Do you need to be underweight to lose your period?

I've lost my menstrual cycle it seems. I'm not underweight but I do have undiagnosed "eating issues". Do you need to be underweight to lose your menstrual cycle? I know I'm not pregnant. Just not sure what's going on.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!

Well, yes, if you are underweight, have anorexia or loss of appetite then you can lose your periods.

Loss of periods can be due to other causes as well. Stress and anxiety is a major factor. Thyroid problems and abnormal levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, androgen hormones or male hormones and estrogen hormones too can be the cause. MRI of brain may be required to rule out pituitary tumors secreting prolactin. Another major contributor is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This can be diagnosed by a CT scan or abdominal ultrasound and tests for insulin resistance. Smoking is also often associated with secondary amenorrhea and can be worse in presence of stress. Sometimes tumors of the ovaries and brain may also cause absence of menstruation. Severe anemia and malnutrition, excess weight gain or weight loss, hypothyroidism too can contribute. If you have been on pills or depot shots then this can be post pill amenorrhea.

If you are not pregnant, and have low weight and eating issues, it is important to consult a therapist. Also you need to consult a gynecologist to rule out other causes. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!

[cel456]

I do have PCOS and have been on the pill to manage that. But my lack of eating has gotten a lot worse over the past 6 months or so and now I seemed to have lost my period. I had heard from another girl with an eating disorder on a blog that she had lost her menstrual cycle when she was not underweight but was unhealthy due to unhealthy eating and her doctor said even though she wasn't underweight it was due to her eating disorder. I was just seeking out other opinions on this. I am honestly still too afraid to tell my doctors about my eating habits even though I've had problems for years (just gotten a lot worse over the past 6 months or so as I said). So thank you very much for your response I appreciate it.