Keto and Extreme Heavy Long Period

(Steph) #1

Hi, I am wanting to start keto again, but I’m scared to.
A little background:
I did keto last year for 8 weeks. I loved it! I lost 16 lbs in 4 Weeks. The down side, I started my period on week 3, and it was extremely heavy. It lasted 3 weeks like that before I finally went to the doctor. They gave me BC and Provera neither worked. 2 weeks later, I had been to the ER three time, because of weakness and dizziness. My hemoglobin was at 9 the first ER visit, and the last visit, it was at 4. The ER doctor consulted the head over the ER and ordered an emergency D&C. I was given 2 units of RBC, and I was in the hospital for 2 days. After readers hung and the timing, I came to the conclusion that keto affected my period that much. I stopped it while I recuperated, but now I am scared to start back. Has anyone had this happen and started keto again without this happening again?

(Michelle) #2

Do you have a regular period currently or do you go months without one?

(MelissaH) #3

@Stef_G I agree that more info on how your periods have been the last year would be helpful.

(Michelle) #4

Also are you overweight/obese? age? Any PCOS symptoms?

(Steph) #5

It’s always been regular. Last year was the only time anything happened

(Steph) #6

Overweight, but no health problems or cycle issues ever until then.

(Michelle) #7

Search this forum for periods/bleeding and you’ll find a lot of useful threads. When you initially burn through a bunch of fat, the estrogen stored in your fat is released. When it is released in conjunction with the estrogen normally released from your monthly ovulation, it can cause a surge greater than your uterus is used to, causing abnormal bleeding. I don’t know about the hemorrhaging you experienced last year. It could have been initiated by an estrogen surge but the intensity could’ve been due to a something completely unrelated to keto. I had some crazy bleeding at the beginning of keto (the first 2-3 months) but have established a nice normal cycle since then, and I’ve been keto five months.