Missing periods: What's your experience?

So, I’m 15 and my period has been MIA for over six months now—since last September. I’ve already seen a gynecologist and an endocrinologist, and they basically told me it stopped because I dropped weight way too fast (lost about 30 pounds in just a few months). I was diagnosed with anorexia, and my doctor said I need to get my weight back up—I'm sitting at 108 lbs at 5'5" right now—within the next year if I want my cycle to come back.
If it doesn't happen naturally, she mentioned I'll have to start hormone therapy. Can anyone break down how hormone therapy actually works and what the side effects are? I've heard rumors about it causing cancer...😲

You probably won't drop dead from hormone therapy, but anorexia? That’ll definitely do you in.

cosmicwolf27 said:Hormone therapy isn't going to kill you, but anorexia definitely will.

👍 I'm with you on that.

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Hormone therapy basically does the heavy lifting for your hormones when your body won't.
You’ll probably gain a little weight, which—let's be honest—is exactly what you need right now.
As far as I know, hormone therapy doesn't cause cancer.
Actually, if you don't "die from anorexia in the meantime," you're more likely to face health issues later if your body just isn't functioning properly.
Missing periods at such a young age means your development isn't where it should be.
And what about your future fertility? I get that kids aren't on your radar today, but who knows what you'll think down the road?
No period, no chance of having kids. Simple as that.
Bottom line: your overall health is tied to your cycle. If that's missing, your health is taking a hit, period.

My advice? Try to put on maybe 10 or 15 pounds. Given your height, that should be enough to jumpstart things, and your period will likely return on its own.
Don't expect it next month, though. It could take six months or even a year.
And no, you don't have to live on junk food to do it. Just stick to three solid meals a day. But actually eat them.

mistydrifter55 said:👍 I agree.

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Hormone therapy basically just does the work your body should be doing itself.
You’ll probably pack on some weight—which, honestly, sounds like exactly what you need right now.
As far as I know, hormone therapy doesn't cause cancer.
It’s way more likely that if you don't "drop dead from anorexia first," you'll face cancer risks later because your body isn't functioning properly.
Missing periods at such an early stage means your development is off.
Your future fertility is also a huge question mark. I get that kids aren't on your radar today, but they might be down the road... eventually.
No period, no babies.
Bottom line—your overall health depends on having a cycle; without it, everything else starts breaking down.

My advice? Put on about 10 or 15 pounds—enough for your height—and your period will likely return on its own.
It won't happen overnight next month; it could take six months or even a year.
And no, you don't have to live on junk food to gain weight—just eat three actual meals. But actually eat them.

Well, fine... I already know I need to gain weight. It’s just not as easy as you make it sound... though I guess there's no point in acting surprised.
I don't know, I did some Googling on hormone therapy, and a ton of sites claim it can trigger breast cancer, which scares me since I had a cyst this summer... It was biopsied and it's fine now. But I need to hit that 10-pound goal in the next year, and even thinking about it makes me nauseous.
And you don't just get "a little" heavier on hormones—you can gain 20 pounds in a week—so please don't downplay it just because I might be "scared."

ruggedbadger25 said:Okay, look... I already know I need to put on weight. It’s just not as easy as you make it sound. And honestly, why is everyone acting so surprised by that?
I did some Googling about hormone therapy, and so many sites mention the link to breast cancer. That actually scares me because I had a clear biopsy this summer. Everything was fine after they checked it. Now, I'm supposed to gain 5 kg in the next year, but even thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach.
Hormones don't just cause "slight" weight gain; people can pack on 10 kg in a single week. So please, don't downplay it just because I might be "scared."

From what I can see, we aren't the ones acting surprised—you are. You're just repulsed by the idea of gaining weight.
That kind of mindset doesn't help you heal; it just feeds an eating disorder.
And let's get real: nobody gains 10 kg in seven days out of nowhere. Stop talking nonsense.
You can obsess over biopsies and cancer all you want, but that isn't going to solve anything.
I can tell you're smart enough to research things and find your own answers.
But the bottom line hasn't changed: it's still about anorexia.
You aren't going to hit your target weight at your current size. That's just how biology works.
Look, I'm not your mother, and I'm not here to force you into anything.
You asked, and I gave you my take. That's it.
Honestly? Go focus on finding a healthy way to eat so you don't end up gaining 100 lbs later. If you keep up this attitude, that's exactly where you'll end up—whether it's now or a year from today.

By the way, let’s keep the talk about amenorrhea over here.
As for the food obsession stuff, please head over to the Women's Corner—there's already a thread dedicated to anorexia. Go ahead and vent there as much as you need.

Regarding the anorexia issue, I’d strongly suggest tackling that head-on. I get the drive to be thinner, but trust me, your health has to take center stage.

As for hormonal birth control... man, you meet a hundred women and get a hundred different stories. Personally, I don't use it and wouldn't recommend it (given my own track record of bad experiences), but since that's the reality we're dealing with, your best bet is to find a solid and responsible OB-GYN. You also need to be proactive—pay close attention to how your body reacts to the pills. For instance, if you smoke, quit; it’s just not a good idea.

Also, try sipping at least one cup of chamomile tea every day—it helps regulate your cycle. It's natural and won't hurt anything. 👍

Best of luck! 🙂

Sam Nelson8 said:Regarding the anorexia—I’d really suggest you tackle that head-on. I know you're aiming to be as thin as possible, but trust me... your health has to come first.

Regarding hormonal birth control... Man, there are so many different experiences out there—every woman's journey is unique. Personally, I don't use it and I'm definitely not a fan (mostly because my own experiences were pretty terrible)—but since that's just how things are right now, you might as well find a good doctor to help you navigate it... Responsible... You have to be responsible too—listen to your doctor and actually track how your body reacts to the pill. Like, if you smoke, just quit... it’s not exactly recommended.

I drink at least one cup of chamomile tea every single day—it helps regulate my cycle. It’s all-natural and doesn't cause any issues... 👍

Best of luck! 🙂

I guess I'll give the tea thing a shot and see what happens—though at this point, I’ve tried everything under the sun. Honestly, gaining weight feels like my only move left... Thanks for the advice, anyway. 🙂

ruggedbadger25 said:Hmm... I guess I'll give the tea thing a shot and see what happens (though at this point, I've tried everything else, so apparently gaining weight is my last resort). Thanks for the tip, anyway. 🙂

The tea is just a Band-Aid. You really need to see an OB-GYN for a prescription; your situation is serious enough to warrant actual medicine.

ruggedbadger25 said:I don't know—I did a little digging on hormone therapy, and so many sites claim it can cause breast cancer. That scares me because I had a cyst this summer... they drained it and everything is fine now. But apparently, I need to gain about 10 pounds over the next year, and honestly, just thinking about gaining weight makes me want to gag.
Hormones don't just make you gain a "little" weight—you can easily pack on 20 pounds in a week—so please don't downplay it just because I might be "scared" of the scale...

Good catch. Hormone therapy definitely carries risks like cancer or blood clots—it's just that a lot of OB-GYNs conveniently forget to mention that part.☕

ruggedbadger25 said:OK, I'm 15 and haven't had my period in over six months (since September). I saw a gynecologist and an endocrinologist, and they told me it stopped because of sudden weight loss (about 33 lbs in a few months). I was diagnosed with anorexia, and my doctor said I need to gain weight (I'm currently at 108 lbs and 5'5") over the next year to get my period back.
If it doesn't come back, she said I'll have to start hormone therapy. Can someone explain what hormone therapy is and what the side effects are? I heard it can cause cancer..😲

I was diagnosed with amenorrhea at 16, and my OBGYN put me on Dabras—I think I took it for about a month (or however long it lasts, I don't remember) and then everything was fine.

ruggedbadger25 said:...I need to gain those 5 lbs over the next year, but even thinking about it makes me feel nauseous.

I realize this isn't easy for you right now—really, I do—but you have to understand that this is absolutely necessary for your health. This is a very serious issue, maybe more serious than you even realize at this point.

So, you don't want to take pills, and the mere thought of gaining weight is revolting to you, so you've decided to rely solely on herbal tea. Honestly? That’s a highly questionable approach given the circumstances; it’s little more than a mild supplement to actual medical intervention. It won't do anything for you if you just keep going down this same path.

Your situation is what it is—whether you like it or not, you really need to listen to the professionals for your own sake. Please, think about your health and your future. You might end up regretting this deeply later on. It seems like you're afraid of medication, yet you aren't showing that same concern for your own life or the reproductive system you're going to need down the road.

Back in high school, I had a classmate who struggled with anorexia. She pushed herself to such an extreme that her doctors literally told her, "If you lose even one more pound, you will die." It was only then that she truly "woke up," and it took all of us pulling together to help her fight against that darkness. We were always there with her, making sure she ate. It wasn't junk food; we made sure she had real meals. There were nights we'd be calling her at 3:00 AM just to get her to eat. She couldn't handle big meals, so it had to be small amounts more frequently. It was a slow, grueling process of getting her life back, involving endless days spent in hospitals. It honestly brought tears to my eyes seeing her layer four different shirts on just to look "normal." That struggle lasted two years. The fallout was massive—she dealt with constant illnesses and infections because her immune system was completely trashed, and it took a heavy toll on her reproductive health, among other things I won't go into here.

My intention isn't to scare you—not even slightly—but rather to point out how grave this situation is. You can't just lean on an internet forum and cling to everything except medication and weight gain. You MUST gain weight. Please, choose your health and your life.

Wishing you nothing but luck and good health 🙂

Chris Howard2 said:I was diagnosed with amenorrhea at 16, and my OBGYN put me on Dabras—I think I took it for about a month (or however long it lasts, I can't quite remember)—and after that, everything went back to normal.

So your period just came back after that?

Let me give you an example. One of my absolute best friends was diagnosed with anorexia back in high school. During her worst stretch, she weighed only about 77 pounds at 5'4", which landed her in the hospital for a few months. To cut to the chase, she was diagnosed with amenorrhea and has been on hormone therapy for years now—using things like Dabras, for instance. We’re 24 now, and she still has to take pills just to trigger a period every month.
She tried tapering off them in stages based on what her OB-GYN suggested, but her body just wouldn't kickstart things naturally, even though her weight has been stable for years within a healthy range. Over those last 6 or 7 years, she only managed to bleed naturally three times total—we celebrated those moments like they were New Year's Eve. But the bleeding never actually happened, and there was nothing the following month. It’s just been this endless cycle...
I don't want to lecture you, though. Every situation is unique, and I'm sure you already understand a lot about the fallout from anorexia—not just the mental side, but the physical toll too. I really don't want to sound patronizing.
Just please, look after yourself, sweetie! 🙂

Given everything you're going through right now—honestly—hormone therapy can be a total lifesaver. I really don't think you should let this issue weigh on you so heavily. Just try to stay focused on getting your weight back to a healthy baseline.

ruggedbadger25 said:So did your period finally come back?

Yeah, but I’m guessing my biggest advantage was not dealing with anorexia. (Not attacking you, just saying—if you’re seriously underweight, hormone therapy probably won't fix much on its own.) Good luck 🙂.

Chris Howard2 said:Yeah, but I'm assuming my big advantage was not dealing with anorexia—not attacking you, just saying—but if you're actually severely underweight, hormone therapy probably won't help much anyway. Good luck 🙂.

Look, I weigh 108 lbs. That isn't exactly dangerously low...

ruggedbadger25 said:Well, I only weigh about 108 pounds. It's not like it's an incredibly dangerous weight or anything.

It actually is dangerous—and, frankly, it's highly unlikely that medication will do much for you at that weight, especially once you stop taking it. But, if I may be so bold, perhaps even more concerning is the idea that this isn't a serious situation. Nobody here is trying to attack you; we are just attempting to help you realize that you really MUST gain some weight.

ruggedbadger25 said:Look, I weigh 108 lbs. That's not exactly "dangerously" low.

The second they slap an anorexia diagnosis on you...🤷 I mean, doctors don't just throw those labels around for fun, right?
What really sticks out to me here, though, is how much you keep trying to play down what's actually happening. (And hey, I'm not even attacking you here🙂)

cosmicwolf27 said:The second they diagnose you with anorexia...🤷 I mean, I assume they don't just hand those diagnoses out like candy.
What really sticks out to me here is how much you keep trying to downplay your condition. (And hey, this isn't an attack🙂)

I'm not downplaying it... but what am I supposed to write about my illness when this isn't even the right subforum for it?? I'm just pointing out there's a massive difference between 108 lbs and 77 lbs.
And again—I KNOW I need to gain weight. But my situation is DEFINITELY not that critical.
Plus, they slapped me with an anorexia diagnosis the moment I admitted I lost weight on purpose. They hand those out way too easily just to get you off their backs, if you really want to know...