Worried about ovaries! - Women's Health Message Board

Shattered_Eros · 03-06-2003, 12:32 AM

Hello,
I have been anorexic for about 6 years now, but in recovery for about 9 months(thank god!) And I was wondering what kind of damage that could have done to my reproductive organs. There were times when I wouldn't get my period for like 10 months. I have been on and off the birth control pill for the last couple years. When I am on the pill, my period is fairly regular, but when I am off it, my period is very few and far between. I am scared that I have done horrible damage to my ovaries( my doctor warned me about this). Does anyone have any information on this subject or know from personal experience? Your responses would be much appreciated. I am very worried, I would be devastated if I couldn't have children one day. Is there anyway I can get this checked out? Maybe I am just being paranoid but I don't think so. No one else I know has this problem.
Thank you for your time.
Please write
Jenny

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Don't judge me by my failures, only by my dreams.

RareEndo · 03-07-2003, 06:53 AM

Hi Jenny,

Don't have any experience first hand but I found this on the Net for you! Hope it helps.

In order for a woman to menstruate, become pregnant, and give birth to a healthy baby she needs body fat. Many anorexic girls and women either never get their period or their period stops due to extreme weight loss. The cessation of menstruation, (amenorrhea), can be permanent depending on how long a woman has been suffering from anorexia. But for most women menstruation will start up when they begin to gain weight. Roughly 80% of anorexic women who successfully treat their eating disorder will regain their ability to conceive.

When a woman's percentage of body fat falls below a certain minimum her body doesn't produce the levels of hormones necessary to stimulate ovulation. Rapid weight loss and undernourishment leads a woman's body into a state of emergency and she will not menstruate if she is just barely surviving. For those women who are able to conceive while suffering from anorexia they seriously jeopardize their own health and the health of their fetus. Pregnancy presents enormous strain on a woman's body. As the fetus develops it will take nourishment from the mother. If she suffers from an eating disorder this can seriously deplete her own scant reserves and she may begin to experience the exhaustion and depression that accompany malnourishment. If she brings the pregnancy to full-term she also may lack the energy required to meet the demands of a newborn while remaining healthy herself. Women with eating disorders also have higher rates of miscarriage and an increased risk of giving birth to a low weight baby. Any woman who is struggling with an eating disorder should delay pregnancy until she herself is healthy.

If you want to find more just type in your search engine anorexia and fertility and you'll get plenty of reading.

Take Care and God Bless
Congratualtions on your recovery of 9 months.
Jessica

kat721 · 03-08-2003, 02:37 PM

Jenny, I don't have any personal experience with the problem of anorexia but I would think the area you would look into for your answers would be Reproductive Endocrinology.
What you are talking about sounds like a metabolic problem triggered by the big shift in your body and body stressors.
Stressors of any sort can mess with ones metabolism.
So go and ask the Reproductive Endocrinologist to run your hormone levels and that will tell you all about your ovary function.
I have no clue what an endocrinologist would do from there but it's a great start for getting diagnosed and being pointed in the right direction.
Take care and be well.
It's always better to know and go forward than to sit and worry.
Hugs,
kat

[This message has been edited by kat721 (edited 03-08-2003).]

Shattered_Eros · 03-09-2003, 05:42 PM

Thank you so much Kat and Jessica. Your information is very helpful.
God Bless
Jenny

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Don't judge me by my failures, only by my dreams.

kat721 · 03-10-2003, 12:13 PM

Take good care of yourself Jenny.
Find the right answers for the needs of your body and be well. Getting well and having good health is a day at a time endeavor.
Take little steps one day at a time and allow your health to slowly revive.
kat