hypothalamic amenorrhea deep dive: why your period might be missing
Episode description
We are getting a little science-y today! In this episode, we talk all things amenorrhea with a large focus of the discussion on specifically functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. I am not a doctor and this is not intended to be medical advice or to diagnose you with HA. I just want to spread what I've learned, in hopes that it will help you too!
TIMESTAMPS BELOW.
EP on the things I did to get my cycle back
1:30 important disclaimers
3:16 what does HA/FHA stand for?
3:37 amenorrhea 101
5:55 HA is not the only cause for amenorrhea
7:00 hypothalamic causes for amenorrhea
7:36 functional hypothalamic amenorrhea
8:51 menstrual cycle hormone signaling
11:38 GnRH as the initiator of reproduction
12:36 characteristics of FHA
13:50 individual differences
14:27 leptin & its interplay with FHA
17:15 stress & its interplay with FHA
20:43 impact of strenuous exercise + low energy availability
21:19 low estradiol & bone mineral density risk
25:55 the thyroid & its interplay with FHA
27:25 what's really the root cause here (tying it together)
29:20 short terms effects of HA
30:04 long term effects of HA
31:24 it's not just a missing period
31:30 research on amenorrheic subjects
32:30 can you be overweight and have FHA?
33:50 can you have FHA even if you're not clinically underweight?
34:50 common approaches to reversing the condition
35:08 how is FHA diagnosed? labs, etc!
37:11 when to look to PCOS instead
38:40 is FHA reversible?
much more to come on this topic - thanks for listening!!!