Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 9/10/2008

Question
Will maintaining a weight of 110 at 5 feet 6 inches be enough to start my period and hopefully concieve?  I have slowed my running as I did marathons and lost my period.  I go down to 94 pounds and am currently at 110.  My doctor put me on the pill to help restore my estogen levels.  Shouold I go off the pill and see what my body does?  i  want a baby so bad.

Answer
Everyone is different, so the answer to your question is not going to be straigh forward. Body weight does have an impact on being able to get pregnant, but more so body fat percentage and protein have an impact. If you do not have enough body fat then you may have problems with not ovulating and hence will have difficulties getting pregnant. This is also seen with people who exercise a lot (eating disorder or no eating disorder) because they have low body fat percentages. I would continue the estrogen for a period of time (say about 6 months) to sort of jump start your reproductive system... and then hopefully when you discontinue it's use your body will continue to have the appropriate levels of hormones for you to ovulate and be able to conceive. Again, you may want to consider that you are still at a rather low body weight and although you have gained weight you still may not have the body fat percentage to support ovulation/pregnancy.