Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 7/11/2008

Question
Hi, I've been anorexic for over a year now and I lost quite a lot of weight in one go last summer but the doctor says I'm stable now (I'm 5ft4 and 7stone 2) but I haven't had a period in about 11 months. How much do you think I would need to weigh for them to come back? Also I know it affects fertility, so would a year without periods do permanent damage or would it need to be more than that. Thanks, from Laura

Answer
iT CAN TAKE QUITE SOME TIME FOR PERIODS TO COME BACK AFTER RECOVERING FROM ANOREXIA. iT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. NORMAL WEIGHT FOR YOU WOULD BE ABOUT 110-130, BUT BODY FAT PERCENTAGE PLAYS A ROLE IN YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE TOO. IF YOUR BODY FAT IS TOO LOW THEN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE PERIODS. SOME PEOPLE WITH ANOREXIA WHO RECOVER WILL HAVE LIFE LONG PROBLEMS WITH INFERTILITY... AND YOU MAY NEED TO SEE A SPECIALIST WHO CAN INDUCE PERIODS IN ORDER TO CONCEIVE