The FastDay Forum

Sorry but not sure who else to ask and google not helping!

I've been on 5:2 for 6 weeks and doing ok but I have one problem.
I have the marina coil and as a result don't have periods.....until fast days! And even then it's not really like a period.
I have given it a chance to settle thinking it will pass but it's every time I fast.

Anyone had the same that can offer some advise?

Thanks

Anastasia

No need to be embarrassed, Anastasia, but I'm not sure what the answer is. I think you should give your doc a call just to clear that everything is okay with the coil, etc.

I'm not entirely sure if this is true, but I've been doing a quick google search to see what comes up, and the only info I can find is from islamic sites discussing the effects of fasting on menstruation. It is claimed that oestrogens are stored in the liver and that fasting flushes them out stimulating menstruation. As I said I'm not sure how true that is, maybe one of the knowledgeable ones will be able to shed more light on it.

I have one too but not had the same results.

[carorees]

Oestrogen is stored in fat, releasing fat from fat stores can increase the amount of oestrogen circulating. This could result in spotting.

I was wondering if that's the case.

I have the implant and am having the same issues :/ have been told its normal. Although very annoying....thought cramps were a thing of the past!

Oestrogen is stored in fat, releasing fat from fat stores can increase the amount of oestrogen circulating. This could result in spotting.

Estrogen is being produced all the time. I can't quite understand how a twice/week slight (?) estrogen increase would lead to immediate (= same day) spotting twice a week. Any thoughts?

Out of interest - I'm not familiar with estrogen being stored in fatty tissues. Production, yes, aromatization, yes, (which in both cases shouldn't necessarily lead to an increase in circulating estrogen). But storage I couldn't find in a quick search. Have you got any links you could post?

I don't know the coil the Anastasia is referring to, but sounds like a levonorgestrel IUD? May I ask how long you have had it?

[carorees]

I meant to add that, as the amount of fat decreases with weight loss so the amount of stored oestrogen decreases and overall this leads to lower oestrogen levels. This is how weight loss can protect against cancers that are driven by female hormones, such as many breast cancers.

I think the spotting might be due to changes in oestrogen rather than absolute values.

Review of the storage of oestrogens as esters in adipose tissue: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21277977

Omg this happened to me too, I'm on the implant and had no spotting or anything at all, until I started fasting!
Interested to know the biological mechanism behind it - thanks carorees - although I didn't much enjoy the pain and general ick feeling...

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Coffee cat, I've had it for two and a half years with no periods, the spotting will start by either afternoon or the night of the fast and be gone by the next day.
It's different to a standard period as its more very heavy watery and pink as opposed to red blood.
I'm not massively concerned but curious to know if its definitely down to fasting is it a bad thing?

[janeg]

Glad to see there are some replies to this- I've been thinking about it most of the night with my sexual health head on.
Interested to pull some stuff together regarding hormones; the reports of lessening PMT symptoms, reduction in facial hair and now breakthrough bleeding/spotting.
I would suggest a chat with GP/Gynae/Family planning clinic just to rule out anything untoward and also to check that the coil is still where it should be and working - but it is a 'Just in case' visit/chat

[carorees]

Generally weight loss increases the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. I can't find anything about fasting and contraception (unsurprisingly).

I agree with Caroline that I wouldn't worry about the effectiveness of contraception as long as the IUD is still in place, but from your symptoms there is no reason to expect otherwise. Weight loss can mess with your hormones, although I still don't think that estrogen increases with fasting. (Estrogens if anything should decrease with weight loss.) But imbalances between estrogen and progesterone (contained in the IUD) can result in spotting. I just find the immediate response surprising. But these are Rather complicated systems with feed-back loops involving other hormones which also respond to weight loss. Spotting can also result from a lack of estrogens, so it's a possibility. Hard to tell online, can't really give you an explanation for this symptom.

Janeg, a lot of overweight women have metabolic syndrome with varying combinations of polycystic ovaries (with high androgens), trunk obesity, and insulin resistance. The excess androgens may cause the facial hair - weight loss (not fasting per se) would reduce that, since it is an effective treatment for metabolic syndrome.

Interesting subject and thanks for bringing it to attention. I am two weeks overdue with my mentruation but have all the premenstrual symptoms ie a headache, tummy & back pain. Had a Fast day yesterday and doing the 4:3 and felt very ill. My right hand fingers went totally numb & white and I had to put my hands into some hot water to get the circulation going. Also my legs are aching and feeling really irritated and at the moment thinking quite negative about this Fast and I was doing so well.Any advice welcome