Thin cyster not fat enough to get PG

mj_romo · 09-01-2008, 06:25 PM

My sister has been trying to get PG for about 6 months. She went off BCP at that time, and hasn't had AF since. She's a thin cyster - 5'6" and 107lbs, so she's underweight. In fact, she has so much trouble keeping weight on, that she has to go to the gym to maintain a high enough muscle mass or she very easily drops below 100lbs. She has other PCOS symptoms: mustache, acne, sex-drive problems.

Anyhow, her dr finally did a couple of tests and what they determined is that she doesn't have enough body fat to get AF and start Oing. The dr has put her on a diet to help her gain weight, but it's not working. If she doesn't go to the gym, even on this diet, she loses weight, and if she goes to the gym, she only maintains, but isn't gaining fat.

I don't know all the details, but her diet plan includes things like: bananas, hagan-daas yogurt, chocolate whey protein smoothie; a whole avocado every day; dense whole grains 3 times a day; whole milk dairy products, etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this type of problem? Or has anyone experienced something like this so I can pass something on to her. She's rather discouraged right now, and doesn't feel like getting on herself.

TrishainAZ · 09-01-2008, 07:07 PM

I can't help, can only say that when I was TTC I got down to 107 at 5'4.5 and still conceived. Good luck!

lizzieruth · 09-01-2008, 10:23 PM

wow! you're sister sounds like me! i'm 5"6, and usually hover around 102-105 lbs. my dr. couldn't figure out why i couldn't gain weight, and we discovered the answer for me was also going to the gym to put on muscle. When I work out, I put on lbs, and as soon as I stop, I lose it all.

when i started working with a trainer, and came off the pill, I O'd and got pregnant much to my surprise! Unfortunately we lost the baby, but now I know it's possible. My trainer treated me like a bodybuilder - very little cardio so as not to burn more calories, and lots of weight training.

I think working out increased my metabolic rate, and body temp, and I was able to O. I've had more body fat and not O'd, so I'm not sure about the dr's theory. Yes, your sister's BMI is way off the charts (as in, LOW), but so is mine, and I still O (occasionally).

So I don't know what to say, other than tell her there is hope. There might be other reasons she is not O-ing. I'm sorry she is going through this.

sarah2747 · 09-04-2008, 12:03 AM

I can relate to - but unfortunately can't help.

I'm trying to figure it out myself. I asked the Dr. yesterday whether working out would help and he said no as it's the lipid ratio and not the BMI per se. Anyway, I am starting dance classes again nonetheless (not TTC anyway) so we'll see how that goes.

tiana_karissa · 09-08-2008, 01:55 PM

The working out helps with the insulin levels as well...but of course you need to be very careful if you're underweight. Choosing the right type/activity level is quite important.

CarmenSandiego · 09-09-2008, 11:26 AM

(Long ramblings ahead)

I read this excellent article on "Thin Woman PCOS" and it really highlights how our troubles are more difficult to treat even though the underlying problems (insulin resistance, androgen/estrogen ratio) are the same.

As a thin woman with less body fat, I imagine her estrogen levels may not be as high as a heavier woman (since we store estrogen in fat). The article mentions that even if we have symptoms of hyperandrogenism (hair loss/growth, acne, etc.) our labwork rarely reflects raised androgens - but if estrogen is lower that can cause similar issues.

Since BCPs supress ovulation, her estradiol and progesterone may have been lowered further. With no AF then she's most likely not ovulating and producing large amounts of estrogen and progesterone throughout her cycle.

Has she had a sex hormone panel done? If the results were low, I'd look into some type of bio-identical estrogen and progesterone supplementation.

(Sorry for the long-winded response and I hope it makes some kind of sense!)

Laura32 · 09-12-2008, 02:51 AM

This is not particularly helpful, but my best friend has eating issues, and used to be anorexic, and she got pregnant at 5'7" and 104 pounds. So I think the weight, is not the issue, per se, it's the hormone balance. Has she had her thyroid checked?