What should I do if I lose weight and end up with menstrual disorders or amenorrhea?

In order to lose weight quickly and have a good figure, many women will adopt drastic weight loss methods such as eating only one or two meals or even dieting. However, the wrong weight loss method may cause your "good friend" to get into trouble. In "5914 Call for Doctors", a netizen asked: "What should I do if my menstrual period becomes irregular due to weight loss?" How does the wrong way of losing weight lead to menstrual irregularity? Let the Chinese medicine doctor answer your question.

Chinese medicine practitioner Zhou Zonghan said that in the clinic, he often encounters young women who use improper methods to lose weight and end up having irregular menstruation or amenorrhea. The emotional stress caused by being picky about food and whether or not you are losing weight when losing weight is often the reason why your menstrual period becomes shorter, longer, irregular, or even absent.

Losing weight leads to irregular menstruation, stress and liver qi disorder

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, menstrual disorders during weight loss are often a symptom of liver failure. The liver referred to here does not only refer to the liver function, but the "liver" among the five internal organs in traditional Chinese medicine. The "liver" has the function of regulating the smooth flow of qi throughout the body, including unblocking and venting emotional stress, digestive function, blood, water, menstruation and other functions.

When the liver qi is not flowing smoothly, it is called "liver qi stagnation", which leads to irritability, irregular menstrual cycles, swelling and pain in the breasts and lower abdomen; and when menstruation comes, there will be a sudden "pause" for a day or two before menstruation continues. Ancient Chinese medical books call this phenomenon: "intermittent menstruation".

Weight loss leads to psychological stress and endocrine disorders

In addition, women's menstrual cycle is controlled by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and ovaries. Any problem in the function of any part may lead to menstrual cycle disorders. The psychological stress during weight loss can also interfere with the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, causing endocrine and immune system disorders and leading to menstrual disorders.

Rapid weight loss in a short period of time can cause problems with metabolism and endocrine system

Chinese medicine practitioner Zhou Zonghan pointed out that in addition to psychological pressure, rapid weight loss in a short period of time can also cause great harm to the body. Since female hormones are fat-soluble hormones, they need the help of fat to be secreted normally. Although losing weight quickly can reduce fat quickly, the body cannot adapt quickly when body fat is lost quickly in a short period of time, which often leads to metabolic imbalance and endocrine disorders. In severe cases, amenorrhea may occur.

In addition, some women use menstrual regulating drugs and contraceptives to lose weight in order to see quick weight loss results. Both of these drugs can cause hormonal imbalances in women, making menstrual disorders worse.

If you lose weight and your menstrual period becomes irregular, you should first adjust your body to restore health

Chinese medicine practitioner Zhou Zonghan said that the method of Chinese medicine in regulating endocrine disorders is not to directly supplement hormones if the body lacks certain hormones, but to rebuild the functions of internal organs in the body, achieve a balance of qi, blood, yin and yang, and restore endocrine function to normal. It is recommended that women who have lost enough weight to experience menstrual problems should first regulate their bodies to restore normal physiological functions.

Exercise, a balanced diet, and stress relief are the key to healthy weight loss

Once your body recovers, losing weight through exercise and a balanced diet will cause less harm to your body. Exercise can promote the circulation of Qi and blood. When Qi flows, blood flows. The normal circulation of blood can facilitate the release of liver Qi, expel toxins and metabolites produced by the body, and increase metabolism. If you want to lose weight healthily, exercise, a balanced diet, and timely release of stress are effective ways to prevent weight gain.