Looking for advice on best ways to regain my menstrual cycle...

To be brief, I haven't had a menstrual cycle since August 2007, and before that I hadn't had one for 6 months, so really I haven't had a regular cycle for almost 2 years.  I'm aware that some of you have had to regain your cycle as well, so I'm just curious if any of you would be willing to offer me some advice.  Did you just increase the amount of fats you ate?  Did you just excercise less?  Did you just increase your body fat %? Is 2 years too long..? 

I'm just looking for anything that can help at this point.  Its weird though..there's a much bigger part of me that doesn't want my periods back than a part that does..I dunno, I just find it strange that I think that way because I know that I'm not healthy without it, and it seems like so many other girls and women on here really want there's back...I guess I'm curious if any (females) who have dealt with anorexia have ever felt a resentment towards becoming a woman, maybe...I dunno, I haven't starved myself for about 2 years, but I still often get confused about how I think I feel, and there are still so many things that I don't quite understand about myself---arg, I'm gonna stop there because I'm already going WAY off of my original topic.

Anyway, about regaining my menstrual cycle, I appreciate ANY advice! Thanks! 

Well, the most important thing is to be at a healthy weight for a sufficient period of time so the body knows that it can sustain a health pregnancy.  Are you at a healthy weight?

I've been researching this for years and know a number of women who have regained their periods (I do work in infertility research).

1) make sure your fat intake is high enough.  research shows women at healthy weights who still don't get their periods have a very low fat intake (and also a very high fiber intake...so watch that as well).

2) make sure your stress level is low and that you have a healthy way of coping with stress.  Stress increases cortisol and high cortisol levels can inhibit ovulation.

3) make sure you are not over-exercising.  This is another form of stress on the body.  Get enough physical rest.  Running specifically is very hard on the body and many runners lose their periods for that reason.

4) patience.  lots of patience.  Once at a healthy weight, it can still take months before the brain catches up and realizes it is healthy.

Not getting your period is a sign the body is unhealthy.  Not only are you infertile, but you are at risk of thinning bones and bone fracture.  It could also be a sign of a thyroid imbalance, a brain tumor, a blocked fallopian tube, etc...you should see a doctor for tests.

As for feeling resentment, I strongly suggest you work through that in therapy..it is not unusual to feel that way, and I know many women with EDs who have.

It depends WHY you have lost your period.

It you have been starving yourself, then many people who start eating enough calories and particularly fats, regain their period .

Starvation can also mess with your hormones and cause imbalances, so even if you restore a healthier weight, there STILL may be hormonal issues that your anorexia caused, in which case you will need to see your doctor, who would refer you to a gynecologist.

Please either stop starving yourself and learn to eat properly, and go and see a doctor if you are a healthy weight for more then 3 months and have still not got a period, because the longer you leave it, the more damage that can be done.

A lot of girls start menstruating on e they reach a healthier weight, but you may have other reasons you need to resolve

The OB can give you a hormone shot that will force it.  I had it done about 9 months after my car accident when I still hadn't had one.  An odd side effect to be sure but obviously my body realized it was in too bad of shape to have a healthy pregnancy.  I'm not sure they would give it to you though in this type of situation...  Have you tried natural hormone supliments?  They have them over by the prenatal vitamins.  Claim to treat medipause but it comes to the same thing.  Your cycles on pause.

for_zev, just curious: what constitutes too low a fat intake, too high a fiber intake, and too much exercise?  I would like to know for myself.  Thanks.

i haven't had mine for 3.5 years now.  it's even more unfair because i'm not underweight, in fact i'm overweight who used to be underweight but gained weight and still no period.  i would recommend you get your hormones checked witha gyno or endocrinologist to see whether it is really the weight that is causing your lack of menstruation. 

yeah it sucks not having a period. I finally realized mine is all from starvation. I ran about a 1k-1500 cal deficit daily for the past year. I didn't get a period at all... it sucked. I brought it up to a 500 cal deficit and I kinda started getting it back (light but it's there). I didn't gain any weight... so I suppose it's fine. It's hard to eat more and not worry about gaining though. Doc took my blood tests and I was as healthy as a horse too... but obviously you're not if you're not having a period ya know? Get your body fat tested too... under 17% can lead to amenorrhea as the body has trouble holding onto a pregnancy...