Menstrual Cycles and Carbs/Fat

[TrayS]

Ok, I suspect I rambled on for way too long in my original post so I'm editing my question, because I really would like some input from someone who knows more than I do about how the macronutrients affect our systems.

 

I just finished a Whole30 on Monday, and it has disrupted my ovulation, which has never been regular except since my miscarriage in December (and I was not eating W30-style during this time.) I've read in other threads and know from being on this forum for 3 years that it's not uncommon for cycles to be disrupted. But, I'm specifically asking about what my body might be perceiving that it is missing or getting too much of, so that I get my cycle back on track.

 

I've read on this forum that my body needs fat and carbs to ovulate. So I've been giving it plenty of both. But, I suspect this is keeping my weight up (I could stand to lose about 10-20 lbs.) I've also read on other paleo sites (most recently a thread on MDA) that low carb is good for fertility (perhaps related to weight, but I am not significantly overweight). So I am not sure what to do at this point to keep from having energy issues AND address my hormonal imbalance.  I've been eating 1-2 sweet potatoes and usually 2 servings of fruit per day. Would it be wise to lower my carbs, or do I need to keep them up?

 

 Any wisdom to help clear up my confusion on this particular topic would really be appreciated.

[andyrea84]

I'll start by saying I'm sorry I don't have an answer, but I just wanted to chime in and let you know I'm experiencing something similar right now.  I'm day 11 (with a few "starter" days beforehand) and I'm having issues with ovulation.  My situation is complicated by the fact that I'm currently undergoing fertility treatments.  I'm on no meds this month and would have expected to ovulate on Whole30 day 5 or 6 (cycle day 19 or 20) and so far I've got nothing.  I'm considering putting a call in to my reproductive endocrinologist to see if he has any words of wisdom on diet.  The last time we talked, I had asked him about losing some weight.  I purposefully put weight on prior to fertility treatments because I was a bit too low.  He cautioned against losing more than 10 pounds, but mentioned nothing specific about food.  I hate to think that I'm simultaneously doing something healthy for my body while hindering our chances to get pregnant :/

[ShannonM816]

  I hate to think that I'm simultaneously doing something healthy for my body while hindering our chances to get pregnant :/

 

I'm definitely not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that the best way to help your chances to get pregnant is to have a healthy body.   If you're concerned that you might lose too much weight, you might check out this article with tips on keeping weight on while on a Whole30.

 

 

 

 Any wisdom to help clear up my confusion on this particular topic would really be appreciated.

 

I've got nothing on this one, but I do know that if you want specific feedback, it would be helpful if you listed a few days' worth of what you're eating -- or if you're keeping a food log somewhere on the forum, maybe link to it.

 

 

 

Both of you may be interested in this topic from one of the moderators who has had some success getting her cycle back on track, and I know there are success stories from people who have gotten pregnant after eating W30 style for a while in the Success Stories part of the forum.

[missmary]

I'm not an expert on this topic either, sadly, but I do know that the human reproductive system works on a longer timeline than we might think--what is happening in a given month could be related to stuff that happened the month before and another month might be needed to straighten it out.

 

The whole30 is somewhat stressful for the body just by nature of being a big change from what you were doing before. I know for me I had a delayed period when I started eating this way, but it has settled in to almost clockwork by now. 11 days isn't enough to know if you are experiencing the long-term conditions or just in transition.

 

I would say making sure you have enough fat, and enough food in general, is key, especially if you are a normal weight or underweight at all. Full template meals, three or four times per day is a good starting point. I haven't seen enough research that supports reduced carbs for normal weight women trying to get pregnant to endorse that idea. Whole30 eating is low enough carb IMO, no need to reduce them further by restricting sweet potatoes, etc. given the context you describe.

[ladyshanny]

I've found that the righting of my cycle happens in teensy little increments that are really only noticeable by comparing the current cycle to the one two or three or more months ago.  As in "Oh, yay, no mid month bleeding this time!" or "Hunh, I didn't really have cramps this month!" or "Holy crap, I ovulated for the first time in 5 years!".  

 

If I were you I would focus on your own personal nutrient formula as it relates to how you're feeling.  Are you going 4-5 hours between meals? Are you generally calm, happy etc? Are you getting good restful sleep?  Do you have consistent energy? None of these things directly relate to your cycle but if you are eating your context of food and just enough starchy veggies for energy and mood and you're sleeping well then you know your body is getting into balance.  Whether you can necessarily tangibly notice that in your cycle right away or not, rest assured that you are doing the best for your body that you can.  Manipulating carbs or fat blindly in an effort to force regulation is going to do you a disservice....as well as increase anxiety and stress surrounding your cycle...which is again going against what you're trying to do.

[Noelle]

I have a few thoughts: First, I'm sorry for your loss. Miscarriage is tough, physically and emotionally. I hope your recovery is/was as easy as possible.

Second, you say you "could stand to lose about 10-20 lbs": maybe not, according to your reproductive system. In other words, if you've been focusing too much on weight-loss—even if you're not actively restricting your food intake and/or exercising with weight-loss in mind—your body may be interpreting the mental stress of fretting over your body size and shape as "times are too stressful for baby-making."

I'm specifically asking about what my body might be perceiving that it is missing or getting too much of, so that I get my cycle back on track.

It might not be food at all. If you're eating balanced, satiating meals with enough carbs and fats (and it sounds like you are), some source of stress in your life might be messing with your cycle.