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OT Soy affecting menstrual cycle/ fertility?

I love dogs's picture

Any useful info? I am at least 4 days late but took 2 at home pregnancy tests and they are negative. I starting drinking about 3 soy lattes a week from Starbucks for the past 2 weeks. Before that, I hadn't consumed soy in months but still had regular cycles. Comments and experiences are greatly appreciated.

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still learning's picture

It could be the change of seasons that is affecting your cycle. I would get a blood test to be certain.

strugglingSM's picture

I know soy contains isoflavones, which can mimic estrogen, but not sure how that might impact your cycle.

I love dogs's picture

I've never been more than 4 days off and I'm almost a week late. I'm trying not to stress but I really want to be expecting so I'm trying to focus on other things.

bananaseedo's picture

Soy and women don't mix at certain ages...it can increase oestregens and harmful if you have menstrual issues or heavy bleeding. That said, could be perimenopause...how old are you?

I just went through this (ongoing) I'm still on the pill- some weeks ago I had a 2.5 week period -some spotting some heavy. Then I finished my pack and since then haven't had my period-did a couple pregancy tests to be sure...but no, I think it's just perimenopause symptoms. You start having longer periods and then skip some. I'm only 43 but my mom started hers early also. I've been having hot flashes and night sweats for well over a year-not to mention very very heavy periods-so yeah....could be entering that stage for you. Be VERY careful with soy.

I love dogs's picture

I'm late 20s but I've never had menstrual issues before. I'm usually only 3-4 days off in between cycles and have normal symptoms and it usually lasts less than 7 days. I'm almost a week overdue.

I looked up perimenopause and the internet says that symptoms can start before 30 sometimes. I've never been pregnant before so I hope it's not an ectopic pregnancy. I've had normal cramps for about 2 weeks and a sharp, needle-like pain in my lower left abdomen yesterday but it only lasted about a minute.

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

Might not even be related to soy... Stress, changing your workout patterns, etc. can all cause a hange incycles or pause in them... Some people can get stressed and busy enough that their cycles can pause for months... or if you workout a lot and have super low body fat that can cause a temporary loss of fertility and periods in some people as well.

lieutenant_dad's picture

I'm about to turn 30, and my cycle went super wonky earlier this year. I went from 30-32 days to 25-28 days, and my periods got longer but lighter. I spoke with my GP and Gyn about it, and both said that changes happen as you grow older. My Gyn said that many women experience a few "sweet spot" years in their mid-20s that lead into changes as they get older, even before perimenopause.

Go to the doctor and have them run a blood test for pregnancy. It's possible that this is just an off month due to stress, eating habits, weather, etc. I've had odd months before where my period was a week late, then back to normal the next month. Until you go to the doctor, though, you're going to keep questioning what's going on.

mro's picture

Yes, although there are several possible reasons, heavy intake of soy can delay the follicular phase of the cycle and or delay menstruation. A quick bing search found one reference in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Being postmenopausal I'm very leery of large amounts of soy products because of the estrogen-like effects.

I love dogs's picture

Ugh I love soy milk. I used to drink chocolate soy milk for dessert and in my oatmeal before I read about it's affects. I don't think I've been any more stressed than normal but I have been binging on holiday treats and not working out normally. I've also felt nauseous this past week and I rarely feel that way without a trigger or being hungover.

I talked to my mom and she said when she was pregnant with me, even the doctor's blood test showed negative the first time then a later urine test was positive. The doctor had also told her that she was tricking her body into thinking she was pregnant when the tests were showing up negative. I had the idea in my head that I was pregnant this last week so I don't know if that means anything.

My mom did say that there can be false negatives but never a false positive. I guess time will tell.. I'm not a patient person with these kinds of things so I'm a little anxious.

LostinSpaceandTime's picture

Soy is very bad. Just google soy and it is very scary. It disrupts the thyroid. Soy is in every thing...even Mayonaise.
Between soy and high fructose corn syrup and all the other chemicals in the food it is a wonder humans are still here.

Do some research. Try to eat healthier foods ...go organic...it does not cost that much more.

I love dogs's picture

It's true and you're right. Organic isn't that much more expensive and it would give me more peace of mind with my health.