Expert: Joanne - 6/6/2007

Question
I used to have anorexia and would keep my calorie limit around 500 calories a day and workout everyday, within doing so I lost about 40lbs and have kept it off for about 3 years.  I am currently 5'8 and about 130 lbs, but I have been eating at least 1500 calories a day for almost a year and would add more depending on if I work out that day.  My main problem now is that my period when from skipping months to totally stopping for almost a year.  I feel like I am at a healthy weight and eating pretty healthy, but still dont have my period.  Am I ever going to be able to get it back??  Is there medicine that can force it back??

Answer
Usually once your body has a certain fat %, your period should start again.  Your period is dependent on hormones, which are dependent on the presence of body fat.

Your period should start again in its own time, but I would recommend that if you are worried about this, you should go and see an OB-GYN and see if they can recommend anything, and make sure that there is nothing underlying.  I doubt they will recommend any medicines, but it is maybe worth seeing someone and just getting them to check that everything is fine and there isn't another reason for the absence of periods.

All the best
Holly