Is it unhealthy to lose your periods or not? (forgive me for my spelling)

For years, especially since I've been recovering from an ED for 2 years, I've been under the impression that losing your periods was severely unhealthy.  The other day though, I went to a gynacologist, told her about my ammenhorea, and she said that it wasn't really something to worry about unless I want kids.  She didn't bring up osteoporosis until I mentioned it, and she just kind of shrugged.  A few moments later she said that since I haven't had one for 2 years, I could be developing osteopenia, but maybe not.  I'm getting my bones scanned pretty soon, so I guess I'll find out then.

I'm just wondering what anyone thinks (especially if you have also lost your periods) because this has been my main motivation for gaining weight, and I want to know if I should really be making that big of a deal out of it.  Thanks.      &n bsp;    

It IS very dangerous to lose your period, as you'll be at risk for low calcium levels, making your bones weak and easy to break. Having strong bones is very important, and yes, you should make a big deal out of it.

you know this. you'v had an ED for 2 years and you'v talked before abour ammenorrhea.

you know this.

why would you ask something you clearly are aware of

Many docotrs do shrug this issue off. I had that happened to me as well. I did develop osteoporsis in my 20's and I am sure it is from having lacked a period for so long. Also this is a sign of other things that may not be as easily dx that could be going on. Regardless I have had my period and very low weights but then sometimes not so it is not always an indication of being healthy. There are many things that can happen to a body from cardiac,liver,etc issues. I hope you can find the motivation to move forward

Healthy, normal, young female bodies usually menstruate....  There are a lot of reasons why they stop doing so, none of them particularly healthy.... overexercising, stress, illness, malnutrition, very low body-weight.

Infertility alone is a reasonably 'big deal'.

fidget84 I really regret asking about these things because everything you said is true...I just...I dunno...the way that that woman seemed to shrug it off was just a way different reaction than I've had from people, and I guess---even though my thinking isn't as skewed as it was---I still want to find out that I don't need to gain weight afterall.

I do know that I have to gain more weight for health, but I have such a hard time wanting to because I'm comfortable with my weight, I always hated getting my periods, and I feel fine.  Her answers and nonchalant attitude seemed to have fueled my desire not to change, so I guess I posted those questions because I knew I needed people---other than family or friends---to combat those unhealthy desires.

Your replies really do help me, so thank you all for setting me back on track with this :) 

Fidget - she asked this question bc her doctor, a trusted professional, shrugged off her problem. It's easy to be confused when you've always thought something, but then someone who's supposed to help you tells you otherwise. I would be confused, too, if my doctor said not having a period for 2 years was no big deal. 

And kate, I'm sorry that your doctor was so indifferent! i suggest getting a new one bc amenorrhea is definitely not something to mess with. good luck :)

I would think that if your dr is going to have you do a bone scan, she is more worried about it than she is letting on.  I have a medical problem that requires me to take meds every day.  I never had a dr tell me the risks if I didn't take them.  I found out from research that I could have serious heart problems if I don't take it.  No dr had ever told me that!  Sometimes you just have to trust your gut instinct.

missing a period 2x in a row is never good, unless your just starting and your cycle is still regulating itself.

jcl76 You're very right; it really did confuse me, and I have a hard time trusting myself and others these days.

druciana05 She really didn't seem worried at all. It was strange, I think you would've had to have been there.  And I can't trust my "gut instinct" because I feel like thats basically what has been keeping me from just letting myself get healthy in the first place.

Thanks for your replies; you're awesome :) 

Get a new doctor.

Seriously, some one like that is no good. There are plenty of doctors out there who will truly listen and treat your problems, without you doing your own research!

My OB/GYN said six months was the upper limit she allows her patients to go without having a period. After that, we have to take hormone replacement (estrogen) as well as additional calcium - and she will order blood tests  every other month to make sure the levels are right.

A good doctor will be proactive, not passive. Where do you live? How old are you? Maybe someone on CC can reccommend a good doc in your area?

I'm 18, and I live in Southern New Jersey where there's hardly any help for people with EDs.  Any therapist that I've gone to has always been at least 45 minutes away.  My family doctor was really good to me, but that was because his daughter had suffered from anorexia and depression...she unfortunately commited suicide...he really helped though because he actually got me into the Renfrew Center for two weeks of the summer of '07; within just a week of being there my period suddenly came back.  I thought I could maintain it when I came back home, but once I got back, I lost some weight for X-C, and thus lost my period again.  We've looked alot---my parents do all they can---but there's just not much help offered around here.

Your family doctor sounds like a very nice person, and one who has you best interests at heart - but it also sounds like ED treatment and OB/GYN are not areas he is expert in.

It can be rough getting a second opinion, it almost feels like your cheating on a nice doctor. My GI specialist is incredibly nice, but my treatment was beyond him after my first surgery (he had my gallbladder removed, and after that, he was stumped.) I made all kinds of suggestions, but it was a lot of work on my end to try and self-diagnose problems.

If I'm not mistaken, from south NJ you are within a 3 hour drive of both Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. Any way you can visit with an OB/GYN there? I know it's a big trek, but it might be worth it.

The other thing is, as you are 18 and will be in college next year, you might be too busy to run on a team next fall. Skipping one season of sport might be good for your recovery.

Good luck, hon. I really hope you get everything sorted soon. And congrats on your recovery! Other then this problem, it sounds like your in a good place.

I'm in the same boat.  I've not had a period in 3.5 years.  My sister says I "willed" it away because I hated dealing with the mess and other issues. She also suggested that because of our overbearing father, I've denied the part of me that says it's okay to be a female.  I've seen 3 obgyn's, took 2 progestin challenges, and was on acupuncture and herbs for awhile.  I still don't have my period.  The first obgyn misdiagnosed me with PCOS! I felt like I had a permanent disease! Anyway, after the 2nd and 3rd obgyn's examined me, there is nothing wrong with my uterus or ovaries.  

I also read that it's unnecessary to have a period unless I want children.  I just started a medium dose of birth control, so I'll see how that goes.  I'm not looking forward to the effects, because I've taken both high and lose dose before, and they all make me gain weight, and I'm a person who's extremely fit and health conscious. I'm still unsure if I want my period back!  It's so much more convenient without it!

Doctors, just like any other professionals, have strong and weak points.  Your doctor could be the person who graduated last in the class or could also just be to tired to focus on this issue, or honestly may not feel that it's important or as important as another health issue that you're dealing with.  You know that it's important so you need to keep bringing it up and working on ways to regain it.