Does anorexia result in long-term infertility?
When a woman is underweight (having a body mass index of less than 20), her hypothalamic and pituitary hormones are suppressed, resulting in a cessation of ovulation. This is why women who suffer from anorexia nervosa and related conditions usually do not menstruate. Depending on the severity and duration of the disease, the interruption of hormone production may be temporary or permanent. In many women, weight gain will cause normal hormone function to resume. If it does not, hormone injections can be administered to trigger ovulation, making pregnancy possible.
