Can bodybuilding bring on early perimenopause?

Adele Johnston, a former double gold bodybuilding champion from Scotland, experienced a shocking intersection between her intense fitness regime and early perimenopause symptoms. Adele's journey through extreme bodybuilding and its unforeseen consequences sheds light on the fine balance between physical fitness and health.

Pushing Limits: The Bodybuilding Experience

Adele's dedication to bodybuilding was intense. Standing at 5ft 8ins and weighing only 53 kg, she was significantly underweight. Her physical appearance, marked by visible ribs and a pronounced bone structure, was far from a healthy body image. This extreme commitment to bodybuilding was driven by a desire to excel in the sport, but it came at a high cost. Adele recalls the constant hunger and lack of satiation, highlighting the grueling nature of her diet and fitness routine.

Early Perimenopause: A Surprising Diagnosis

In her early 30s, Adele began experiencing alarming symptoms: hair loss, bleeding gums, heart palpitations, itchy skin, and swollen genitals. These were initially perplexing but were eventually diagnosed as early signs of perimenopause. This was surprising given that perimenopause typically begins around the age of 46, and Adele was considerably younger.

Medical Insights: Bodybuilding's Possible Impact

Dr. Heather Currie, a specialist gynaecologist, suggests that Adele's extreme bodybuilding regimen could have caused her menstrual cycle to "stall," potentially triggering early perimenopause. While there is no definitive research linking the two, the possibility that excessive physical strain could influence menstrual health is a concern.

Adele's New Chapter

Having given up bodybuilding, Adele now focuses on managing her perimenopausal symptoms with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and a Mirena coil. These treatments have stabilized her condition, alleviating the severe symptoms she once endured. She is not willing to risk her current stability to test if her menstrual cycle would return to normal without these interventions.

Adele's Story: A Cautionary Tale

Adele Johnston's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks of pushing the body to extremes, especially in sports like bodybuilding. It also underscores the importance of listening to one's body and maintaining a balance in physical activities. While the link between extreme bodybuilding and early perimenopause needs further research, Adele's story highlights the need for awareness and caution in any high-intensity fitness endeavors.