❓My periods have gotten lighter or irregular since going vegetarian — is that related to diet?
Six months after switching to a vegetarian diet, my period has gotten noticeably lighter. I'm a bit worried.
2 Answers
Irregular periods are more commonly caused by insufficient total calorie intake or too rapid a drop in body fat than by 'going vegetarian' itself. During a diet transition, a lot of people end up unconsciously eating less than before — eating plenty of vegetables but not keeping total calories up — and when the body senses an energy shortfall, it tends to deprioritize reproductive functions first. I'd suggest looking back at how your weight and overall food intake have changed over the past six months. If you've clearly lost weight or often don't feel full, start by bringing your total intake and healthy fats (nuts, avocado, plant oils) back up. If your period hasn't returned to normal after more than 3 months, you should still see a gynecologist to rule out other causes rather than just attributing it all to diet.
I ran into something similar — I was in a cutting phase at the time and keeping my portions pretty strict. I later realized my calorie deficit was probably too big, so I gradually brought my food intake back up, especially not deliberately skimping on staple foods and healthy fats anymore. About two to three months later, my period gradually went back to normal. The body is actually pretty sensitive to energy deficits. Just sharing for reference — you'll still want to judge based on your own situation.