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General health

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Original poster

infertility due to anorexia

20 replies

starlover · 14/03/2006 16:34

does anyone know anything about this?
A good friend of mine was seeing someone who has just broken off their relationship as tests done last week have shown that she will never have kids.
She is only 21, and he doesn't know all the ins and outs, but it is apparently due to what he described as "her being very ill a few years ago when I think she lost a dangerous amount of weight and is still recovering"

do you have any experience of this? Is it likely that she would be permanently infertile? Or are the chances that one day her body will recover and overcome this?

OP posts:

FioFio · 14/03/2006 16:36

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Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 16:37

that's what i thought. her periods haven't returned though i don't think.. despite this being a while ago

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emmawill · 14/03/2006 16:39

Core am I right, your friend broke off a relationship because his girlfriend couldn't have kids?

Anorexia can cause a problem with fertility but it might not be long term, might just harder for her getting pregnant.

I just hope that wasn't the reason for your friend breaking up the relationship as he is a very swallow man if thats the case.

Nemo1977 · 14/03/2006 16:39

Think it can depend to what extent and how long the damage was occuring as I know lots of major internal organs can be permanantly damaged. Have the tests shown permanent damage that is irreparable[sp?] orthat she is not ovulating etc as the ovulation could come back as weight is gained.

Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 16:40

no... it was her that broke it off... because she knows he wants kids in the future.

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Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 16:41

i'm not sure nemo... hopefully the latter.

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emmawill · 14/03/2006 16:43

Oh I see. She probaby will be able to have children in the future a friend of mine was very anorexic for a number of years and she's just got pregnant it took awhile, but then some take longer than others to get pregnant anyway.

Mercy · 14/03/2006 16:53

Yes I also know someone who was anorexic in her late teens/early 20's, also took lots of drugs but has conceived naturally in her early 30's.

ruty · 14/03/2006 16:58

i was anorexic in my early twenties - quite seriously so. My periods stopped for a few years. Also had severe weight loss in teens after road accident and hospital, and periods stopped then too. i didn't haveh any any trouble conceiving in my early thirties, conceived very quickly actually. I do think you have to be a stable weight and eating a balanced diet though, and your body has to have time to recover. I'd be surprised if this was a long term problem, but she may have to seek professional advice.

Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 17:13

thanks all... this is all sounding quite positive.

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Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 20:29

anyone else got any positive experiences of this?

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hester · 14/03/2006 20:36

I was anorexic in my teens and for much of my twenties. Many years later I started trying to conceive and it did take a long while - mind, I was 40 so I'm far more inclined to blame that. I do remember being warned that this could damage my fertility, but I'm not sure exactly how.

Certainly, it will be very important that your friend is a healthy weight with established menstrual cycle.

Original poster

starlover · 14/03/2006 20:40

yeah... this is what i had thought.

i guess it's a question of whether her internal organs have been damaged or sometihng.

does anyone know of anyone who has had permanent infertility caused by an eating disorder? or is that unlikely?

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moi · 14/03/2006 20:46

My sister had anorexia from the age of 16 - badly until the age of about 18. Then still was not well right up until she conceived her DD at the age of 26. She conceived ridiculously easy and can't have been more than 6 and a half stone. She is fully recovered now thank goodness.

ruty · 14/03/2006 20:59

goodness, she conceived at six and a half stone? that really is miraculous. i didn't conceive until i was around 8 and a half/nine stone, but i guess it also depends on how tall you are.

Mercy · 14/03/2006 21:07

ruty that is my average weight and i'm not anorexic. I conceived 3 babies in 1 - 3 months of trying. So yes I think it's about what's normal for you.

ruty · 14/03/2006 21:18

yes of course mercy, that's true.

moi · 14/03/2006 21:21

I am guessing at 6 and a half stone.
She is 7 and a half now and a size 6 in clothes and although very slim, is no where near what she was.

hester · 15/03/2006 22:26

I don't have periods at under 8 stone - mind, I am tall - so yes it will depend on what is a healthy weight for her. A BMI of less than 19 will depress fertility. Also, regardless of weight, a diet that is very low in fats will lower fertility. Excessive exercise also reduces fertility.

Anorexic women can and do conceive, as do very obese women, but there is no doubt that both extremes are an obstacle to full fertility.

CaptainCavemansMummy · 15/03/2006 22:39

I was bulimic from my late teens to late twenties. Started my recovery in 2001, started ttc in 2002 and finally conceived after 20 months.
I really believe I didn't get pg until mentally and physically I was well enough.
Sadly, this doesn't explain the drug/alcohol addicts I encounter at work who get pg at the drop of a hat.

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