Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Lack Of Menstral Cycle Before Being Diagnosed

Smooreberry

By Smooreberry
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Smooreberry Newbie
Smooreberry
Posted

This may be a stretch but......I didn't have a period for 2 years before I was diagnosed with Celiac. Since being gluten-free it's back to normal. Did anyone else have similar issues? I can't help to think that it was all from eating gluten since I'm totally normal being gluten-free! Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

This happened to me. I eventually went through a very early menapause and even tough my OBGYN said my periods might come back after 4 years gluten-free they still haven't. Most of my menapause symptoms, or what they said were from that, hot flashes etc. did go away though they do reappear if I am glutened.

i canary Rookie
i canary
Posted

Me too! I went years without a period before going gluten free. I am going thru early menapause now.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

i had some issues as well.

your body was malnourished; it would explain it quite well. further proof that celiac can affect anything and everything, not just our GI tract.

happy to hear it is back :D

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted
Me too! I went years without a period before going gluten free. I am going thru early menapause now.

do you mind if i ask how old you are? this is also happening with me.

i canary Rookie
i canary
Posted
do you mind if i ask how old you are? this is also happening with me.

I am 47.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

thanks! i thought someone else was in my boat.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


maribeth Apprentice
maribeth
Posted

Gosh you know now that you mentioned it..... I had period problems and figured I was going thru menopause. Then all of a sudden for my 50th b'day I got a nice present...no more periods. They just stopped all of a sudden and I only had maybe one really bad one a year up until this year when I didn't get one. Geez I hope I"m not going to start again!!! I'll be 56 in February. I do find tho since going gluten free about a month ago that I get bloaty and crampy and very sensitive to things... I just presumed it was the process of going gluten free. PLEASE tell me that's what it is. Oh to have a period after 6 yrs yeesh. I did have a blood test 6 yrs ago that said I was over 2/3 of the way thru menopause but I never had many hot flashes or things that most woman had. In fact I'm always cold and would probably welcome a hot flash once in awhile esp in the winter LOL Beth.

dionnek Enthusiast
dionnek
Posted

I stopped having a period back in 2003 when I went of the pill (trying to get pregnant) and after 14 months and several rounds of meds to induce a period, I finally had one and got pregnant. Then, after having my baby in Sept. 2004, I have not had another period since. Yet, even though I never had a period, I am now pregnant! :blink:

I am not sure if it is b/c of the celiac or not, but I've always had night sweats and hot flashes, etc. and thought I was going through menopause, but several dr's did blood tests and said no. I also have Hashimotos, so not sure if that can be the cause of no period. They used to tell me it was b/c I was "too skinny", so that might be the celiac <_<

mn farm gal Apprentice
mn farm gal
Posted

Well mine was the total oppisite. I spotted for about the last 7 months straight and the prior year to that I had 2 periods a month. But since going gluten free that changed back to normal within a month. How strange this can be.

morningstargirl Rookie
morningstargirl
Posted

I too had troubles with my period. 5 years ago, it became erratic... sometimes 2x a month, then not for six weeks. And it was heavier than usual for many years. I had hot flashes, night sweats, and PMS like I was a teenager again. For a few years, my periods averaged 18 days between cycles. I didn't have health insurance until last November and when I finally saw a doctor this past January, I was shocked to learn I wasn't in early menopause (I'm 41). Tests revealed I had a hormone imbalance, but there was no explanation why I had this. I'm holistic and read a lot, so I dug in and after reading Neanderthin by Ray Audette decided to remove most grains from my diet. Immediately, my periods lengthened to 21 days. By Summer, they were at 24. And, this will be my 5th month at 28 days. 3 weeks ago, I went totally gluten-free and I've noticed a decrease in night sweats. In my un-professional opinion, I was malnurished and that caused the hormone imbalance, as well as a slew of other health issues.

happy4dolphins Enthusiast
happy4dolphins
Posted

My cycles started to be only 2 days and they were like paper cut blood amounts after my second child was born. I thought it was great. Once I found out I was vit. d defieicnet, I began taking 50,000 units of vit d once a week and they have lengthened a little bit and more is coming out now.

Nicole

num1habsfan Rising Star
num1habsfan
Posted

Wanna know whats weird? mine has worked exactly opposite of your situation. before going gluten free, it couldnt be any more normal (it would come every 28 days, always last for 5)...and AFTER going gluten free it couldnt be more ABNORMAL.!!!

~ lisa ~

eLaurie Rookie
eLaurie
Posted

Am so hating reading this thread! I just turned 40, started perimenopause symptoms at 28, had my last period at 33. I've been gluten free since June and just these past two weeks I'm having breast tenderness and reversal of vaginal dryness. I'm so scared that PMS, periods, plus a second menopause are in the future. I've been elated having a happier belly and diminishing depression since going gluten-free ...but I'm not so happy about these latest changes. I am/was? :unsure: one of those lucky women who had no postmenopausal difficulties following the last period and am?/was? happy to have all that behind me.

The little I can find to read about reversal of premature ovarian failure makes me afraid that this is what is happening.

Rebecca47 Contributor
Rebecca47
Posted

Ater being dx with CS my doctor also checked if I was in menolpause, checked my thyroid, and all kinds of things. Well she said that i was not in menopause but my periods have only been 2 to 3 days now for about twoo years or so. I went off of birth control last month and my period was only like a day and a half, what gives. I was waking up totally soaked every morning now that has even slowed way down. I was feeling light headed too for a couple of days. I guess I will just wait and see whats next. My thyroid went from 25 now down to 11 and doctor says that good.

IrishKelly Contributor
IrishKelly
Posted
This may be a stretch but......I didn't have a period for 2 years before I was diagnosed with Celiac. Since being gluten-free it's back to normal. Did anyone else have similar issues? I can't help to think that it was all from eating gluten since I'm totally normal being gluten-free! Thanks!

YEP...i was so scared that i wasn't going to be able to conceive with my daughter because of the irregular cycles...but low and behold being gluten free put me on the right track. So much for those pointless GYN visits for them to say..."some people are just irregular and that includes you"

grannynanny Rookie
grannynanny
Posted

OH MY GOD!!!!!! It's finally made some sense to me, after all these years! I, too, started having irregular periods and hormonal changes in my mid-thirties, and had my last period when I was about 38. No one could give me any explanation. I had 2 children by a previous marriage, but my new husband and I wanted to have one of our own -- very frustrating. I started to go through infertility workups at about 35, but ran into some other health issues and stopped (not related to perimenopause). Then my periods ended, so that option was no longer there. I'm now 63 and am flabbergasted to learn that this could have been related to celiac. I've never known or heard of anyone else who went through menopause in their thirties!

Smooreberry Newbie
Smooreberry
Posted
  • Author
YEP...i was so scared that i wasn't going to be able to conceive with my daughter because of the irregular cycles...but low and behold being gluten free put me on the right track. So much for those pointless GYN visits for them to say..."some people are just irregular and that includes you"

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I was told "some girls are just abnormally normal!"

I totally know how you feel. Glad to hear things have changed being gluten free :)

eLaurie Rookie
eLaurie
Posted
OH MY GOD!!!!!! It's finally made some sense to me, after all these years! I, too, started having irregular periods and hormonal changes in my mid-thirties, and had my last period when I was about 38. No one could give me any explanation. I had 2 children by a previous marriage, but my new husband and I wanted to have one of our own -- very frustrating. I started to go through infertility workups at about 35, but ran into some other health issues and stopped (not related to perimenopause). Then my periods ended, so that option was no longer there. I'm now 63 and am flabbergasted to learn that this could have been related to celiac. I've never known or heard of anyone else who went through menopause in their thirties!

There are several women in my mom's family who had premature ovarian failure (POF) in their late 20s early 30s. We had the normal "it just runs in the family", "it's just our genes" response ...same as our thinking regarding intestinal cancers in other family members. Now we know what really runs in the family is Celiac Disease.

Here's an abstract regarding POF and Celiac. Apparently the authors only followed this pt for 18 months, so I don't know if her POF reversed.

Open Original Shared Link

Another abstract of a study that identifies POF as autoimmune - doesn't address gluten, but with what we know of Celiac's systemic autoimmune manifestations, I'll bet if the researchers had looked, they'd have found a connection.

Open Original Shared Link

This abstract looks directly at the link:

Open Original Shared Link

grannynanny Rookie
grannynanny
Posted

That's so interesting . . . and such an epiphany for me. Thanks.

schuyler Apprentice
schuyler
Posted
Wanna know whats weird? mine has worked exactly opposite of your situation. before going gluten free, it couldnt be any more normal (it would come every 28 days, always last for 5)...and AFTER going gluten free it couldnt be more ABNORMAL.!!!

~ lisa ~

Me too! It's actually starting to worry me :unsure:

draeko Apprentice
draeko
Posted

I have just been diagnosed about 3 weeks ago, and have had about 2 periods a year ever since I began them at 16. I am now 32. I have had 3 successful pregnancies and lost a baby girl at 21 weeks inutero due to Turner Syndrome. ( also linked to Celiac) I am the same wondering if this could have all been reversed.

I never knew when I had conceived because I was never able to determine the dates.

I'm glad I know now..Hopefully I will feel better soon and I hope all of you out there do to!

  • 3 years later...
SmallWorldBigBelly Newbie
SmallWorldBigBelly
Posted

WOW! This thread is unbelievable!!

I have had a recent diagnosis of "IBS" but positive blood test for celiacs. I've always had abnormal periods since age 11. Sometimes only a few times a year. I was told by an endrocrinologist that I would never conceive. I did and had a healthy baby boy!

I still have my period only a few times a year but am hoping with a gluten-free diet maybe my cycles will actually be a bit more regular.

Such hope! Thanks for all the posts..soooo great to be able to get some answers after all this time!

Jennifer2 Explorer
Jennifer2
Posted

I've been irregular all of my life. When I was about 18 (39 now), I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (autoimmune disorder). Irregular periods are a classic sign-along with weight gain and excessive hair growth. After being diagnosed with celiac, I did some research and it seems like a very high percentage of people with PCOS also have celiac.

byoung20415 Newbie
byoung20415
Posted

I believe Celiac disease will have any number of effects on ones period. I used to hemorrhage for 7 to 9 days with mine. I had a complete hysterectomy at 38. I wasn't diagnosed with celiac disease until I was 47. I believe I could have saved my woman-junk had I known sooner, but I was always mis-diagnosed. I'm soooo happy not to have to worry about it anymore, and I'm grateful and thankful every day for my two beautiful, healthy girls. However, I believe whatever type of problems you have with your "monthly cycle", or not so monthly... whatever the case... it's caused from the gluten. It's my suggestion that you remove gluten from everything in your home, not just your food. You'll find it's in so many lotions, soaps, shampoos, make-up, razors, shoes, seizing, carpet... Depending on how serious your reactions are. My oldest daughter had terrible periods, and acne to beat the band. Going gluten-free saved her all that. It took about three months, but she's doing pretty good now. Any "glutenization" causes her to break out and have a heavy period, but she manages to keep her "contaminations" to a minimum!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      @rei.b, I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be. I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse. My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet. It makes a big difference. Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies. So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms...
    2. captaincrab55
      - captaincrab55 replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Finding gluten free ingredients

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal. My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet. I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free...
    3. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long? DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule. This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are produced in response to. TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to...
    5. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,132
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Exhausted-momma
    Newest Member
    Exhausted-momma
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.