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Expert Q&A

	By Allison Gamble Nutritionist/Diet Technician Highland Park Hospital, Illinois

Throughout college I struggled with eating disorders -- both anorexia and bulimia. I did at once need an ultrasound of my liver due to overworked enzymes. It is now 5 years later and I am ôrecovered." During that time, and now, I have had unprotected sex several times and have never gotten pregnant. My husband and I have been trying for 3 months now, and still, no results. Is it possible that my eating disorders hurt my fertility?

It is somewhat hard to know exactly why you are not getting pregnant. Are you still underweight? Are you having irregular menstrual cycles? Are you following a strict diet? Are you a strict vegetarian? Are you over exercising? It would be easier to figure out why you are not getting pregnant if I knew more about your current eating habits, weight, lifestyle, and if youŲe getting regular periods.

Women who are have recovered from malnutrition can get pregnant, provided they are taking care to provide their bodies with the proper foods. Since I am not a doctor, I cannot speculate as to what your physiological problems might be.

But letų say you are eating a variety of all foods, you have a regular menstrual cycle and are within 10 percent of your ideal body weight. If you are not having problems with any of those things, then from a nutrition stand point, you should be healthy and able to conceive. Lets say, for example, you are a vegan (the most strict of vegetarians -- no animal products at all) and you are not taking care to consume the right amount of plant protein, then absolutely that can affect your fertility. (As well as any other diet that eliminates, or severely restricts any one of the food groups.)

I recommend getting a complete physical with your doctor, if you havenŴ already, and see what they think might be going on. Hopefully, you havenŴ sustained a lifelong complication from your bout with anorexia and bulimia. Good luck to you and your husband!"

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