QuestionI am 27, female, 5'3 and 108 lbs. I have been off birth control pills for 6 months and haven't had a period since. I was on them for 6 months. I had my hormone levels checked and FSH, LH, Estrogen, and progesterone are all very low. TSH is fine. I suspect it's nutrition/exercise related. I tend to follow a low calorie diet, and exercise quite a bit. Is there any supplements I can take that will HELP my body increase the hormones needed so I can menstruate again? My husband and I are trying to have a baby. I do not want to take synthetic drugs because I don't want my body to be suppressed, I want to help it make the hormones on its own. Or should I not take anything, and just increase my calories and decrease my exercise level? If I should do that, how long do you think it will take after following this new diet and exercise regimen for my ovulation/menses to return?
AnswerYour body has to be able to feed a growing child. I suspect you are right about the low calorie diet and exercising contributing to your infertility. I don't know how long it will take to jump start your cycles again but it's worth a try if you want to get pregnant.
I would suggest taking some omega-3 fish oil capsules as that is pretty important for hormone production. Lighten up on the eating restriction but continue to eat healthy food, not junk food. I don't know how much exercising you do, but that isn't a bad thing unless you do it to excess. You want a healthy body when you are bearing and raising children and exercise is good for your health.
I'm not a doctor so these are just my suggestions from anecdotal experience and what I've read and researched. 6 months on the pill may or may not have caused you some fertility issues, it's hard to say. Sometimes they do mess up the hormones and then it might just take some time for things to start up normally again. It's good to avoid that sort of treatment as much as you can.
