Asked by someone who currently has an eating disorder and has not menstruated in two months (and counting).
Thanks!
In: Biology
Not a doctor, but I’ve been told that when the body goes into starvation mode, the brain somehow halts all nonessential routines. Menstruation consumes a lot of resources in terms of calories, which is why women crave fat, sugar, carbs and stuff when they’re on their cycle. And why the brain just says “nope, we’re fighting for our life right now and don’t need to have babies.”
There is definitely a more technical explanation for this, but that’s my layman’s understanding.
I read a book by a guy who spent an amazing length of time, like 3-4 months in a life raft before being rescued? He mentioned that he didn’t have any erections or sex drive for a reeeallly long time, even after he was recovering on a small sailing ship who’s crew included a beautiful French woman who worked topless most of the time…kinda the same thing, I guess.
Edit: your friend is in a very dangerous place and might die. Please get her to seek help, or bring help to her.
Two main reasons: menses is dependent on a balanced hormonal system within our bodies. Eating disorders destabilize that system.
Second, menstruating requires blood, and that requires nutrients. When you starve your body, it doesn’t have the extra resources to create the uterine lining. No lining, no period.
Please seek medical intervention.
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Eating disorders cause starvation which puts our bodies into a highly stressed survival mode. They are extremely taxing on your health and cause a number of secondary issues. The least of which is the complete shutdown of everything even close to a sex drive. There are no resources or energy to spare for child bearing when your body is struggling just to stay alive. Please seek immediate medical attention. She(you?) is in a very dangerous state of malnutrition.
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