Amenorrhea--revisted

Remember how I wrote back in the late winter/early spring that I was experiencing post-pill amenorrhea? Well, I still haven't had a period. I've seen two more health care professionals at MIT Medical (both nurse practitioners, one of whom specializes in obstetrics), and I've now been told that what I'm experiencing is hypothelamic amenorrhea.

It's what I kind of thought the problem was, but couldn't quite believe was the problem because I'm not a super trim, high performance athlete. Basically, I'm too lean to support the process of menstruation. My BMI is fine, partially because I have a higher than average amount of muscle for a woman. I only exercise 8-9 hours a week, and spend most of the rest of my time sitting, but I guess that's enough to do it. More probably, of those 8-9 hours of exercise, I spend 2 hours lifting weights in the gym, and 2-3 hours lifting myself practicing aerials (hence why I'm rather muscular).

So, what's my treatment? I could cut down on exercise, or I could eat more. I know from tracking my diet for the last several years that I consumed between 2,100-2,300 calories/day, and on average have a balanced calorie intake/output every week. The other option was a chemical reminder to my brain and ovaries about what their supposed to do once a month.

Presently, I'm back on birth control pills. This isn't necessary because I wanted the quick and easy fix, but I want/needed the definite (or should be definite) fix. It's just for three weeks, which is what I have to continually remind myself. Three weeks only, and I've decided if it doesn't work, I will NOT be continuing on them no matter what. I've gained around 6 pounds in 2 weeks thanks to the pill. As Andrew repeatedly reminds me (and as I know myself, I really do), it's the pill that's caused this weight gain, and it's because my body is retaining water.

That doesn't help me feel better.

As I've blogged before, I was overweight as a child and teen, so any hint of gaining weight makes me worry. I hate that the weight gain has happened so quickly (2 weeks!) and it will probably take me a couple of months to get back to where I was before January. Except, given that my weight and body compilation seem to be the source of my problems, maybe I just need to accept that I need to be 5 or 8 pounds heavier to be healthy. That, my dear readers, if definitely more easily said than done.

I'm not going to delve into the issues of popular culture and female body image. Others have done, and will continue to do so better than I am capable of, but there are times when being a young-ish health-conscious woman sucks.

Ciao,

Andrea