Can anorexia affect menstrual cycles?

One of the main physical problems that result from this condition is the effect of starvation on the endocrine system. The endocrine system is the hormonal system that regulates human biochemistry. Part of human biochemistry is the hormones that regulate the reproductive system. When the hormonal levels are unbalanced, women who suffer from this disease are affected in a few ways.

In addition to suffering from hypothyroidism, which can result female reproductive problems like infertility vaginal dryness, and other problems, but the disease can also affect the hormones that regulate the female cycle.


In severe cases, women can suffer from amenorrhea, which is simply a cessation in the cycle. This happens because the body’s weight drops below a certain threshold triggering the normal processes of the female body to stop. This is just one condition that affects the female body, but anorexia wreaks havoc on other parts of the human condition, including and more importantly the endocrine system (hormones).