4 Ways Strenuous Exercise Affects Monthly Periods

When you start exercising, there are many body changes you expect. You expect to increase your metabolism, lose weight, build muscles and increase your overall body functions. However, most ladies don't expect changes in their menstrual cycle. The changes can be subtle or extreme depending on the level of exercise and how your body reacts.  To help guide you, here are some ways strenuous exercise affects your monthly periods and what you can do about it.

Untimely bleeding

Strenuous exercise can imbalance your hormone levels and lead to breakthrough bleeding or random bleeding. Random bleeding is a result of your uterus getting mixed hormonal messages which lead to abnormal uterine bleeding. For this reason, our everyday panties are ideal!  They not only fit like regular undies but they have the functionality to move with you mid-exercise as well as absorb any untimely leaks that happen outside of your fitness routine!

Irregular or Sporadic Bleeding

Once you start regular exercising, don’t be alarmed if your periods become lighter than usual. The hormonal changes affect your body and can cause a lighter or less consistent flow. Another change that may happen due from strenuous exercise in weight loss. Adipose tissues or body fats produce estrogen, which can cause your uterus lining to build up, leading to periods. With weight loss, the estrogen hormones may decrease in the body, which decreases uterus lining build up and lead to a lighter flow. Definitely consider talking with a doctor, but if cleared for your physical regimen, consider packing an extra pair or our undies which hold up to 1 tampon’s worth of mishaps, meaning you can count on them for leaks that are a surprise or simply spontaneous.

Missed periods

Strenuous exercises put more pressure on your body and can lead to physiological stress. The stress may interrupt your brain, which is the central control of your cycle. The brain won’t send the right message to the pituitary gland to allow ovulation to happen. With no ovulation, there won’t be any changes that can trigger menstruation, meaning you will have missed periods. Definitely consider talking with your doctor about this. 

Lead to PMS or period pain

Regular exercise can help relieve period pain and PMS, however, strenuous exercise can lead to them. This type of exercise can lead to primary dysmenorrhea, a painful period that has identifiable underlying causes. When training, the body blood flow shifts to favor your heart, muscles, and lungs. The blood flow shifts away from some structure like your uterus. The uterus can adapt to the changes under normal circumstances, but if not, it can lead to ischemia and cause pain.

For the most part, having a regular or irregular period depends on someone’s way of life. Although regular exercise can help regulate your period, too much exercise can lead to complications. It is important to know that how you exercise can positively affect your menstrual cycle or negatively affect it.