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Original poster

Anorexia - Has it stopped me being able to have kids?

26 replies

SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 22:13

As a teenager i suffered from Anorexia Nervosa. I never talk about it much because it was the worst time period i have ever experienced.

DP and i have been trying for a baby for about 8months. Only last week we confronted each other that we actually were trying for a baby, before that i think i just wanted to make out we weren't so it didn't bother me as much that i wasn't falling pregnant.

He briefly knows about my ED as i still have the scarrs to prove it but i don't think he knows that this could of damaged my fertility.

I've looked on a number of websites that have confirmed my worries and i think i am coming to terms with the fact i have deprived myself from motherhood.

I do not know how to break it to dp, i feel like i am not only a failure to myself but also to him.

Any suggestions would help.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 20/12/2008 22:31

Poor you - I'm sorry to hear that but assume that you're well now and I hope you're proud of yourself

I don't have personal experience but my sister had AN for a few years as a teenager but has managed to conceive and carry a baby to term so don't feel it's impossible - it's not by any means. I didn't even realise it can affect fertility long term - I wouldn't believe everything you read on the net which has scared the bejeezus out of me on more than one occasion.

Also 8 months is really not very long at all to be trying. Please go and see you GP so you can put your mind at rest - I do know that anxiety is not great if you're trying for a baby!

Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 22:39

Thank you very much for your kind words.

I know this sounds very stupid, especcially as it will benefit myself, but i would feel uncomfortable seating with my GP with a one to one conversation about certain things i don't want to discuss with anyone let alone him.

I guess i will have to swallow my pride to get anywhere with this situation.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 20/12/2008 22:46

No, it doesn't sound very stupid - my sister hates talking about it too.

But I would try and talk to someone - even if not your GP. There are a couple of ED helplines aren't there - could you maybe talk through your concerns with one of them?

It may well be that you are worrying yourself unnecessarily so please do talk to someone sooner rather than later.

mymama · 20/12/2008 22:52

I have a friend who had AN for over 10 years as a teenager. She doesn't talk about it much but I know she stopped menstruating for most of that time and was hospitalised several times.

She has four children and didn't have any problems conceiving them or carrying them to term.

BarcodeTheRedNosedZebra · 20/12/2008 23:01

My sister was in the Atkinson Morley in London with AN. She was ill for many years. She now has four grown up children.

My sister in law also had it for years and has three kids.

Like mymama's friend my sister stopped menstruating during her AN.

Bear in mind that 8 months isn't long to conceive for some people. DW and I took over 6 months to concieve DD1 but DD2 took about a week to concieve. There's not often much logic to it - it just takes time sometimes for a whole variety of factors.

If you are worried though then you should go and talk to your GP. Don't forget that she (he?) will have your full medical records so there will be nothing you can tell them that they don't already know.

Sorry this is causing you such anxiety.

Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 23:04

mymama - Did you friend have any effects from AN like Hyponatremia?

OP posts:
Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 23:06

Many of you seem to know people who have recovered and had children. I don't think i am one of the lucky people.

Thank you for all your comments and i understand i am not alone.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 20/12/2008 23:11

But you don't know that SmilePlease. 8 months is no time at all.

Please don't give up before you've even started. Find out what you're dealing with first. At the moment, you're going on the basis of something that you've read on the net. I've just googled it and I can find very little to substantiate your anxiety that AN will permanently damage fertility. Please go and talk to someone.

Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 23:15

You are absolutely right to say i am being very negative on the subject.

I shall try to be positive. I will call my GP up tomorrow for an appointment.

OP posts:
dontwanttobejumpedon · 20/12/2008 23:15

i had very severe anorexia in my early twenties and now have 2 children. HTH!

ScottishMummy · 20/12/2008 23:16

smile,you have only been ttc

Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 23:27

dontwanttobejumpedon - when you say 'severe' what do you mean by that?

Also it is not only the internet that i've heard this from, it is what i was told at the time if i didn't get a grip amongst other things.

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 20/12/2008 23:30

so go get an Ax,recall your old notes,could anyone from your ED team talk to you

dontwanttobejumpedon · 20/12/2008 23:47

well, my periods stopped for about 2 years as a teenager and then about 2 years in my twenties. I had suspected loss of bone density, had a few weird fractures, i am 5 foot 7 and was at my worst around 6 stone, maybe for a year. I should be around 9 stone [am more than that now LOL] If you are menstruating now and a good body weight you should be able to conceive, i think.

Original poster
SmilePlease · 20/12/2008 23:56

I would say i was probably just like you then. I am 5ft 11 and my lowest was 6st 11lb. I have other illnesses from AN but i don't think these would of effected my fertility. To this day i am still anaemic and i do have the occasional miss of a period.

This is very personal so you don't have to answer. Did you take anything to get thin?

I think this would of been my ultimate cause for infertility.

OP posts:
dontwanttobejumpedon · 21/12/2008 00:03

what like?

Original poster
SmilePlease · 21/12/2008 00:06

Laxative type drugs.

OP posts:
dontwanttobejumpedon · 21/12/2008 00:13

i used some herbal stuff for a bit yes, got a bit dependent on it as it messes up your muscles. worried about it for a while but life is too short.

emma1977 · 21/12/2008 00:27

If you are having regular periods and have a normal BMI now, there shoud be no concerns regarding your previous AN and fertility.

See your GP for a chat. Don't be frightened about it- problems conceiving are quite common although we don't usually start askign for tests until at least 12 months has passed without a pregnancy. Also, start taking folic acid if you haven't already.

Good luck.

Original poster
SmilePlease · 21/12/2008 20:07

I have an appointment for the new year. I am very hopeful that this is all just one big scary scandal that can't happen.

I explained to DP this afternoon that my past may have caused some disruption in my fertility. We argued over it. For he feels the same way as i do, that i brought all of this on myself. There's no one else to blame but my stupidity. I do not think i want to be a mother so much. If i did i would not be considering admiring thinspo on the computer screen. Maybe this is a sign that i'm not ready for a child.

Thank you for your support.

OP posts:
Jjou · 22/12/2008 13:43

SmilePlease, i know how it feels to think that your past may have affected your fertility - I was bulimic for a number of years, and took slimming pills, and weird herbal concoctions, laxatives etc. It took us a while (16 months) to conceive DD and it was always in the back of my mind - i used to get sicky dread when i thought about it, and about how my illness might impact on my DP's future plans (as well as my own). I did get pregnant, and DD is 14 months now, so don't assume the worst - sometimes it just takes a while to get pregnant. I remember reading that there's a tiny, tiny window every month where you can conceive. Don't despair! Best wishes x

MerlinsBeard · 22/12/2008 13:52

i was told that i wouldn't be able to have children...i now have 3.

Original poster
SmilePlease · 22/12/2008 14:36

Jjou - does this mean that people with ED's like AN and BN take longer to concieve?

I also resulted to laxative abuse and used to purge until i was hospitilised for gastrointestinal bleeding.

OP posts:
Flihgtattendant · 22/12/2008 14:42

First of all, I didn;t use anything like laxatives etc so I don't know how they might impact on fertility - however my guess is not at all, they are to do with the digestive system not the reproductive system.
You'd need to check with a dr to make sure though.

Secondly yes, I had adult onset AN from the age of 23 to 28. I am 5'7 and at my lowest was around 6 st.

I didn't have periods in all that time, but they came back once I reached a better weight, probably around 8st.

I conceived the first time I tried to, tbh. If you are aware of your ovulation and so on you have a better chance.
Oh and that was twice, as I have two children now. It left me with mild osteoporosis but doesn't seem to have stopped me being quite fertile.

HTH...try not to worry, it could even be your own anxiety stopping you conceiving, iyswim...

ruty · 22/12/2008 14:45

your gp is obviously rather ignorant about the condition. It is an illness. Is one 'stupid' to get depressed? I think you have every chance of conceiving, honestly.

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