Some types of eating disorders in women can have a significant impact on disrupting menstruation. Till now, menstrual irregularities have been linked to only one type of eating disorder, i.e. anorexia nervosa. For a woman to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, there must be absence of menstrual periods for at least three months. Its been seen that irregular periods not only increase a woman's risk of osteoporosis, but can also impair fertility. Thus, the moment the cycle gets irregular, one of the most important things to be examined is the eating habit of the individual. In a survey conducted by University of North Carolina 1705 women participating in a genetic study met strict diagnostic criteria for eating disorders, it was found that menstrual irregulars ranging from absence of periods, skipping periods to very light periods, could be linked to every subtype of eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa. As per the results, nearly 80 percent of women with anorexia reported secondary amenorrhoea, meaning they had begun having periods before age 16 but had stopped menstruating for at least three months in a row at least once. About 36 percent of women with bulimia nervosa had secondary amenorrhoea. Among women who fell into the "eating disorder not otherwise classified" group, 30 percent reported secondary amenorrhoea. The factors most strongly associated with menstrual dysfunction included a person's body mass index (BMI), her calorie intake, and her level of exercise. Therefore, eating disorders of all subtypes are significantly linked to menstrual problems. All patients with menstrual irregularities should be asked about eating disorders.
International Journal of Eating Disorders,
July, 2007