Secondary amenorrhea?

Okay, so I haven't had my period for 3 months now. Back in May, I started changing my eating habits (less fat, no junk food, more veggies/fruit/lean meat) and I went from 135 pounds to 120 pounds over the course of 3 months. I am 5'9 and I weigh around 120-122. Up until my lack of periods the past 3 months, I never missed a period before and they were always very regular. I am sexually active but I hadn't had sex with my boyfriend since February (I stopped having sex when I stopped using birth control). I had regular periods after the last time we had sex up until my eating habits changed so I don't think it's very likely that I'm pregnant. Also, I just started veterinary school in a foreign country so I've been extremely stressed out for the past month. Do you think that the combination of weight loss and stress accounts for my lack of period? I'm not starving myself (I eat a healthy amount of calories) but I am constantly stressed out everyday. I will probably see a doctor if it doesn't come back but I wanted some ideas.

I too haven't had my period for 3 months and yes it can be due to a variety of causes, stress and weight loss included. I wasn't taking in a healthy amount of calories for a tiny while, so I think that made it even worse. Not to offend you or anything, but you didn't need to lose any weight? You are borderline underweight according to the BMI measurement. I'm the same height as you and weigh 152 pounds and people think I look too skinny!

If you are POSITIVE that you are getting the right amount of calories, which is around 1800-2000 or MORE if you are lightly active, then you should see your doctor. If not, eat more, take it easy, relax. If they don't come back within 2 months or so, go to your doctor.

As has already been pointed out, at your current height and weight you are mildly underweight -- which is enough to cause your periods to stop.

Each woman is different, but the combination of being underweight (the body goes into survival mode and assumes all energy is to go to vital organs and not fertility) and finding your new environment and schooling stressful is more than enough to cause amenorrhea.

The first thing to do, is eat more. So upping whatever the intake is now to a maintenance level (2500 a day, I'm going to guess given that you are likely moderately active). You should even try to gain a few pounds which means putting the calorie intake up higher as well.

And yes, don't let the amenorrhea continue as it has repercussions for bone density among other things -- so see a doctor if upping the food does not resolve it.

This is an old thread.

Ooops very old thread -- thanks merylwhite1 for pointing that out -- didn't notice the original posting date. Will pay attention next time.