QuestionI am 26, and suffered of anorexia/bulimia for 5 years and my periods stopped 4 years ago. I recovered one year and a half ago, my weight is now healthy (BMI 20). My sexual life has been really...non existent the past few years due to my eating disorders (I had other things in mind, so to say), but had a flirt with a guy in march this year and my periods came back suddenly one week after. I had them every 10-15 days it was really scary, and they stopped suddenly once again at the end of april. A few days later I developed a severe dry eye syndrome, which makes me really miserable since then, I can barely function due to the severity of this disease.
I went to the gyn to check my hormones, because I'm sure the dry eye issue is related to them. My blood test results were out of wrack apparently, and the gyn told me she had never seen such a thing. To sum up, my estradiol levels are way too low (< 5 pg/ml), progesterone is too low, AMH low, FSH and LH normal, prolactin normal, and testosterone normal too. The gyn just can't figure what's going on because it's not the classical PCOS or ovarian failure type. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in september, but would like to know your opinion on this?
I have tons of horrible symptoms beside the dry eye problem (which is my main focus): night sweats, abnormal hair growth on chin and upper lip (I'm a brunette, but it is WAAAAY worse than before), mood swings, dry skin and hair, acne on face, eyebrow dandruff, scalp cysts, hair thinning (horribly), cracking cuticles, fatigue, bloating...
AnswerHello Clemence from France,
Based on your description I would presume that you have PCOD. With PCOD, the FSH and LH levels are within normal limits but the LH is usually at least 2X higher than the FSH. Since you haven't given me the exact numbers, I cannot give you any specific diagnosis at this time. The endocrinologist is definitely the next step.
Good Luck,
Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
info@montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf. Skype and internet comprehensive consultations now available via my website for those who want a more extensive evaluation that this site can accommodate. I also now provide an Email Concierge Advisory Service with a 1 year subscription for patients that want easy access to me to answer questions along their journey (women's health, infertility, pregnancy). Contact me at ejrmd@montereybayivf.com if you are interested in continuous access to me.
