Recovery and Fertility

I consider myself a recovering anorexic. I am 22 and I have spent a LOT of time dealing with my eating/weight issues. I'm honest about everything... I know I still have a long mountain to climb as far as becoming completely healthy but I am really working on myself and I am following a healthy Raw Food diet and I exercise everyday.

I am single but someday I hope to fall in love, get married, and have a family... but I have NEVER had a period. I have asked a doctor about this and was told that when I reach a "normal" BMI that my hormones will cause my period to start. I have already gained quite a lot of weight and I don't believe that it will ever be "normal" for me to have a BMI above 18! I am the shortest person in my family at 5'7! We are tall and thin people... My BMI is 16 right now and I weigh the MOST I have ever weighed in my life.

Here's my question... what can I do? Can you please give me information about how to make my period come? Are there natural ways to do this? My doctors are really nice but I am too embarrassed to talk to them about this... I can tell that they think I'm pathetic - they feel sorry for me. I do not want to feel sorry for myself - I am happy and getting well!

Please help!

[lmcrt]

Hun honestly you need to gain more weight a BMI of 16 just isn't healthy. If your 5'7 you should at a minimum weight 120lbs. I am 5'7 and weight 150 and am still slender I couldn't imagine my BMI only being 16. You have to talk to someone and get you self image up before things will start happening in you life. I know when you look in the mirror you see something different then the rest of us, but please believe me you will look gorgeous with a little more weight put on. Know one likes skin and bones especially men. Get that body and mind healthy for a future baby. Good luck

[EAnthes]

Yeah, putting on more weight should help your period start.  I'm 5'3" and about 118.  I'm not sure about my BMI but its right in the middle of the healthy range and I think it looks pretty darn good on me.  I couldn't imagine being even 5 lbs lighter.  Just remember that the less you weigh at the beginning of a pregnancy the more they'll tell you to gain.

[EAnthes]

And remember if you want kids certain vitamins are stored in fat and your body may interpret a low amount of fat as not having enough nutrition to support another life.

[bny807]

Hello! I agree with the other girls as they said above.. a woman needs a BMI of at least 18 to typically have a period.. most of the time they cease if its 17 or under.. also try to eat "good" fats.. like almonds, salmon (omega 3 fatty acids), also drink 2% low fat milk instead of skim.. those types of fats help make up the hormones that help you ovulate and menstrate.  I have a friend who had severe anemia when she was a teenager.. she has since had two beautiful babies but she did have to work on getting to a healthy weight for years beforehand. GOOD LUCK!

[Anya1984]

Honestly, I have PCOS syndrom (syndrome) and also was anorexic since I only had BMI of 8-9!!! So I had to take birth control pills that brought my period every month. That's one thing you can do..Also you can take special birth control that helps you gain weight because that's what you need now!! you do need a period in order to think about having a family and birth control is something that can really helps you! Im not saying you have to take it forever, just few months until you gain enough weight to get your own period...

[skweeny]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here who took the time to respond. It means so much to me just to receive your answers - people care and want to help - THANKS! Also just to let everyone know that I am trying to gain weight and I am not trying to be "underweight". I have a goal to gain at least 13 lb.s which will give me a bmi of 18 but it seems like a ridiculously impossible goal at the moment. Like I said - I am single so I am not in a rush to get pregnant but I really do want to have the option. Obviously I'm not exactly very womanly like this so I think it will help me in lots of ways to have my period. How can I get my doctor to give me "the pill"?!! Won't they ask me why I want it? Do you know if there is one that you can buy on-line or at a pharmacy??? I really cannot see myself asking for birth-control from my doctors...