Weddingbee boards

My husband and I are ready to start TTC this month, but my periods have been very irregular for the past 4 months and I don't even think I'm ovuating.

A bit of background: I went off the pill a year ago and had a copper IUD put in. I've been charting my cycles since then and for the first 8 months, I was like clockwork and knew exactly when I was ovulating. In July, I started exercising a bit more than usual, with the goal of getting into good shape before getting pregnant. I had my IUD removed 3 weeks ago.

I was in pretty good shape before and would exercise 3-4 days a week. I upped my exercise a bit, but was far from excessive. Since then, my periods have been very irregular and no signs of ovulation.

My routine was a boxing class 2 nights a week, weights 2 days a week, and 45 minutes of cardio 2 days a week.

Could this schedule have affected my cycles? Anyone have any experience with this? Starting this month, I've cut down my exercise, but I don't want to stop completely!

Yes!  The exercise could very well be affecting your cyles.  It can cause hypothalamic amenorrhea.  I've been reading up on this extensively because I suspect the same thing is happening to me.  I'm on day 78 going off the pill and my cycles haven't resumed.  My hormonal levels also seem low.  Like you, I typically work out 5-6 days a week, for about 30min - 1 hour (often Jillian Michaels workouts because I love them), and I also do a great deal of walking daily.  It's often not just a matter of how much you work out, but also is a result of not eating enough to supply your body with all of its energy requirements.  Nonessential functions (like menstral cycles) might be shut down by your body in order to conserve energy.  Some people are more susceptible to becoming amenorrheic than others, even without exercising to excess.

I'll be going to the doctor in the next couple weeks, and I suspect I'll need to cut back on exercise (and increase how much I'm eating) to see if that helps get my cycle going again.  For me, it going off the pill might have something to do with it.  I think that is less plausible in your case because your IUD was non-hormonal.  In that case (from what I understand) cycles should be pretty normal right away. 

From what I've read, most people need to cut out exercise almost entirely to get their cycles back (other than walking).  It sucks!  I don't want to stop, either.  We get so programmed to think that working out is good for us.  But being thin and fit isn't always the same thing as being healthy.

@foodnerd81:  I was on the pill for 15 years and decided to go off all hormones for a year before TTC. My cycle regulated itself within a couple of months, even with having the copper IUD in. I'm really attributing my irregular cycles to exercise rather than having an IUD or having it removed.

@bluegreenjean:  I find this so annoying. I am fit, but I don't exercise excessively and I definately eat enough. I am not underweight and try to be very healthy. I'm 5'3" and weigh 127 lbs. I've cut down starting this month and we'll see what happens. I've actually read somewhere that it's running that can have a really big effect on your cycles? I did take up running around the time my cycles became irregular. So from 2 weeks ago, absolutely no running. Hopefully that wil get things back on track.

@Monny:  I'm not underweight either.  I'm 5'4", 120 pounds, BMI 20.6.  (Well within the normal range).  I haven't lost weight since I've started working out but my body fat has dropped.  I eat well -- healthy and a good amount., I don't make any effort to limit carbs, fats, etc.  But I think I need even more. 

Running can definitely be a problem.  It might be a good one to cut out.  There's a great forum on this topic -- I'll post the link below.  It might give you a good idea of what has worked for some people -- cutting exercise and gaining seems to work nearly all of the time. 

http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/lifes-journey/343535-hypothalamic-amenorrhea.html