menstrual cycle

[hellotheregirl_]

I started my periods at the age of eleven, and i'm sixteen now and they were regular up until just over a year ago. I've only been more serious about my eating for about a year and a half now, so i was wondering whether my irregular period pattern would be due to this?
i've heard that they do often go irregular when you are lacking in food or whatever, but i'm not sure why mine started so quickly into my dieting. I think that during the past 18 months i must of had about four periods.
many thanks to any responses i do get.
x
p.s. i'm not pregnant.

[Thru_The_Looking_Glass]

I never had this problem, but mine actually came more often when i was really sick. It depends on ur calorie intake and body weight. Of course certain systems arnt going to function properly if ur underweight and not feeding urself. Ur body needs to conserve energy.

[allie.mo]

yeah, calorie intake can cause you to not have your period. i have only had one period in the last six months due to that.. but it can also be because of stress or anxiety. if you ED is rooted from stress or something similar that could be another reason.

:]

[Lithium]

This is just me speculating on my knowledge as a biotechnology graduate, as well as some information I vaguely recall from a dietician...

One of the key things that prompts a period is an increase in estrogen levels. It's the maturing follicle (the cell mass released from the ovary that contains the egg) that secretes estrogen when it is time for the egg to be released. The secreted estrogen becomes concentrated in the bloodstream, and this in turn stimulates the laying down of the blood-rich lining onto the uterus.

Now a poor diet will often result in lowered estrogen production. Your body has to compensate for low energy reserves, so it shuts down various processes such as estrogen production.... So, with low estrogen production / secretion, your body has minimal stimulation for a period, meaning that you're most likely not going to have a period...

Being on the pill may help, as it provides an external supply of estrogen. It's also good for protecting us bulimia /anorexia sufferers from osteoporosis...