Not having periods when you used to have periods is known as secondary amenorrhea. When it lasts six months or longer, it is also known as Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), and can be a side effect of anorexia. The term hypothalamic refers to the hypothalamus, an area at the base of the brain that acts as a hormone control center for the body, and regulates a woman's menstrual cycle.
There is some controversy about whether amenorrhea should be used as a diagnostic criterion, but amenorrhea may be a sign that something is going wrong with your endocrine system.
Typically, women in recovery find their periods come back once they get their weight up and is usually reversed when weight is put back on, fat is stored in the body and cortisol levels reduce to appropriate levels.
Amenorrhea poses few health risks in the short term, but it is an indication that anorexia has begun affecting ones overall health. Therefore, if a female reaches a state of amenorrhea, medical help should be sought immediately. Long term risks include damage to the bones.
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