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gymnastics stunted my period? is there any hope for me?
im 12 and i have not yet started my period... im an elite level gymnast. ive been told that gymnastics stunts puberty, im starting to get really worried and idk what to do, i have been doing gymnastics for 8 years. im just really worried and i need your advice. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!☆★☆
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Want to answer more questions in the Sexual Health and Reproduction category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Virginity?
If you train for your sport as do many Olympic Athletes. Then like many of the females Olympians you may find that your period will not start or it will stop and that your physical development is delayed. I don't know exactly why this is but if you look at some of our female Gold Medal winners in a before and after type picture you will see what I am talking about.
Many of the females do not have big breasts and are not fully developed as one might expect of someone of their ages. Many of these athletes after winning a Gold Medal relax their training schedule or stop training all together. Once this happens their breasts fully develop, their hips widen and they develop the curves one would expect of a female, especially one in top physical condition. If they have not had a period during training then their period starts shortly after they stop training.
I do not know why this is. I believe it has something to do with weight and diet as this problem if you call it that is seen more in sports where weight is a factor.
The body is designed to save itself. Meaning if you are burning more calories than you are taking in and do not have the body fat to make up the difference; the body goes into a self-preservation mode by shutting down those systems it feels it doesn't need to support. Puberty and the changes that come with puberty may be something the body feels it can delay if you are not fueling it enough. I am not saying you are anorexic. That is an entirely different problem.
I think what I am trying to say is that in all the years you have been training. The baby fat that most children have you no longer have. I believe this baby fat is what fuels us through puberty as this is when the baby fat disappears. Athletes in general have low body fat. When they stop training their body fat increases some and this allows puberty to continue or maximize.
This is all just conjecture on my part. The best people to ask about this is your coaches or your doctor. Most importantly is for you not to worry about this. As an athlete I believe you are normal.
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I've got an idea there might be a misunderstanding here. Doing gymnastics can't affect your menstrual cycle, either when you start or disruptiing it when you're having them. But I recall there was a lot of fuss some time ago about Russian and East German olympic gymnasts being given hormonal treatments to delay puberty. The reason being that they'd keep slim 'boyish' figures (that is slim hips and no boobs!) and the added advantage that they wouldn't lose focus on training because of boyfriends! I'm almost CERTAIN that this is the root of this rumour. Gymnastics, I'm sure don't in themselves have any possible way of delaying puberty. I'm sure you'll start yours when your hormones kick-in just like any other girl.
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Hey honey, there's nothing to worry about at all.
12 years old is a little young to even get your period, some girls don't get it until 13-16. I got mine very young (10 years old) and that was very weird, because I got mine super young. However, the most common age range to be getting a period is 12-13
So don't worry, it's coming.
You're very lucky you haven't gotten it, they're a huge pain in the butt!
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