3Irregular Menstruation/ Amenorrhea
Since a high percentage of Anorexia is seen to occur more in women and girls, it is only normal, that anorexia can tamper with the menstrual cycle, and sometimes cause it to temporarily stop for a period of about three (3) months. When this happens, it is called amenorrhea. Irregular menstruations or amenorrhea occur most times during periods of malnourishment; when the body does not have enough food to fuel the normal operations of the body to function correctly, and then has to prioritize which functions are most important to live. Therefore, processes that are not essential to maintaining life, like the growth and reproductive process are likely to get less energy, the hypothalamus of the brain gets suppressed and therefore hormonal fluctuations like the menstrual period become altered. [3]
