Anorexia & No Period

Question

I have had anorexia for over six months now, and about 2 months into it, I stopped getting my period. I'm really scared, and I told my parents what was going on, but they seem to not think it's such a big deal. I have been eating regularly lately, and am doing a lot better; but I am afraid that my period won't come back again, and I won't be able to have kids someday. Is there anything the ob/gyn could give me that could make my period come back, or is there something that could get my back in order with getting the right nutrition it needs?

This discussion is related to not getting my period/stomach.

NModel · Answer

Hey,

I've been suffering from anorexia nervosa for 2-2.5 years and hated every minute of it. 

I regained my period after regaining weight- this took 2 years. I was still underweight when I regained my period. I then lost weight after a series of crisis' and lost my period. The connection between weight and ovulation is very clear. Gain the weight, get the period. 

The weight you regain your period at will be different to the weight you once got your period at. Your body needs to readjust to itself. Once you maintain your period for a year then you can trust that your body is regulating itself... on the path to repair anyway.

I am starting my recovery now. I saw my doctor this morning, Dr Geoffrey Buckett, and he said this quote which has truly impacted me and will hopefully change my mentality towards food and life. "To be the full you, you need to be the full you."

N xx

Jeannie16 · Answer

Angie! This is serious. Please listen to me, birth control will not help you. You need to see someone that will help you with nutrition because once you are able to eat again and start eating the right foods everything will be okay. Birth control is extremely dangerous, it causes breast cancer and can seriously effect your chances of having children someday. People do not tell you this but it is the truth. 

They all have side effects. Here is a website for just one form birth control : http://www.nexplanon-usa.com/en/consumer/about-it/risks-and-side-effects/index.asp

Please understand why this is a big deal. I know you will be okay. This is not safe and you need to see someone that can help you start eating again. Please take care Angie.

bellK22 · Answer

I too have had an eating disorder. I haven't had my period in 5 months. I was only eating 800 calories a day, and throwing up as well. I haven't gone to the doctor because I kinda like not having a period but Im also afraid It won't come back. I'm 16. And went from 137 to pushing 102. I've gotten a bit better but I still freak out a bit over how many calories I intake. I weigh about 110 now

spearsgaga · Answer

hey, i havent had my period since end of july, i lost lot of weight due to strict calorie counting and double workouts...i need to get my period back before feb 2012 because i have a massive do coming up in april and i need to look super slim so im gonna go back to my strict dieting/workouts so im skinny for it...currently, im stuffing myself with nuts daily (like i eat LOADS of peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews/ pistachios) , and i eat chocolate ben and jerrys on saturdays and sundays! ive also started to have toast and nutella for breakfast.. and stopped working out. its been 3weeks now.. anyone know how long till it comes back? pls, any help/tips/advice would be appreciated... thanku..im 19 btw...

taytay14914 · Answer

hey i am 14 and have been anerexic for 7 months. i went from 108 to 82 pounds. everybody told me i was to skinny. i am doing better now and i wiegh 113 i am 5"1 so im in the healthy wieght range. my last period was in april of 2010 and i havnt had one since. i am scarred that it wont come back. y isnt it coming back????

Adelicia · Answer

I didn't have a my period for about 14 months, and recently it's come take. I'm trying to conceive at the moment, and all my fertility signs are good.... so here's hoping.

I think the longer you live with a very low body weight the more problems it will cause long term. My anorexia, severe as it was, got the better of me for a comparatively short time. As much as my relationship with food isn't healthy, my weight is once more back in a healthy spectrum.

Try to get enough calories in, try to get your body back to a healthy BMI, and everything should hopefully right itself. Care and hugs X

shewrote · Answer

i havent got a period in over 3 months. in the summer i was concerned about my weight sitting at 130 and being 5'6 and only 18 years old. I have been limiting my calorie intake since university started. at first i didnt want to gain the "freshman 15" and now im sitting between 116 or 117 pounds. im not thin, so why would my periods stop?

maddie14 · Answer

I'm going through the exact same problem. I have been anorexic now for about 4 1/2 months. My last period was in December, about the time I had decided to limit my caloric intake to only 650 a day. I went from 115 to 90 lbs. Now, I'm a tiny girl (only 4'11) so I thought that 115 was too fat for a girl my size. My mom always told me it looked great for me to have a little bit of meat on me though. I was an athlete and it was mostly in muscle. But, I'm scared too. I'm not necessarily scared that I won't have children (because I don't want to gain weight to have them.) I know it sounds so selfish, but thats what all anorexics become: selfish. I constantly think about myself and my own eating habits. And literally, no one else. I just want help. The side effects it has had on my body are not worth wanting to look skinny. Some days are good for me and I'll eat around 1800 calories, then I'll have a string of bad days and limit my intake again. I truly believe that I need professional help. Maybe you should do the same. Because I've proven to myself that I can't get over this alone.

Zoelula · Answer

Actually, it's not "totally okay" not to get your period. Even though none of us enjoys our period, not to have one is an indication of things being seriously out of whack with your body.

sabrina_anne · Answer

Hi angie,

Well, Ive been bulimic for over 2 years now and I havent had a period in..well practically 2 years.  When you get so thin you don't produce enough estrogen so you dont create a lining of your uterus.  There is a pill that can make you shed the lining if you just arent bleeding..but chanes are your not even building up a lining like me.  You are probably still ovulating though, so you would still be able to have kids but the only way to know that is well, to have kids.  If thats the case, than you can always take fertility drugs.  Your ob/gyn can also put you on a birth control with a higher dose of estrogen.  Its totally okay not to get your period though, no reason to have it...it feels so weird not getting it, i always feel like something is missing and then i think "oh yeah, my period"  haha.  Anyways, hope that helped..a little?

LeftCoastChick · Answer

I had that happen, I didn't have my period often either, and when I did get it the cramping was horrendous. Once you've gained back some weight, it will come back, but the estrogen needs the body fat - I don't know why. But too much or too little really affects your period.

Rach878 · Answer

The good new is since you've been struggleing with anorexia for a short period of time and you've only missed your period for 2 months it is likely that it will come back, and that there's no permanent damage done. I would go see your obgyn. She might be able to give you birth control which with eating regularly could regulate your periods.
Nutrionally you need to make sure your getting all the food groups, protein, carbs, veggies, fruit, startches. All of them, and eatting at least a 1200 calorie diet. Which i know for someone w/ anorexia seems like a ton, but if your really worried about your periods, it's somthing that you need to do.