I'm a guy just hanging around listening to this lol. To be honest, I never even knew this was a thing. I thought all girls just started their period at like 12-15 years old, then the only way they wouldn't have it is if they're in menopause or pregnant. This was eye-opening! Glad you're relieved!
Aisling Moran I wouldn’t say it’s “really” bad for you because it’s a natural process that happens at an age in which your body feels it’s right to begin. Sure the age seems alarming, but to all the women out there that had their period at a young age I’m sure they’re doing just fine 😌so think about it... it can’t be that bad especially if it’s not life threatening
Emma I know you think this is TMI and for some people it probably is but I genuinely appreciate you sharing your story and so many people will benefit from this!!
I'M IN THE SAME BOAT AS U SISTER. I DIDN'T GET MY FIRST PERIOD UNTIL I TURNED 22 TOO!!! I have never heard of anyone else having primary amenorrhea in these seemingly non-urgent nor threatening circumstances either, until I found your video just now (I routinely type in my condition into Google every couple of months since 18 y.o. lol). This is amazing--I don't feel so alone anymore. Thanks SO MUCH for posting this.
This is THE MOST relevant topic for girls involved in distance running. Thank you for sharing 👍🏻 (My whole entire team has had some sort of problem with amenorrhea at some point)
I missed by period 6 times in less than a year and by the end of the XC season I had a stress fracture. I’ve gained weight now and omg I feel u Emma!! I know my body is healthier but I can’t help feeling uncomfortable. Thanks so much for making a video on amenorrhea!!
Wowww so that's what was wrong with me!! I got my period once when I was 13 and then I didnt have it for almost a year. Also during that time I was doing two sports and pe at school almost every day, so this makes sense
This is so true. I play volleyball year around and training as well, lifting heavy weights and a bunch of cardio. My period is so irregular and I’m so happy I’m not the only one tbh.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to most in my life is being a mother”❤️I loved when you said that. Thank you for sharing this experience with us. You are the best, Emma!
i haven’t gotten my period in almost a year after getting it for 6 months. i literally just went to the doctor and they told me to exercise less and change my entire diet. it’s honestly so scary. thank you emma for putting out this video in the most perfect time. i needed it. it makes me feel so much better to know that i’m not alone.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Emma. I am a competitive distance runner and was in the same boat. I got my period at 17 1/2 when the average is between 10-15. I’ve always struggled with body image but running made me feel so much better. When I turned 16 and didn’t have my period (and was 4’9 and 89 lbs) my mom took me into an endocrinologist and she told me that I would risk infertility and osteoporosis if I didn’t put on fat. I was also starting to experience injuries linked to low bone density. I started eating more after that (prior I ate a diet that I thought was healthy but contained little to no fats and proteins. I had orthorexia which is when you get really obsessed with clean eating Essentially I was living on salads)My new diet didn’t make me feel like myself and made me feel really depressed. After trying that out for several months my weight didn’t go up and my doctor ordered me to severely cut back on running. This was the worst because running was one of the few things that made me feel truly happy and I was already so uncomfortable eating a new diet and I was experiencing dysmorphia and genuinely didn’t realize how sick I was. Eventually after cutting back on running I gained the weight and eventually my period came with it. When I went back to running full time I was quite depressed because I hated my new body and wasn’t used to running in it so my performance was compromised. I still haven’t come to terms with my new body post weight gain and menstruation and haven’t achieved the times from before I started gaining the weight, but I try to comfort myself by remembering that even though I felt more confident and was faster before, I was unhealthy and I had to gain the weight to live healthily. Your video really helped me feel normal and not alone. Thank you so much.
thank you so much for posting this, for showing your vulnerability--so many female runners go through this but there is SUCH a stigma around it. it's nice to feel that we're not alone.
my mother and i both have amenorrhea. thank you so much for speaking about this. I've always felt alone, and sometimes depressed because I've never really been able to fit in or relate to anything about periods.
Omg the same thing is happening to me... I did gymnastics from age 3-10 every once in a while 5ks because my parents were runners and then at 10 I became a track and cross country runner at this pretty high competition level and I also train all year round to stay in shape I’m 19 going to be 20 in July and I still haven’t gotten my first period 😭
THANK YOU for talking about this Emma!!!!!! YOU are amazing. The female athlete triad caused me to get 2 stress fractures in a row, and not enough awareness is brought to it. Thank you for opening up about this!
Thank you so much for sharing- I hate that in running, it seems like not having a period (often due to Female Athlete Triad) is more normalized than having one, and I am so happy you discussed this at the end of your video.
Thank you for this! I suffered from amenorrhea for many years in high school and collegiate athletics along with half training and marathon training. I have been trying to give my body a break over the past couple of months, & I have finally had a regular period for the past three months. I also gained about 15 lbs which is what I needed as well even though it’s hard to come to terms with the body changes. This is seriously what I needed to hear because I’m 28, and we are currently trying to have a baby. You are an inspiration to me, and I can’t thank you enough for being so real! Much love for you, Emma! ❤️
Thanks for sharing!!! I didn't get mine until 16 (almost 17) from all my training, and when I had forced time off because of knee surgery I finally got it. Then when I got back into it, I didn't get it regularly and now at 28 I am FINALLY in a regular cycle. Similarly, I wanted to focus on it to become a mom one day.
Emma!! hopefully you will see this comment :) after following your youtube channel for a few years and am a MAJOR fan of yours, I have to say, you are one strong women! I too ran D1 in college, and lost my period for 3 whole freaking years! nothing came! granted- the excessive training was a lot....the energy output did not = the energy input! Since ending running at the competitive level, I got a minor back surgery and took off 4 months of ALL exercise entirely! I can definitely relate to you in getting used to this new ~body~ which is quite a strange feeling when you look back at pictures from years before where you see yourself as very lean, fit, toned! Yes, body image is something i feel all women struggle with, but the fact that your HEALTHY is what matters! you will always have running :) looking forward to your upcoming videos! ok Ta-ta- time to get after it!
Thank you for making a video about amenorrhea! Very uncomfortable, but necessary, topic and needs to be talked about more! And you're not alone! Didn't get mine until age 20. Some cases are more severe than others, but so glad you were proactive and got it back! SUPER important for bone health.
I had sort of the same thing. I don’t run like I did a couple of years ago but I used to run like 10mi everyday during the week and sometimes more on the weekend and I completely lost my period then and did get several stress fractures. Now I’ve slacked off on the running and actually have to be really careful because if I’m too active my cycle gets really really drawn out and very irregular with terrible pms symptoms. It’s like a balancing act of how much I can run without messing up my periods and I have to make sure I’m getting lots of food too.
I’ve been a huge competitive swimmer since I was 5 and I got my period at 11 then did not have it again until I was 14 then about once a year until I turned 16. I have a bunch of hormonal issues and conditions. I’m still 16 and now on birth control because it helps regulate my hormones and have my period
I actually didn't go into collegiate running because of negative body image. I couldn't put myself in that community again. Then I gained a lot of weight when I quit xc/track and still struggle with body image. Now, I have realized that it was never about my body. I didn't like it no matter how it looked, and I never will. Because it is all about how I think of myself.
I’ve never had a regular cycle in my life. I got my first period at a normal age and they say within two years it becomes regular, but it’s been over 10 years since then and my periods are still anywhere from 35-60 days apart. I got checkups but told this just happens with some women.
Thank-you for sharing this!! People in this same situation need to know that they are not alone! I was a cross country/1500m athlete myself, training with mostly guys, with a male trainer around 4 times a week, HIGH stress and hardly any breaks unless I was injured. My twin got her period at 15, which was quite late but my skinny, sinewy ass was still waiting. Until recently I was basically eating a fatless diet, high in carbs-- It got worse when I went to uni; for the first year, I actually NEVER bought oil at all, relying just on the non-stick pan, also missing a lot of meals due to a heavy schedule and never replenishing my body after workouts. I lost a tonne of weight despite already being clinically underweight and... you know what?? The amount of modelling scouts out there loving the tired almost-dead look was astounding, I was suckered into signing with an agency for a while which made me rely on diet and training as weight management. I obviously ended up getting quite badly injured in the process, so I had to stop... The period thing also started to worry me as I was approaching my 19th birthday still with no sign of a cycle. I knew I was in a high stress environment and not fueling myself adequately so I did some research; simply put I needed to lower my stress-- run mindfully and stop competing, leave modelling, incorporate more healthy fats and less carbs into my diet, and just accept the changes in my body. It was not a fast fix and it felt like I was waiting for a period fairy to sprinkle dust on my pelvis so that I could just wake up and realize my womanhood had awoken. Within the first year of making these changes, I still had no sign of a period, but it came some months after my 20th birthday and I was travelling alone at the time. I had a celebration with me myself and I, feeling accomplished but a bit like, "Yay I'm normal". It was also hard to get to grips with feeling the insecurities that a mid-teen usually deals with, but without support from parents and family as I was at more of an independent stage in my life. I would love to say it never made me feel like I was experiencing these things alone despite people still being there.. but it kinda did, and it kinda sucked... but now its great! 21 and finally feeling as confident in my body as a 16 year old! Ps: normally I comment 1 line on youtube. I'm sure nobody would read this :)
I haven’t watched the whole video yet, but my mother was the same way. She was a very serious distance runner, all American in college. She did not get her period until college. She ended up having 6 kids, so it all worked out there!
Emma, you're blessed to be a blessing. I can't help but to admire the woman of strength that you model for everyone that crosses paths with you. God bless your heart! Vulnerability = strength, Courageous Lioness!!!
Thank you so much Emma for sharing your story! I’m an exercise science major hoping to coach some day and spread awareness about the female athlete triad. You’re a great female role model for young girls, and I can’t wait to show young girls your passion for running and taking care of your body. Thank you for the birthday video you sent me a while back!
Thank you so much for making this video. I suffer from amenorrhea as well (I am 19) and haven’t started my period yet. I was a competitive gymnast and trained 30+ hours a week. I suffer from low bone density as well and have broken 14 bones. Girls who suffer from this, we are in this together!
This was interesting because I got my first period at 18 and didn’t actually become regular until 19. I was never an athlete, never played any sports, and had never had a low body fat so it must have been genetic. Never got checked out for it. But thankfully now at age 22 I have totally regular cycles.
The same things happened to me when my body transitioned out of Gymnastics when my mind didn’t and now I’ve finally figured out everything and I’m loving life
OMG Emma. You could have had a brain tumor. Craniopharyngioma - pituitary tumor affects hormone levels; LH, FSH, GH, ADH, and thyroid. That's what I ended up having. It was tricky because I had mine and then it suddenly stopped and I was a high level athlete so I thought it was all the training, but no - a brain tumor.
Wow thank you for sharing I needed to hear this; I am a college long distance runner and I have no period and low bone density, along w/ stress fractures and it’s good to know I’m not alone
I just got into running 2 years ago, prior I competing in figure and bikini! But even for myself this is something I have dealt with! It’s huge for so many women who are athletes from a young age!!! ❤️ I just started my own channel about running, working out and recipes!
Thank you for sharing this! I lost my period for 3 years in high school during cross country and once I let go of any food restriction and cut back on running and put on some fat, it came back. I was so relieved!
As a tip I would recommend using organic and unscented products because I had to learn the hard way of constantly having diaper rash and yeast infections from tampons that are scented tampons or Tampax in general ,I would recommend seventh generation ,U by Kotex security or really any organic brand would work
Thanks for sharing! I lost my period for probably about two years because of doing more intense running training, since then I have definitely gained weight and it is difficult to process that sometimes. Thanks for being such a positive role model and showing me and other girls that taking care of your body comes first
YES GURL YES. Same with you. ALMOST SAME story as you, Competed at Baylor, got my period two months ago by the grace of God. and PRAISE GOD! I am 24 almost 25!!!!! My hormones are crazy but I also have hypothyroidism too. You're not alone, thanks for your video! I feel less alone!!!
Good for you for talking about this, Emma! Having experience with amenorrhea myself, it's comforting to hear you speak about your experience so thank you.
I'm so glad you're able to bring awareness to the female athlete triad even if it wasn't your exact experience. There isn't a ton of publicity out there on this problem, especially with young girls. So rad!
Thank you for this video!! Not TMI at all and I relate to the anticlimacticness of the first one as a late bloomer myself. I think we should totally amplify the voices of women who have been on RU-vid for awhile and have actually developed into women more recently bc their weight gain should not be shamed but celebrated as an important (but not essential) piece of becoming an adult female. I think too often commenters are quick to judge and say "you've changed" without realizing the value of the change and that the person who is sharing their life online is maybe also not entirely used to the change yet.
I haven't had my period yet and I'm almost 15 and my sister and mom started when they were 11. My doctor said that since I run and cross train a lot that it usually takes a while for a body to mature and grow. But she did say that if I don't get it before I'm 16 then there's something wrong. Glad to hear you got it though. Random: you should add water bottle stickers/ normal stickers to your merch!
Being that active can cause you not to get your period or make it really light and short. My mom told me that some women in the Olympics hardly have there period or it will be light and short. Don't quote me on this I could be wrong but that's what my folks told me.
I didn't find this video to be TMI at all. It is like an important topic for female athletes and runners and opens a conversation that may not happen often enough. Thank you for sharing.
So awesome that you opened up about this!! I can so relate. I am 24 and have had my period consistently for about 4 years now even though I was my blood work, hormones, and bone density scans all came back normal every time I got them tested.
Emma...so impressed with your level of maturity and honesty........I'm probably older than your parents and I follow your vlog....I hope thousands of young female's here your message...........so impressed.......you are an amazing woman.........
So proud of you! Just got my period at 11. Only about 3 days ago, now? 4? And I hate it, cramps. Blood, Ugh. And I just started secondary school, in the same month, I don’t wanna grow up in a monthhh! (Life SUCKS.) I wish I got it at 13. Just 2 more years. And I don’t want boobs or hair in those places, or pimples or acne.
I had my period consistently starting in 7th grade(age 13) but once I entered high school and really increased my running training for cross country over the summer, my period stopped. I haven’t had my period since July. Should I be worried? Edit:I’m in 9th grade and 15 years old and a three sport athlete. (Cross country,indoor track, and outdoor track)
Amazing way to use your platform! Also worth mentioning that birth control pills don’t actually give you a real period, they give you a withdrawal bleed which many people think is a period, so therefore they don’t actually give you the hormones you need. Some people start hormone replacement therapy which will help you to start your period. Such a great video and a reallyyy important topic 😊😊
THANK YOU EMMA!!! I’ve had a similar experiences with gynecologists/ultrasounds/blood work/no period for a very long time during training, and it’s very reassuring to know I’m not alone 😂 you rock for talking about something that isn’t usually talked about but effects so many female athletes!
This is why I think training should be limited for runners when they are younger. It should be limited until they get their period. Very low mileage and low intensity. Thank you for sharing :)
Heyyy im 14 yrs old and I’m a little worried about not having my period but now after watching your video I feel a little bit better about the situation. I am also very active and athletic and train 5 days a week with cardio everyday. It could also be because I had to have radiation on my lower back and where my ovaries are and lost all my eggs as a side effect. I also know a 16 yr old girl who hasn’t had their period yet 💗
Emma, good for you for sharing this. It’s definitely not easy to talk about but you’re helping other girls who are going through the same thing. Keep up the good work girl :)
Thank you for sharing your story! This is definitely beneficial to many female athletes!! It is great to see someone brave enough to help the future youth athletes!!
i’m 14, almost 15. i have all the signs of getting my period soon but i’m underweight for my height and i’m very athletic . i eat sooo much i just have a high metabolism but i’m scared i’m never gonna get it !
