How eating Keto affects a woman's hormones and her monthly visitor

(SleepyMotherOf3 🇬🇧) #174

Once a week I eat whatever chocolate, sweets, cake and ice cream I want. In theory this should just refill my glycogen stores. It stops my body messing up my hormones and helps me stick to keto the rest of the week. I am usually back in ketosis the following day. Personally I think it’s a good thing to do if a pre-menopausal woman.

(Katie Kelleher) #175

Glad I read through this topic for this recommendation for podcast. Thanks @VirginiaEdie !

(Katie Kelleher) #176

Ok, I’ve been trying to read all of these, so I apologize if I’m asking something again. I’ve been on hormonal birth control since I was 13. My symptoms were horrific and it was the only thing that helped. I haven’t been off since. My first period was fine on keto. Same time frame, but heavier than it had been. Do we know if there are long term effects or if birth control becomes less effective?

#177

I’m on keto just over 3 months, and I’m now 2 weeks late from when aunt rosie should’ve visited. no pregnancy, and I’m not menopausal. Going through the forums to try to work it out, but maybe it’s just some RESET button, I dunno…

(MW) #178

I’ve been on birth control pills since 2008 to keep my endometriosis under control. The pills I’ve been on have resulted in only 2-3 periods during the year, each being short and light. I ran out of those pills a couple of weeks ago and other than hot flashes (withdrawals I assume), I haven’t really felt my endo symptoms returning yet. Been keto since February 25th and I’m wondering if being off of the junk/processed foods is helping with this aspect. Will also wait and see when my monthlies return and if they’ll be normal (as I vaguely remember from 10 years ago) or completely out of control.

(Ana Barbara Alzua) #179

Hello! This is my first Keto PMS/Keto Period, I’ve always had ultra strong pms symptoms, this period I never even noticed until my bedisider app reminded me to remove my nuvaring. But I haven’t been able to control myself around carbs (cookies), have been REALLY tired, have had massive headaches and I’ve got the most horrible dark circles under my eyes.

Has anyone else had sort of the same symptoms?

Thanks!

(Karrie) #180

I came across your post and was wondering if you had gotten any answers. I am 44 years old and started keto 5 weeks ago. About 3 weeks ago I started bleeding mid cycle and haven’t stopped since. Went to the doctor a few days ago and got blood work done and will be getting a pelvic ultrasound to see if there are any uterine issues. I am on BCP, but the doctor put me on a double dose last week to try to stave the bleeding. I don’t know if keto is the cause of my nonstop period, but it just seems more than coincidental.

(Amanda Haugh) #181

Hey all. I’m 26 I’ve been doing keto since 4/30/18. Dropped an awesome 20 lbs.

I’ve been on Nexplanon bc for 7 years. I don’t have kids, but I am sexually active with my husband so enjoy the bc although I have noticed some hormonal imbalances.

Pre-keto I probably got my period once or twice a year. Well 1 week after starting keto, I got it. It lasted 8 heavy days with the worst cramps I’ve ever had. I actually had to buy a cup because my normal pad and tampon deal wasn’t enough. Had a week with no period. Got it again for another 7 days and was heavy. Went less than a week and had spotting that turned into more moderate flow. I’ve never had 3 periods in 1 months time though. I started to worry before I read all this. I guess this is my body balancing out.

I already planned on removing my implant when the 3 years is up, but is it safe to keep in while the hormones balance? Will it slow my detox and cause me to continue bleeding this much? Looking for someone else who has dealt with nexplanon and keto.

(Amanda Rose Johnson) #182

Im 36, been doing Keto since April 1. Down 22 lbs so far. Also on nexplanon. I’ve noticed since doing keto my periods have been super wacky - period one week, none the next week, back the week after. This month is the first month I’ve ever had a 2-week period (barf). I’m on day 13 and it SUCKS. I’m going to try some carb cycling (once a week) to see if it’ll help with the hormonal swings.

(Tammy Tenison) #183

Did you ever figure anything out?

(Nicole Sawchuk) #184

Its been over a year on keto/fasting and it drives me nuts that my periods are getting shorter and shorter in length. I am averaging every 26 days! I have no more real PMS or symptoms but this is not the side effect I want! Especially when I am not past my child bearing years. Any one else experience this? Did it get better?

(J) #185

How far apart were your periods prior to Keto? 26 days is still within the range of normal. As someone whose cycles were 25 days (officially in surgical menopause as of last week), I understand the drag of frequent periods, but 21-35 days is generally considered a normal cycle.

(Nicole Sawchuk) #186

Prior was every 35 days. I know this is within normal range but that’s 10 days shorter than what I had been used to prior to this. Like you said - its annoying that’s all. I just hate dealing with it!

#188

Please try Yarrow herb infusions unless allergic. It has helped me and many ladies I know. If things are heavy yarrow slows or stops it, if light then it strengthens the flow. Its a little natural thing that seems to just know… I have been skipping my monthly visitor for a few months now since I started keto and your post has reminded me about it. Millefollium officionalis is its botanical name. One cup twice a day is what helped my friends with endometreosis, menopause, etc. Good luck and keto on!

(Kelly) #189

Hi! Im in my 10th week on Keto…and love it! Im 49 and peri-Menopausal for a couple years. I went 11 month with no period (so close!) and then got a light one. then 4 months no period.
Two weeks ago i started experiencing tender/painful “PMS” breasts like ive not had since my 20s! Oh man, it was not fun! And it lasted like a little over a week, not like the couple of days it used to be way back when. Plus, way more intense than i remember.

Im on BCP and am “mid cycle” right now. Yesterday i started a full blown period moderate-heavy flow, but no cramps.

I also have recurrent uterine fibroids, which have been non-symtomatic, but in the past had to have a myomectomy due to excessive bleeding…so, it makes me need to pay attention.
So…i dont know what to think! Is it just regular ol weird menopause stuff? Is it Keto? Im guessing, yes, the Keto has something to do with this. My understanding is that the body fat stores hormone, and when we burn that body fat during ketosis, those hormones release into the blood stream.
Hopefully its just a stage though and i dont have to relive my 20/30s in that way! :blush:

I wish i could find more exact and conclusive info on keto during menopause!

#190

Hi, have you had any answers to your questions? Has it got better & shorter periods and longer time between?

(Britt Bot) #191

I have had to adjust my BC and I’m doing carb ups once a week and it send to have helped. I couldn’t function on 20g or less daily of carbs. My hormones were in freak out mode and it was like I was bipolar. I’d wake up super angry and/or start crying for no reason. Once I upped my carbs once a week and to at least 25g a day I seem to be ok now.

#192

Thank you. I’ll give that a try & see because like you I’m Cray up & down and all over the place. :upside_down_face:

(Britt Bot) #193

It’s prob hormones. I’m so glad I sucked it up and upped my carbs before I snapped. Lol

(DeleteMe) #194

Thank you to all those that have posted here, I have found it quite informative.
I’m 36 years old and about 10 weeks into Keto. I had been on some form of birth control off and on since I was 16. I stopped taking it a couple years ago after hubby got a snipped. I found out last year that I am now getting ovarian cysts. The ob said I didn’t need to worry about them and go back on BCP unless they were causing me significant pain. So, when I started Keto, I blamed the possible cysts for the wonky periods instead of the keto.

This week though, I wasn’t so sure. I think I’m on day 3 - 4 of my cycle, it kind of got a slow start, but I have been so hungry, more than normal, and suffering from a 2pm crash in the afternoons. I had thought maybe there was some part of the keto diet I was missing because it was like having the keto flu again. I read the post about the n=1 experiment in the perfect keto base. Might have me convinced to give them a try again. I did notice my energy was much better today after hubby made me a very fat heavy BPC. It was more fat then what I would have put in it. I normally do 2 tbl hwc, 1 tbl coconut oil and a scoop of protein powder. He added 2 tbl of butter to it. lol :joy: I wonder if any of you have experienced where you just needed more fat at the beginning of your cycle.