Eating Disorders / Question
Published: October 18, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
At the age of 13 I received my period and weighed 155 pounds. Later on that year, I went to Poland and when I came back I lost 20 pounds, but I was still unsatisfied so I decided to starve myself and later vomit my food. I began to notice my period stopped and my breasts weren't growing. I am 14 now and I still don't have my period. I am on Progesterone Cream, but it doesn't seem to help. How can I get my period back and start breast development again?
Signed: Not Eating, No Period & No Breasts
Dear Not Eating, No Period & No Breasts,
TeenHealthFX is very concerned about you. You need to get help immediately from a medical professional to help you medically and emotionally.
Your lack of period and breast growth may be a direct result of you starving yourself and vomiting your food. What you have described are serious symptoms of an eating disorder (Please see- Does My Friend Have An Eating Disorder).
By repeatedly throwing up food a person can badly injure their esophagus, develop severe tooth decay from regurgitated stomach acid and seriously upset the electrolyte balance which can be life threatening.
The reason your period stopped (Amenorrhea) and your breasts have stopped developing, is likely the result of your body not producing enough estrogen as a result of not getting enough nutrients. You mentioned that you are using progesterone cream - it is highly unlikely that progesterone cream or any medication will trigger stopped periods or breast growth if these problems are a result of you not eating.
Again, TeenHealthFX feels that you need to seek help immediately from a doctor. Many local teen health centers have comprehensive treatment programs to treat eating disorders. First you will need to be checked out medically to see if you are properly hydrated and to assess your electrolyte balance. Your doctor will also recommend nutrition education, psychotherapy and family therapy. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to reduce bingeing, vomiting, and preoccupation with food or to treat the depression and anxiety that may be associated with the eating disorder.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder you can get help at the Eating Disorders Program at Atlantic Health System at (908) 522.5757.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don’t, yet only 1 in 4 teens report having these conversations. 
