Expert: Saffron - 6/28/2009

Question
Hi,

First off, thanks so much for answering questions!

I became anorexic when I was 14 and that went on for about a year. For the next two years, until I was 16, I was on a restrictive diet (sometimes skipped meals, no dairy, limited grains, no junk food). I'm 16 now, turning 17 in august, and I've finally started to just eat normally, dairy, grains, and all other food groups and in big amounts (not 'anorexic  big' lol, like actual substantial portions). I still haven't gotten period (yikes!) and was wondering if I have just started eating properly now.. (and am at a healthy weight, 100 lbs and i'm 16 almost 17 and 5'1)...when do you think I will get period (how long of healthy eating, in a week, months, years, never)? Or is it too late all together?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Selenaa:

You will most definitely get your period back especially as it sounds as though you have a very healthy attitude now and you are taking care of yourself.   Your weight is at the lower end of healthy for your height but it is in the range where you should be menstruating normally at this point.  How long have you been at this weight now?  It may take a little while for your body to regulate itself again but it will.  Though there could be other reasons why one might not menstruate -if you are exercising too much for instance or if you are excessively stressed but barring these things I think it's just a matter of patience.  Just keep up the healthy outlook and eating habits.  As I say all the time, you'd be surprised just how resilient the body is and how good it can be at healing itself however it's always of course much better not to have put one's body through that in the first place.

My best,

Saffron