HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Curious as to how malnutrition can affect menstrual period?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Malnutrition: Usually you need at least 17% body fat to have a period. The ovaries need to be able to secrete estrogen. The estrogen eventually stimulates growth of the endometrium (uterine lining) which is eventually shed.

Dr Jacobson agreed

Answered 11/16/2013

4.7k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

Extreme fatigue about 1.5 weeks before my menstrual and doesn't end till half way thru my menstrual period..what can help with this?! its so draining

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

My period is late.I am cycle day 44.usually had a 30 day menstrual cycle but last period came on cycle day 36. I hav done hpt .all negative .wht t do?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I asked this before but didn't get the answer i needed. My period is 2 days late, I am not sexually active. It is usually regular and i have had it for 5 years, I'm 16. I am getting cramps, which i assume are menstrual. What could be causing this?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Why does my menstrual period keep getting worse? My menstrual periods have been getting worse and worse steadily. I can see no reason for this, my allergies have been steadily getting worse as well, but other than that i can't understand why i'm getting b

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I have what I thought it was my period, very light menstrual cycle that at points is very light pink. It has been 11 days, I get sharp pains in lower abdomina . Area. I've been irregular the past 6months. I've made an aappointment at the obgyn and won't h

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

How long of a period of malnutrition is too long where catch-up growth wont be complete in a growing kid?
Although I didn't ejaculate in her and that it was towards the end of her menstrual cycle (1 day before scheduled period)?
I had shingles last month and I don't feel an onset of my menstrual cycle trying to start. Can shingles cause me to miss a period?
I am experiencing missed or late menstrual period. I took a plan b and I haven't started my period and it's been a month and 2 weeks.
I have a 32 menstrual cycle. I had unprotected sex 2 days after my period ended. He didn't ejacualted inside me. Any chance of pregnancy ?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.