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

Celiac And Irregular Menstrual Cycles

MissDigital

By MissDigital
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

MissDigital Newbie
MissDigital
Posted

I am having a strange problem at the moment and am suspecting that my celiac disease is to blame...

So was diagnosed with celiac a little over a year ago. I try to live a gluten free life but I live in Berlin, Germany and sometimes suspect that I am glutened from time to time when I eat out because of the language barrier as well as people here being very clueless about celiac and just not really caring about it when you tell them. Therefor I try to cook for myself as often as possible.

But recently I have been having irregular menstrual cycles. I am typically a 35 day cycle gal. I am so predictable I can tell almost to the day when I will get my period. I have a new b/f who lives quite far (5 hours) so we only see each other once a month. After the last couple of visits with him (read: after having sex) I get my period. This started last month and I thought it was odd because it was about a week and half early. And it only lasted 3 days (now I am quite athletic and so I thought perhaps the length of my period had to do with the amount of activity I do). Then lo and behold a week and a half later, right on schedule, I get my real period. This freaked me out because we had had unprotected sex. First thing I thought was 'd'oh, I contracted an STD'. So I took myself to the gyno and got checked out, called for the test results and was told everything came back normal.

So at the beginning of this month had a visit from my boyfriend again and again got my period a week early and for approximately the same amount of time. Thought it was my normal period though as I miscounted the days on the calendar and thought nothing of it. Then today, guess who shows up but my little friend, menstruation. :o Freaked out, I called my gyno's office again and this time spoke directly to my doctor who speaks perfect English so that I could reconfirm my test results came back normal. She reconfirmed this and made an appointment for me to come in and talk about hormone treatment.

I am 29 years old. WTF?! I am not supposed to need hormone treatment at this age. I am suspecting celiac to be the cause of this issue because now I've read all these articles that link it to reproductive problems. Plus it has already caused me other problems such as anemia and hypothyroid.

Has anybody else had weird menstruation problems linked with celiac that are similar to this? Any insights would be much appreciated!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted

Well, I personally wouldn't skip straight to hormone therapy. It's probably something physical, I'd get a full chekup & a pap smear.

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

My menstrual cycle got longer after going gluten-free. So, yes, it can do things to your hormones. BUT being with a man who has strong pheromones can stimulate you to ovulate (even when it isnt mid cycle or 14 days before your period). You could even ovulate twice. It is powerful stuff in men's sweat. :P There has been some research on it.......

I found it!!

Open Original Shared Link

I wouldnt be having unprotected sex if I were you unless you dont mind getting pregnant. It happened to me. I ovulated 7 days before my period instead of 14 when I was in the hot and heavy stage with my hubby (early in our relationship). A whole lot of sweat going on. We were being risky, but I thought I was safe because I kept track. We got pregnant. I couldnt carry the baby. It was a very horrifying situation for me.

Dont let this happen to you.

MissDigital Newbie
MissDigital
Posted
  • Author
Well, I personally wouldn't skip straight to hormone therapy. It's probably something physical, I'd get a full chekup & a pap smear.

That's what I am thinking too.. had the pap smear check. Apparently all is normal there. I just don't want to go on some crazy hormone therapy if not necessary!

MissDigital Newbie
MissDigital
Posted
  • Author
My menstrual cycle got longer after going gluten-free. So, yes, it can do things to your hormones. BUT being with a man who has strong pheromones can stimulate you to ovulate (even when it isnt mid cycle or 14 days before your period). You could even ovulate twice. It is powerful stuff in men's sweat. :P There has been some research on it.......

I found it!!

Open Original Shared Link

I wouldnt be having unprotected sex if I were you unless you dont mind getting pregnant. It happened to me. I ovulated 7 days before my period instead of 14 when I was in the hot and heavy stage with my hubby (early in our relationship). A whole lot of sweat going on. We were being risky, but I thought I was safe because I kept track. We got pregnant. I couldnt carry the baby. It was a very horrifying situation for me.

Dont let this happen to you.

Yikes! That is crazy. I thought this guy was making me unbalanced (in more ways than one). Thanks for the link to the article. And you are right about the unprotected sex .. need to think a bit more with my head when I'm around my guy :rolleyes:

MELINE Enthusiast
MELINE
Posted

Hi there

I am 30 years old, and for the last 16 years I had my period every 27 days exactly and I had never felt any pain. The first month of my gluten-free diet, this changed and till june I had my period every 15-20 days and I had to take pills for the pain. I asked my doctor and he said this would go away when my body would be healthy again - when everything is balanced.So june was the month when I stopped eating food like a maniac, I finally put on some weight and my breath and my body stopped smelling (because of malabsorption - please believe me I shower 2 a day-) and was also the month when my period came back normal. But....September I had a serious glutening, and I had inbalance again (period came in 16 days). So yes this is (or at least this can be) because of celiac.

As for the duration of your period, it is normal as we grow older to have less blood for fewer days. My period lasts only 1 and a half day (used to last 5 days, then 3 days and now 1 and a half-hope this won't become 0...). I asked my doctor if this is normal, so we did all the tests we had to do, everthing was ok and he told me there is no need to worry that's just my body and it is working that way.

Of course you should keep visiting your doc and having tests for thyroid and hormones, but keep in mind that celiac is affecting our period, there are more posts if you search and women often have the problem you are describing (And the problem of not thinking clearly when they are around their guy - count me too......) :wub::rolleyes:

River Faerie Apprentice
River Faerie
Posted

Hey Gals,

I too, was wondering about this. My issue is the other way around. I did not start my period until I was almost 16. Once I started, it never came regularly. In fact, I did not have my period but 3 or four times a year. I went to the Dr. when I was about 25, due to crazy pelvic pain. (Looking back, I think this was my first misdiagnosed Celiac moment...) I had an ultrasound, and lo and behold, nothing to report. When I was about 30, I had a miscarriage. At 31 I became pregnant again, and the baby made it, although I had a few pregnancy problems. Since then I have had two more babies in a short amount of time. I breastfed and stayed pregnant for about five years straight. Now, I am 36. My period has returned and for the first time in my life, it is as regualr as can be. Wild! I wonder if it is because of the pregnancies back to back, or the fact that I have finally been diagnosed Celiac, and have cut out the gluten? Has anyone else experienced regualrity of periods in the absence of gluten?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


purple Community Regular
purple
Posted
Hey Gals,

I too, was wondering about this. My issue is the other way around. I did not start my period until I was almost 16. Once I started, it never came regularly. In fact, I did not have my period but 3 or four times a year. I went to the Dr. when I was about 25, due to crazy pelvic pain. (Looking back, I think this was my first misdiagnosed Celiac moment...) I had an ultrasound, and lo and behold, nothing to report. When I was about 30, I had a miscarriage. At 31 I became pregnant again, and the baby made it, although I had a few pregnancy problems. Since then I have had two more babies in a short amount of time. I breastfed and stayed pregnant for about five years straight. Now, I am 36. My period has returned and for the first time in my life, it is as regualr as can be. Wild! I wonder if it is because of the pregnancies back to back, or the fact that I have finally been diagnosed Celiac, and have cut out the gluten? Has anyone else experienced regualrity of periods in the absence of gluten?

My 17 yr old (not tested) has periods about 3 or 4 per year (started at age 14 or 15) and her grandma was the same way. Grandma had 4 kids in 5 1/2 yrs. She never knew when she was pregnant. Three of them were all born in April...1 yr apart. She had several miscarriages. She is not a Celiac but should be tested at least for wheat/gluten. She has allergies and asthma and extreme back pain. My 19 yr old is allergic to gluten.

majicbunnies Contributor
majicbunnies
Posted

I started my period at a young age, but it's hard to tell because I only had a few every year for about three years. Then they were 3-6/year, and now.. I'm 19 now, and my last period was in June. It's september now, and I haven't started yet. Most of my friends are guys, and I only seem to get my period when I hang out around a girl for about a week, or sooner if she's on her period when we hang out, hahaha. I think my periods are affected by a combo of the Celiac and people giving off hormones. hmm..

MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted

Anemia and thyroid problems can both cause menstrual irregularities. If I read your post correctly you said you have, or had, problems with both? Do you know if you doctor checked your iron and thyroid?

CaraLouise Explorer
CaraLouise
Posted

My period stopped about 4-5 years ago and I am only 23 now. I started when I was around 12, never regular though. The doctors all say that it is hypothalamic dysfunction, something that my brain turned off. Gluten free has not made mine any better though and I take hormone replacement therapy.

one more mile Contributor
one more mile
Posted

Mine is odd, started in 6 grade now I am 45. It has never been regular. Generally starts around day 34 or 30 or 37 or when ever it feels like it. I have a grandma with 7 kids that says that she ovulates when a good looking man walks by. I have had some lovers that have started my period. One man I hung with a little to long because if i was cramping an hour with him would always start my period. Women in my family are like that. Our periods are tied to men. When I got divorced and did not have sex for a year I had no period for 9 months. A week after I got a guy, it started. Can you talk to other woman in your family to see what their experiences are. I have also been told that I was premenstrual since I was in my 20's. My mother though is 65 and still has her period. but oddly she did go though those crazy years what we thought were menopause.

I had a doctor tell me that normal is what is normal to me.

Last year when I was eating gluten I was going though two weeks of cramps, and extreme tiredness. after about 2 months gluten free I am still irregular but things are so much better. but I do need iron pills when I get my period to keep me awake. But I am not anemic. Go figure that one out. Please. Then tell me.

Personally I would not be worried. A little male sweat and a little stimulation and your body is just trying to do what it was built for, making babies. I suggest you never try the rhythm method of birth control.

One more mile

  • 1 year later...
Coolclimates Collaborator
Coolclimates
Posted

usually my period is pretty regular, although I've noticed in the last few years that they tend to be closer together or farther apart more often than I used to. Especially periods close together. So annoying! My last period started on July 3 and I'm already having spotting, cramping, sore breasts and PMS again! I've been on the gluten-free diet for 2 1/2 months but also just came back from a pretty action-packed vacation overseas (in Iceland, Finland and Estonia) so my body might also be kind of screwed up with that. Additionally, I just got diagnosed with a UTI, which I almost never get. I've been peeing excessively at night and keep waking up. Fortunately that has gotten better (the frequency).

sickchick Community Regular
sickchick
Posted

I am having the same problems as Meline. Very painful I literally feel like I want to vomit my pain is so bad, and my period (last month I was 2 weeks early) Since going Gluten Free I cannot predict when it will come HAAHA :)

It does keep coming early... B)

Good luck!! :)

lovelove

sickchick

Coolclimates Collaborator
Coolclimates
Posted

I am having the same problems as Meline. Very painful I literally feel like I want to vomit my pain is so bad, and my period (last month I was 2 weeks early) Since going Gluten Free I cannot predict when it will come HAAHA :)

It does keep coming early... B)

Good luck!! :)

lovelove

sickchick

I, too, get very bad cramps. Certain months are worse than others. Sometimes I get dirrehea or an upset stomach if the cramps are really bad. At times I've felt slightly nauseous but nothing serious. I have noticed my cycles gradually changing through the years. I now notice that I bleed more on the first 2 days and a lot less during the following days. Usually I'm done by day 5. Whereas as before, the bleeding was a little more evenly dispursed and lasted slightly longer.

I'm having all kinds of indications that my period will be coming soon. Although it has been only 3 weeks since my last one started. In some ways, I find PMS and being premenstrual worse than actually getting the period. Once I get my period, I know it will all end in a few days.

firefightersgal Apprentice
firefightersgal
Posted

I have been dealing with long, anovulitory cycles for almost two years. I became pregnant almost a year ago, but lost the baby at 9 weeks. I had no problem getting pregnant with my daughter over 4 years ago, so my secondary infertility has been extremely frustrating. I had my hormone levels drawn, and they were all normal. I still am not ovulating on my own without Clomid's assistance...and I have yet to get pregnant again.

I read time and time again in the last few days that, left untreated, Celiac Disease leads to infertility in both females and males, and repeated miscarriage.

I'm hoping and praying that going gluten free solves my infertility. (Along with my other health issues that seem to be Celiac-related).

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 lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine. Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine. Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats. Meat, especially organ...
    2. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc. Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food....
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Son's legs shaking

      @lizzie42, You're being a good mom, seeking answers for your son. Cheers! Subclinical thiamine deficiency commonly occurs with anemia. An outright Thiamine deficiency can be precipitated by the consumption of a high carbohydrate meal. Symptoms of Thiamine deficiency include feeling shakey or wobbly in the legs, muscle weakness or cramps...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Paulaannefthimiou's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      Bob red mill gluten free oats

      Oats naturally contain a protein called avenin, which is similar to the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. While avenin is generally considered safe for most people with celiac disease, some individuals, around 5-10% of celiacs, may also have sensitivity to avenin, leading to symptoms similar to gluten exposure. You may fall into this...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,869
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    MaryannHall
    Newest Member
    MaryannHall
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
    • Scott Adams
      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @lizzie42, You're being a good mom, seeking answers for your son.  Cheers! Subclinical thiamine deficiency commonly occurs with anemia.  An outright Thiamine deficiency can be precipitated by the consumption of a high carbohydrate meal.   Symptoms of Thiamine deficiency include feeling shakey or wobbly in the legs, muscle weakness or cramps, as well as aggression and irritability, confusion, mood swings and behavior changes.  Thiamine is essential to the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine which keep us calm and rational.   @Jsingh, histamine intolerance is also a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine is needed to prevent mast cells from releasing histamine at the slightest provocation as is seen in histamine intolerance.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins and Vitamin C are needed to clear histamine from the body.  Without sufficient thiamine and other B vitamins to clear it, the histamine builds up.  High histamine levels can change behavior, too.  High histamine levels are found in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.  Thiamine deficiency can also cause extreme hunger or conversely anorexia.   High carbohydrate meals can precipitate thiamine deficiency because additional thiamine is required to process carbohydrates for the body to use as fuel.  The more carbohydrates one eats daily, the more one needs additional thiamine above the RDA.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses. Keep in mind that gluten-free processed foods like cookies and such are not required to be fortified and enriched with vitamins and minerals like their gluten containing counterparts are.  Limit processed gluten-free foods.  They are often full of empty calories and unhealthy saturated fats and additives, and are high in histamine or histamine release triggers.  It's time you bought your own vitamins to supplement what is not being absorbed due to malabsorption of Celiac disease.  Benfotiamine is a form of Thiamine that has been shown to improve intestinal health as well as brain function. Do talk to your doctors and dieticians about supplementing with the essential vitamins and minerals while your children are growing up gluten free.  Serve nutritionally dense foods.  Meats and liver are great sources of B vitamins and minerals. Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!
    • Scott Adams
      Bob red mill gluten free oats

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Oats naturally contain a protein called avenin, which is similar to the gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. While avenin is generally considered safe for most people with celiac disease, some individuals, around 5-10% of celiacs, may also have sensitivity to avenin, leading to symptoms similar to gluten exposure. You may fall into this category, and eliminating them is the best way to figure this out. Some people substitute gluten-free quinoa flakes for oats if they want a hot cereal substitute. If you are interested in summaries of scientific publications on the topic of oats and celiac disease, we have an entire category dedicated to it which is here: https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/oats-and-celiac-disease-are-they-gluten-free/   
×
×
  • 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.