The condition
What is Hypothalamic Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea has two types
- Primary Amenorrhea
- A woman who has never had a natural period. This is usually diagnosed if a teenage girl who is showing signs of puberty has not started menstruating by the age of 15.
- Secondary Amenorrhea
- A woman who was previously menstruating (regularly or irregularly) and then misses 3 cycles or goes 6 or more months without getting her period.
- Hypothalamic
- This term refers to a structure in the brain known as the hypothalamus. When functioning properly the hypothalamus regulates the production of hormones which are essential for the development of a healthy egg, ovulation, and menstruation.
Root causes
Common stressors that shut down the hypothalamus
- Under eating
- Overexercising
- Stress
In Hypothalamic Amenorrhea these stressors disrupt the communication between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries.
Book a Discovery CallIrregular ovulation / Spotting / Short luteal phase = early signs of HA
Can I Get My Period Back?
Yes.
Exercise is Healthy Right?
Reports of menstrual cycle irregularities and more severely, hypothalamic amenorrhea, are significantly more common in female athletes.
Some women can exercise a lot and still menstruate regularly and others can't. For some, even moderate exercise negatively affects their menstrual cycle. This could be due to the presence of other stressors, under fueling, a history of emotional trauma, or a system that is just more sensitive to cortisol and other stress hormones.
Let's discover what is right for you!- Do you regularly participate in a high intensity sport?
- Are you a compulsive exerciser? Are you irritable when you don't get your daily exercise 'fix'? Do you prioritize exercise over socializing with friends and family?
- Are you using exercise to burn off excess calories in order to maintain a lower weight?
- Do you schedule in rest days?
Cycle Charting Will Guide Your Recovery
Cycle Charting Reveals Your Fertile Days
Over the past year I have trained with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, learning the skill of menstrual cycle charting and becoming a Fertility Awareness Mastery Practitioner. Lisa refers to the menstrual cycle as a woman's 5th vital sign. Irregularities or absence of a menstrual cycle is a clear indicator that a woman's body is out of balance and not functioning optimally. Charting and analyzing which parameters are less than optimal often points to specific foundational factors, allowing you to make targeted changes. Your menstrual cycle charts will provide you with valuable information about how your body is responding to these changes. As the parameters of your cycle improve, you can be confident that your health is improving too.
Jessica Maloney FAMM Certified Practitioner Your Menstrual Cycle is a SENSITIVE WINDOW into your health and healing
This page is educational information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Please speak with your healthcare provider about your own situation.