How can being significantly underweight, affecting Body Mass Index (BMI), potentially disrupt the regular cycle?
Answer
Very low body fat can stop the production of enough estrogen to maintain a cycle
Body weight, quantified via BMI, directly influences the hormonal balance governing the menstrual cycle. When an individual is significantly underweight, resulting in very low levels of body fat, the body may cease producing sufficient amounts of estrogen. Since estrogen is crucial for stimulating the uterine lining growth and driving the follicular phase, insufficient production can disrupt ovulation entirely, leading to cycles that become unusually long or potentially cease altogether until hormonal balance is restored.
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