Exercising and Period

[llamachan.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Quick question. I started training for a marathon last month by having a jog each morning. My period was rather normal in May-I'm fortunate enough not to get really strong cramps or heavy flow. However, the past week I had all the symptoms for my period and was gearing up for it. When I went on my run this morning, I had to stop midway through because I was having excrutiating cramps-my dad thought I had fallen because I was taking so long to get back. I ended up crying in my bathroom for twenty minutes because I could barely move-not even enough to go get some Midol. Then it turns out that my period started on the run.

My question is if the exercise is contributing to my cramps. I'm not on birth control, and this is the only thing I've been doing differently over the past month. When I normally exercise heavily on a regular basis, I barely have any pain at all before or during. However, this is my first time running on a regular basis. Any thoughts?

Comments

[hikerpoet.livejournal.com]

Other people will probably know more details, but exercise usually actually helps cramps. However, a change in lifestyle can make you period act up, esp. if you changed other things too. I know you've been active all along but it is a different routine. Could you have eaten too soon before running? Could you have gotten those kind of cramps and combined with the other ones it was insane? Or maybe it is random or something else. Good luck and I hope it is better next month!

[acid-faeries.livejournal.com]

I'm by far the least athletic person in the world, but I've heard many cases where becoming more active has changed your pattern or effected the way it comes/goes.
I'd say it's either one of two things:
The transition of your body into extra activity.
Or it's just natural cramping. Everyone gets that severe case every now and then.
Talk to your doctor maybe in a couple months if it keeps getting that serious?

[marti30sumthing.livejournal.com]

I remembering this happening to me when I was competing in a running comp way back when I was at school. Horrid cramps and period started during the run. Lovely!
Exercise especially aerobic, has NEVER helped my cramps and actually makes them worse. Very gently yoga stretches are the most I can handle.