Can becoming a vegetarian change your period?

During my menstruating life - 11 - 51 years of age - I went from meat-eater to vegetarian (teens), briefly from vegetarian to pescetarian (20s), back to vegetarian and then from vegetarian to vegan (40ish).

None of these changes had any noticeable effect on my periods.

You will almost certainly find that over the years your periods will change several times - in heaviness, duration and regularity; most women experience this. It was certainly my experience - but the changes never coincided with dietary changes.

EDIT** Piper, your other questions say that you're 12 years old and this is your fourth period. There is no 'normal' for you yet; it is not at all unusual for periods to be erratic and changeable in the first few years, never mind the first few months. Talk to your mother about this for reassurance if you're worried; but you can be sure it's nothing to do with a very recent change in diet.

Ask this in the womens health too for better detailed answers as most will be female there compared to 50/50 here. I have heard (male here) women say vegetarianism has helped their periods, i can't say why but there does seem to be some truth there. It could be from a bad reason like low iron, to a nutrition reason that something in veg helps with periods.

Just about any kind of change can affect your period. Diet, climate, stress levels, even spending a lot of time with another woman: women who live together often get synchronized cycles.

So yeah, it's probably from changing your diet. There is a good chance it will return back to normal pretty soon though.

As you're new to vegetarianism, it's very unlikely that this would be the cause. I personally would not give it any thought, just because you're usually heavy, it does not mean that you can't have a light period every now and then

Yup, it's normal. Any dietary changes are going to mess with your hormones a bit. It may be temporary, or it may not be.

Just make sure you're eating right and getting all the nutrients you need... sometimes new vegans or vegetarians have trouble with that and they end up not getting their periods at all for a bit (not good AT ALL, though it sounds like heaven).

Im not positive but i think its from your change of diet. It will probably go back to normal next month. Or it may stay that way which would be nice wouldnt it. Just wait until next time and youll know. Hope it stays short and light. I know they suck

Yes, mine stopped for five months but I got it again :)) Don't worry. Your body is just getting used to your new diet. I have had it now for four years, so don't worry. You're fine! But btw, I have sushi or a few bites of fish sometimes, I mean, right now I have no wish for it, but the fish gave me iron, so try to get enough iron as well. Hope this helps

Suddenly light periods can be a sign of low iron, which is common for new veggies. Make sure you are still getting enough in your diet or take supplements

Humans evolved as omnivores. To force an omnivore onto a herbivore diet is as bad as making rabbits eat steak. I.E. you will pay for it sooner of later. As for your cycle, who knows? Diet can certainly effect it but so can exercise. Many women in the bodybuilding industry have very light or even no periods.

If you plan to stay with the veg, give it a few months. After all, you are undoing millions of years of evolution.

Cheers

GIMP

How much soy are you eating every day? Soy milk, soy burgers, soy cereal, tofu, soy cooking oil.....

The estrogen like components in soy has been shown to affect women's menstrual cycle and lower sperm count in men. Some women say eating soy helps their menstrual cramps, some say it increases their cramps. Some say it lengthens their period, some say it shortens it. But either way, it does seem to affect many women's cycle.

And Harvard research shows men who eat just half a serving of soy every day have lower sperm counts than men who eat no soy.

So there's some effect from soy, though not everyone is going to have bad effects like this guy:

http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/soys-negative-...