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Amenorrhoea

What you need to know:

It’s essential that any absence of periods - whether they haven’t started in a young woman, haven’t restarted after pregnancy or coming off the Pill, or where they’ve stopped after previously being normal - is investigated thoroughly to determine the underlying cause. Amenorrhoea isn’t a condition you should attempt to treat yourself or with alternative therapies until these investigations have been done.

That said, however, there are natural remedies which could help when other causes have been ruled out.

A common, but frequently overlooked, factor is the relationship between body weight and the cessation of periods. It can be a serious indication of underlying eating disorders in thin young women who are constantly dieting and show signs of obsessive behaviour in their attitudes to food. It may be a sign of anorexia nervosa and may also be linked to laxative abuse.

This condition is also quite common in very athletic young women - obsessive exercisers who go to the gym, jog, run or do aerobics five, six or even seven times a week. It’s often seen in ballet dancers, gymnasts and marathon, cross country and other long-distance runners, but seldom in field event athletes, swimmers or equestrians.

Women don’t need to be obviously anorexia to develop amenorrhoea - it can happen even to those who are just within the lower weight limits if they’re constantly on unbalanced diets that restrict their nutrient intake.

There are two reasons why amenorrhoea that continues for more than a few months should be taken so seriously: firstly, it may signify a number of serious underlying conditions; secondly, one possible effect is that it could subject a woman to an early menopause, with all the catastrophic implications of a severe form of the brittle bone disease osteoporosis as early as their 20s and increase their risk of disabling and life-threatening bone fractures at a horrifying premature age.

There are, however, some natural remedies that might help.

The young woman’s diet should include lots of wholegrain cereals, nuts, seeds, based products, shellfish and oily fish and proper nutritional advice is essential. Anyone with amenorrhoea should see a registered naturopath, state registered dietician or degree qualified nutritionist. If possibly anorexic girls are reluctant to get help, someone else should get it on their behalf.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.