Can I recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea without weight gain?
In this post I explain how weight gain plays a role in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea recovery and provides answer to the frequent asked question “can I recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea without weight gain”.
Hypothalamic Amenorrhea happens at every weight
Hypothalamic Amenorrhea is caused by stress in various forms as excessive exercise, psychological stress and under-eating. These stressors lead to a low energy availability which in turn forces your body to prioritize life critical processes; fertility is not one of them. As you see I haven’t mention weight as a stressor. This is because relative energy deficiency occurs at all weights and all BMI:s. Actually the majority of my clients are on a “healthy” weight.
Weight and fertility
Just because you are on what is classified as a “healthy” weight, it does not mean that this weight is healthy for your body. The fact that your period has gone missing actually speaks for the opposite. If you are constantly thinking about food, feeling cold all the time, if you have lost your period, you are most likely below your set point, your body’s happy place. The body does not care what your body looks like or what works for someone else, only your mind does. Every BODY is different. So to constantly compare yourself with others or a previous version of yourself will do you no good.
For the vast majority, a healthy BMI will not be on the lower spectrum. Studies have shown that the most fertile BMI is rather 22-24.
Can I recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea without weight gain?
Most probably you cannot recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea without some weight gain. This is true even if you are at a “normal” or “healthy” weight. How much is really individual. If you start at a rather low weight and/or a low body fat percentage (<19%) you will probably have to gain more compared to someone starting on a higher weight / higher body percentage.
If you have had a healthy relationship with food and exercise throughout adulthood, this might give you a hunch of where your weight might end. If you got stuck in a restrictive behavior in your teens, you will most probably end up on a weight higher than you had before.
The weight you end up at is really up to your body. You have an idea you’re at the right place when you find that you don’t have to work to maintain your size. You follow your hunger cues and do the exercises you enjoy without having to be obsessive, without having to work the rest of your life around either the food or the activity. Your metabolism, appetite, menstruation cycle and digestion are all functioning well without micromanagement.
How weight gain benefits your Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery
Adequate nutrition and a healthy body weight are crucial for restoring hormonal balance and promoting the resumption of regular menstrual cycles. Gaining weight, particularly in the form of body fat, can help signal to the body that it is in a safe and nourished state, encouraging the hypothalamus to resume normal hormone production. This is true also in Lactation Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation during breast feeding), where studies show that a small amount of weight gain might onset ovulation.
Can I recover from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea without weight gain? Most probably you cannot. The good thing is that if you really give in to Hypothalamic Amenorrhea recovery, your weight will become less and less important. I know this is hard to believe but it is true!
