By: Jenifer Harcourt
EdHope.com
January 12, 2015
Recent news and the increase of social media have put a spotlight on eating disorders.
Celebrities are speaking out on body image issues as well as their own battles with eating disorders. However we do not often hear about the consequences that come with battling an eating disorder, in particular anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by 4 essential features:
· Extreme restriction of food intake
· Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
· Distorted body image
· Self- imposed starvation
What Is Amenorrhea?
There are many other complications that can arise for a female who is battling this illness, one of which is amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of the menstrual cycle in a woman of child bearing age.
Amenorrhea occurs when the normal secretion of Gonadotropin releasing Hormone from the hypothalamus is interrupted. This can occur when a woman engages in excessive exercise and /or restricts their food intake resulting in lower body mass than what is considered normal. It can be further defined as either primary amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea.
A Major Concern for Anorexia Sufferers
Primary Amenorrhea is diagnosed when a female fails to start her menses by age 16. Secondary Amenorrhea occurs when a women no longer menstruates after having menstruated in the past. Secondary amenorrhea becomes a major concern for an individual who is low weight and has not had a period in 3 to 6 months.
The hormonal imbalance that occurs when a woman is not menstruating can lead to many lasting consequences for a woman dealing with her eating disorder and therefore must be addressed in the course of her treatment.
Secondary amenorrhea is generally what is diagnosed in the anorexic patient. The loss of the period may be caused by:
· Extreme weight loss
· Intense exercise routines
· Increased levels of stress
We don’t know which of the above actually leads to the loss of the period or if it’s the combination of factors that can lead to the medical diagnosis.
Consequences of Dealing with Amenorrhea
It is well documented and researched that amenorrhea can lead to women being infertile. For many young women the idea of not being able to have children in the future is scary and overwhelming. It is often the question most eating disorder professionals are asked: Will I ever be able to have children?
Unfortunately we don’t have an easy answer, but what we do know is that the sooner a period is restored the chances of being fertile are increased, but the longer a woman goes without having her period the less likely it is for her to become pregnant on her own.
Developing Pre-menopausal Symptoms
Another consequence of not having a period is a loss in estrogen levels. Due to low estrogen levels, hormonal imbalances occur. These imbalances lead to symptoms that many young women describe as premenopausal symptoms:
· Night sweats
· Loss of sleep
· Frequent wakening
· More irritable moods in general
The Depletion of Calcium: Osteopenia
Another lesser known fact about amenorrhea is that it leads to the depletion of calcium in your bones. If the body is not producing estrogen as discussed previously it is unable to maintain levels of calcium in the bones. This depletion is called osteopenia.
Osteopenia occurs when there is a thinning of bone mass. Osteopenia is also considered to be the precursor of osteoporosis which is sometimes referred to as the brittle bone disease. Osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone mass caused by a deficiency in Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium as well as other vitamins and minerals.
Bones break more easily and often do not heal appropriately in women who are also struggling with anorexia. The development of either osteopenia or osteoporosis in the younger anorexic is of great concern to doctors as both can have lasting and often time’s irreversible damage.
Treatment Options
It is important to be honest with yourself and your support system, if you think you may be suffering from anorexia and have lost your period, talk with your family about what is going on and ask for help.
Seek help from professionals including mental health therapists, psychiatrists and medical doctors. Physicians will need to determine if any underlying medical conditions exist and which will help your future treatment team get you started.
Mental health therapists that specialize in eating disorders can help you and your family understands your diagnosis and process with you ways to get better. Finally, remain hopeful. Women can and do get better. At times it may seem like it is taking forever, but know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Conclusion
If you or someone you love is struggling with anorexia speak with your primary care physician or a treatment facility, such as The Renfrew Center, which specializes in this type of care.