How long until the side effects of being anorexic make the person infertile and unable to have children in the future?
There are no numbers or dates set for permanent infertility in anorexic females since it's different for everyone, but generally this happens to long-term sufferers of EDs. Since everyone is different though, what happens on an individual basis varies--a LOT. If the thought of never being able to have children is an issue for you, then you know what you have to do. Get help, and I'm not talking about over the internet.
It doesn't have to be long-term for anorexia nervosa to affect fertility. If someone develops anorexia at the wrong stage, for example between the ages of 10 and 15, when their reproductive organs are developing then they are at a very high risk of infertility. Someone that has never had a period is at a bigger risk of permanent infertility than someone that started their periods only to have them stop again due to illness.
I had severe anorexia for three years, from age 17-20, and lost my period for four years. I am now infertile. Everybody is different though - I do know anorexia sufferers who recovered and were fertile.
A lot of good info, sorry to hear about your infertility Meryl. But like they said, there are many factors in how anorexia can make an individual infertile.
I think it varies from person to person. Unfortunately for me my anorexia was at its worst when I was 14/15 and I had never had a period before the eating disorder. I'm 18 now, and I still can't have a period without birth control, and even with the pill it's almost non-existence. My gynecologist still holds out hope that I will menstruate on my own one day, however, and I'm not too stressed about it because there isn't much I can do other than maintain a healthy weight and eat lots of good fats. There's always adoption afterall.
Original Post by merylwhite1:
I had severe anorexia for three years, from age 17-20, and lost my period for four years. I am now infertile. Everybody is different though - I do know anorexia sufferers who recovered and were fertile.
Hi Meryl- although I am so very sorry that you cannot have children, I am also very glad that you have been brave enough to share this. May I ask: How did you find out that you were/are infertile? I have had disordered eating and eating disorders since I was around 8 years old, and I am now 23 years old. I have never had a regular period- I think there have been only a few times that I had two periods in a row.
I still struggle with anorexia nervosa, and have not had a period since ~August 2008 (?); it is now 6 May 2009. So I know I am not fertile as of late (though admittedly, I do not have sex with my husband since I am too tired and have no libido). But if I were to try later, how would I find out about how fertile I am?
Thanks again, Meryl.
Original Post by littlegirlinabox:
Original Post by merylwhite1:
I had severe anorexia for three years, from age 17-20, and lost my period for four years. I am now infertile. Everybody is different though - I do know anorexia sufferers who recovered and were fertile.
Hi Meryl- although I am so very sorry that you cannot have children, I am also very glad that you have been brave enough to share this. May I ask: How did you find out that you were/are infertile? I have had disordered eating and eating disorders since I was around 8 years old, and I am now 23 years old. I have never had a regular period- I think there have been only a few times that I had two periods in a row.
I still struggle with anorexia nervosa, and have not had a period since ~August 2008 (?); it is now 6 May 2009. So I know I am not fertile as of late (though admittedly, I do not have sex with my husband since I am too tired and have no libido). But if I were to try later, how would I find out about how fertile I am?
Thanks again, Meryl.
Hi littlegirlinabox,
I went to my doctor for other medical problems and he noted on a blood test that my estrogen levels were so low they could not be detected, which he said was a possible sign of infertility. So I asked him to run tests and I had differents scans. Sorry I'm not being very detailed but it was about a year ago now and my memory is not the greatest! They did discover that although I have eggs in my ovaries, they are no longer being released even when I do have a period (now I'm on the pill anyway, so periods aren't a good indicator anymore). There was a possibility I could get pregnant by having my eggs extracted from my ovaries, then fertilised, then put back in my uterus, but obviously that's not the same as being naturally fertile!
I think the best thing to do if you want to find out is make a doctor's appointment, and have them run some tests for you.
Funnily enough, being infertile actually isn't such a big issue as I thought it would be as my boyfriend is also infertile - I'm kind of glad that it's not one of us or the other. (He is a chef, chefs are often infertile due to standing in front of hot ovens all day - yes it is true!) Also, he is adopted, so we're quite open to that idea too 
