start a family soon and I am becoming frustrated not knowing what is going on. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

CarrieB. · September 2013

I do not think that being 5'3" and 120 pounds would cause you to be IF, even if you work out a lot. Honestly, I would find a new RE who wants to do some blood work and test you.

As a side note, @lahachi, you can start your own new thread if you want ti ask the board a question. You don't need to comment on a post from 2011, bc it's confusing for the rest of us to look through old comments.

mcgeeva · September 2013

I had periods every 6 months, did gymnastics for 10 years but never had an eating disorder. I would do your blood test first and get an ultra sounds to see if there are any underlying issues. I have pcos and am insuline resistant. I was prescrived provera to bring on periods then was giving stims to grow my follies and given a trigger shot to release the eggs. My body never grew my follies to the point of releasing eggs so I never ovulated on my own. I would see what the doctor has to say first and then go from there.

mcgeeva · September 2013

CarrieB. said:

I do not think that being 5'3" and 120 pounds would cause you to be IF, even if you work out a lot. Honestly, I would find a new RE who wants to do some blood work and test you. As a side note, @lahachi, you can start your own new thread if you want ti ask the board a question. You don't need to comment on a post from 2011, bc it's confusing for the rest of us to look through old comments.

I agree with this. I was 5'9 and 125 pounds when I started treatments. And that wasn't any issue with my doctors. Of course I have put on weight since then and don't work out at all like I did before kids. But really they need to find the cause and I don't think weight would be it. Not if your not eating - yes that will effect your body drastically. Of your overweight they may put you on metformin - they put me on that for the pcos and I lost another 10 pounds sick as a dog and when I went to my re after seeing two other doctors they took me off it. Not the right drug for me.

IBackBevo · September 2013

Lahachi - I think you need to have them induce a period and do cd 3 blood work. I doubt your weight has anything to do with it.

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