Q My period has been gone for eight months after stress and crash dieting. How long does recovery take?
A For functional amenorrhea caused by stress or poor nutrition, periods often return within about three to six months once the cause is removed and weight and lifestyle are restored. The longer the absence has lasted, the more time recovery tends to require.
Detailed Answer
In functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, restoring energy balance restarts GnRH secretion, which then leads to ovulation followed by menstruation. The shorter the period of absence, the faster recovery tends to be; if it has lasted more than eight months, the endometrium may have thinned, so recovery can take longer. The weight recovery target (a body fat percentage of at least 17%) and normalization of energy intake largely determine the treatment timeline.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, the longer amenorrhea has persisted, the more it is seen as a deep Qi and Blood Deficiency in which the uterus has closed its door for lack of resources, so we allow ample time to build up the body's reserves through Blood tonification (boohyeol). Treatment usually continues steadily for two to three months while we monitor progress; once signs of menstruation begin to appear, we shift to the warming-the-uterus and invigorating-Blood stages.
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