Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary
Leading the change to better periods and hormones
Hypothalamic amenorrhea or hypothalamic hypogonadism is the condition of suppressed ovarian function due to energy deficiency or undereating. It can be misdiagnosed as PCOS.
If you’ve struggled with irregular periods, you might have noticed it can be a little tricky to figure out exactly what’s going on—and, therefore, exactly what you need to do to get your period back.
In episode 18 of my podcast, I explore some of the reasons for irregular periods, including PCOS and the oh-so-common hypothalamic suppression, which is frequently misdiagnosed as PCOS.
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Want a simple solution for period and hormone problems? Consider the humble mineral zinc.
According to the 2020 paper, The Role of Zinc in Selected Female Reproductive System Disorders, zinc can be an effective treatment for many women’s health conditions, including PCOS, period pain, endometriosis, and vaginal dryness during menopause.
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What is the difference between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothalamic amenorrhea?
PCOS is the condition of androgen excess when all other causes of androgen excess have been ruled out. It’s often associated with irregular periods or no periods.
Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is irregular periods (or no periods) due to undereating or other stressors. It can also present with mild acne, facial hair, and polycystic ovaries.
Lost your period? You might just need to eat more. A lot more. Losing your period to undereating is called hypothalamic amenorrhea and is common, especially in women under thirty.
Unfortunately, hypothalamic amenorrhea can sometimes be misdiagnosed as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) because both hypothalamic amenorrhea and PCOS can have “polycystic ovaries” on a pelvic ultrasound exam.