Infertility and eating disorders

[jodesxx]

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this?

I had anorexia as a kid and didn't have periods for 5 years. Was underweight and fed by NG tube for over a year.

Was told at the time I would have issues conceiving. Three consultants (2 Eating disorder psychs and 1 medical paediatrician) and GP also said this. I've put it down to scaremongering.

Now having to go through IVF.

When we had first appointment 2 years ago they discovered issue with my partner and no further investigations into me. Have said I have pcos.

We've had two failed transfers. And two cycles where I haven't responded to stims. Just worried that maybe there is some truth to what I was told when I was younger.

Am so sorry I can't offer any advice regarding the fertility question, but I just wanted to recognise your amazing work moving on from the intensity of anorexia that required NG tube feeding for so long. I'm a parent of a child with AN and I really don't know how we (Dd, and DH & I) could manage that - cap doffed (with the acknowledgement that food issues may still remain with you)

I didn’t have periods for 6 years age 22-28 due to periods of anorexia and bulimia. It took me two years to get regular cycles of a sensible length and I was able to conceive after that. I had to get to and maintain a mid range BMI though, about 22-22.5. It seemed like the end of the world at the time tbh but it really was worth it. Are you still very thin or over exercising?

My DP also had seriously low sperm count but was able to sort that out, again quite a long process of vitamins and lifestyle changes but we conceived twice naturally.

I had an ED for many (20+) years and conceived when I was still not totally over it (the pregnancy and subsequent baby have thankfully sorted me out). Please don't beat yourself up about what happened when you were younger - it was likely scaremongering imo. Are you going to have any further investigations?

Well done pulling through anorexia. It's never easy.

Meant to add I also had no periods for a long time in my late 20s/early 30s and had a huge ovarian cyst removed at age 33.

I'm not TTC but my experience might be helpful for you to hear nonetheless. I was anorexic age 24-29, no periods. Im now 32 and only just got a regular cycle back, I had v light periods with a long cycle for a number of years in partial recovery. Had to reach a bmi of around 21 and seriously cut down on exercising. I was also diagnosed with PCOS during my anorexia (multiple cysts on ovaries but no other PCOS symptoms, including increased testosterone) since recovering however I have had further scans revealing my ovarian cysts have gone, latest doctor said I was misdiagnosed with PCOS and that the previous cysts were the result of not ovulating properly. Not saying this is the case for you but it might be worth checking out.

Like I said I'm not TTC but I know a number of women who used to be anorexic and now have DC, including family members. And lots of celebrities fit that bill (look at Victoria Beckham, v thin, also has PCOS, 4 DC). Sorry for the struggle you're going through but a massive well done on your recovery