HI Ladies-

I'm going through the approval process and just collecting as much info, knowledge and wisdom I can get before having surgery.

Simple question...how has having WLS (gastric sleeve in particular) affected your monthly cycles, pms and everything that comes with AF?

I am almost four years out and my cycle is completely regulated. I have a 6 day cycle every four weeks. I was very irregular before the surgery.

I went from not having periods at all for about seven years to suddenly having them. A lot. And either I had forgotten how crummy periods are in general or they really weren't fun ones. (I believe one particularly bad night I spent hours groaning "I used to do this every MONTH?!?) Granted, I am only four months out, so can't speak to how they will stabilize.

I had read all about the hormone changes and thought I would be able to handle it all with grace and dignity. After experiencing it, my husband would testify under oath to the exact opposite. Glad he is understanding.

When your calories are low, and you are dropping a lot of fat and releasing a lot of hormones the first 2-3 months, your PMS can be worse and your cycle can be irregular. Once you start eating more it balances out. Try using the search feature, there are tons of threads on this topic.

I have PCOS and my cycles were super long and super gross and super painful. I am sure you get the picture. I had my baby on 3/10/15 then surgery on 4/27/15. They were actually pretty normal (every 35 days for the first few months). I went on birth control after that. I am hoping that when we start trying for our next baby things will be smooth sailing.

_{My period stopped completely at 3 months post op. Even at 16 months out now, it has never returned. My bariatrican and PCP say that it should return once I maintain for awhile. I'm not sure about that since I've been maintaining on a 1800 calorie diet for almost 10 months.}

I had my period at surgery time and haven't had one since. I am 49, so I suppose it was a coincidence that I went into menopause and not surgery related. Glad to see the end of them though.

I actually got my period hours after the surgery - which apparently is very common. I had very heavy periods for about a year after - eventually needed a gynecological surgery. Don't know if the heavy periods were related to the gastric sleeve or a horrible coincidence or being perimenopausal at 49 y.o. Either way, I became very anemic and continue to have to take Iron supplements as a result of my decreased red meat intake.

The fact I got it 2 days after my surgery was nuts! I was so irregular. Now I been almost a month and half out an got it again! Which never happens cuz I usually skip months at a time!

I, too, had an early surprise visit of la Rosa just two days post. Then 27 days later, then 35 days after that. It's been mediocre, but the PMS has been worse. Time will tell.

I think the surprise period right after surgery has to drop with the heparin.

Edited February 13, 201610 yr by Emilie.Lancaster

I'm about 18 months out. My period is much shorter and lighter. 2 days or so in duration, typically, only one of which is heavy.

I'm interested to see if mine becomes regular long-term. I had my period the week before surgery and the last day was supposed to be on surgery day...but it continued for another week! I hope I won't have anymore 2 week periods lol! That was crazy.

I was pretty regular before surgery and didn't even experience a blip in my cycle after surgery.

I was late my first period after surgery (ate 300 calories a day and was under stress, so it wasn't unusual). Been normal ever since.

At month 4 I didn't have a period for 3 months. It's pretty normal again. 50% of my hair fell out during those 3 months. It's growing back and all is good.

Even with a birth control... I have T . the period can be funny or is it just non birth control?