Exercise and Your Menstrual Cycle

The nature of a menstrual cycle differs from woman to woman. Usually, the average duration of the menstruation is about three to seven days with a mean blood loss of 35 ml. Following this phase, a woman enters her follicular phase, at which the lining of the uterus (endometrium) thickens gradually and ovarian follicles ripen to release an egg again. Symptoms during the menstruation also vary from woman to woman.

Menorrhagia is described as an abnormally heavy blood loss during the menstruation. Normally, it is greater than 80 ml during a period.

Exercise can decrease the length and intensity of menstruation. However, it depends on a few factors. The type and regularity of your exercise and underlying conditions of prolonged or heavy menstruation affect the length and intensity of your periods.

If you are physically fit and are doing regular exercise, you will have light and short periods. Sometimes, you will get painful cramps or bloating during your periods. Mild to moderate intensity exercises like walking, swimming, yoga, and jogging help decrease the excess water in the body and improve the blood circulation. This process relieves bloating and cramps. The endogenous morphine (endorphins), which is secreted by some parts of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) during exercise, also help you get rid of headache, body aches, irritability, fatigue, and painful cramps. Regular stretching loosens your muscles in your thighs, back, and lower abdomen hence decreases the aches and pains.

However, if you exercise vigorously and obsessively, your body may shift into a rescue mode. This happens, especially if you have a lower body weight than normal for the height. Usually, vigorous exercise needs a lot of energy. Therefore, your body may shut down some unnecessary processes, including menstrual cycles to save energy for vital functions. As your menstrual cycles are not vital to your body, your periods will be turned off. If you gradually reduce the intensity of the exercise and get adequate amounts of calories and other nutrients, your menstrual cycles will come back.

You shouldn’t worry about an occasional heavy menstruation. However, persistent abnormal periods (irregular, heavy or prolonged) may be due to an underlying cause. This may take place because of a dysfunction of your ovaries, fibroids or polyps in the uterus, or a hormonal imbalance. Sometimes, it may occur as a result of a blood clotting disorder, a thyroid disease, or cancer. Therefore, if you have abnormally heavy, irregular, or prolonged periods persistently, you should consult your doctor to determine the actual reason.



Related Links:

Do You Have Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia)?
Exercises for a Better Pregnancy and Childbirth
Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy and Cautions