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No Period. Now What?: A Guide to Regaining Your Cycles and Improving Your Fertility
Has your period gone missing?"
You're not alone. People tend to think that loss of menstrual cycles only happens to Olympic-level athletes or people with eating disorders. But it turns out you can have seemingly healthy eating and exercise habits and still be faced with a missing monthly cycle. In fact, your lifestyle may be the culprit.
No matter how long you've been without a period, our Recovery Plan will guide you on the path to regaining your cycle and improving your long-term health and fertility. This comprehensive book will:
Explain what is happening in your body and why Present guidelines for how much and what to eat (Good news! They're probably a lot more fun than what you're used to!) Provide exercise recommendations Support you through the challenges of changing your habits Explain fertility treatments that can help achieve pregnancy if you still need assistance
In "No Period. Now What?" Dr. Nicola Rinaldi shares her extensive research on hypothalamic amenorrhea as well as her own experience with recovery. Additional contributors include eating disorder speaker Stephanie Buckler, fitness coach Lisa Sanfilippo Waddell, and hundreds of other women who have taken this journey and come out the other side with cycles, babies, and a better understanding of what it means to be healthy.
Now it's your turn. Are you ready to recover?
You're not alone. People tend to think that loss of menstrual cycles only happens to Olympic-level athletes or people with eating disorders. But it turns out you can have seemingly healthy eating and exercise habits and still be faced with a missing monthly cycle. In fact, your lifestyle may be the culprit.
No matter how long you've been without a period, our Recovery Plan will guide you on the path to regaining your cycle and improving your long-term health and fertility. This comprehensive book will:
Explain what is happening in your body and why Present guidelines for how much and what to eat (Good news! They're probably a lot more fun than what you're used to!) Provide exercise recommendations Support you through the challenges of changing your habits Explain fertility treatments that can help achieve pregnancy if you still need assistance
In "No Period. Now What?" Dr. Nicola Rinaldi shares her extensive research on hypothalamic amenorrhea as well as her own experience with recovery. Additional contributors include eating disorder speaker Stephanie Buckler, fitness coach Lisa Sanfilippo Waddell, and hundreds of other women who have taken this journey and come out the other side with cycles, babies, and a better understanding of what it means to be healthy.
Now it's your turn. Are you ready to recover?
561 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2016
32 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 20, 2020
This book is very thin on science/research/general information on HA (hypothalamic amenorrhea) and other medical diagnoses that involve amenorrhea (e.g. PCOS). There is only a small chapter dedicated to explaining what causes HA. The authors say it is caused by over-stress and/or over-exercising and/or over-eating (which Google will tell you). It also fails to note that HA can happen to women who do Intermittent Fasting and/or low-carb dieting (the HPA-axis is sensitive to lack of calories and lack of carbs and prolonged periods without food).
The "prescription" is to stuff your face on the couch. I'm not joking. To "recover" they insist you cannot exercise at all (avoid walking!) and to eat a minimum of 2,500 calories per day--more if you can and that you should be eating junk foods because healthy foods fill you up too quickly before you hit your calorie mark.
Most of the book is anecdotal evidence--email or message board testimonials from women who gained weight & ate with abandon and eventually got their period back. There are also stories from ladies who say they were cured of all their food allergies because they started to pig out (sure)
Since learning about HA when writing my last book I've looked for more resources on the topic to be more informed and am sad to say there are few studies and even fewer books--This 490 page book manages to say the same thing (summarized above) on repeat but doesn't provide much information or direction, or hope to women who do not want to have a BMI of 22-23 or higher and avoid all movement just to get a period.
The "prescription" is to stuff your face on the couch. I'm not joking. To "recover" they insist you cannot exercise at all (avoid walking!) and to eat a minimum of 2,500 calories per day--more if you can and that you should be eating junk foods because healthy foods fill you up too quickly before you hit your calorie mark.
Most of the book is anecdotal evidence--email or message board testimonials from women who gained weight & ate with abandon and eventually got their period back. There are also stories from ladies who say they were cured of all their food allergies because they started to pig out (sure)
Since learning about HA when writing my last book I've looked for more resources on the topic to be more informed and am sad to say there are few studies and even fewer books--This 490 page book manages to say the same thing (summarized above) on repeat but doesn't provide much information or direction, or hope to women who do not want to have a BMI of 22-23 or higher and avoid all movement just to get a period.
January 11, 2020
This is a lifesaving book for women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA). It was the only reliable source of medical information I could find. I learned that it is surprisingly common for female endurance runners to lose their periods for long periods of time, but not something to be ignored; HA is shown to cause long-term health problems (osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment), so is important to address right away.
The final solution the Dr. Rinaldi lays out is actually very simple (eat way more... around 2000-2500 calories per day, and stop running) but psychologically difficult, esp. for women and self-identified runners. This book really gave me the patience to take care of my health and recover.
The final solution the Dr. Rinaldi lays out is actually very simple (eat way more... around 2000-2500 calories per day, and stop running) but psychologically difficult, esp. for women and self-identified runners. This book really gave me the patience to take care of my health and recover.
June 11, 2017
Great book. There is a lack of information on HA. This book has it all
February 21, 2020
Unfortunately, this book generalizes hypothalamic amenorrhea treatment into eat more move less. Not necessarily wrong, but it doesn't apply to every situation.
The recommendation of 2500 calories is equally wrong as recommending 1500 calories - you can't recommend caloric intake without considering an individual and not a group of people called "females with hypothalamic amenorrhea". Yes, amenorrhea is generally the result of underfueling, but eating trash and not moving is not going to help you later on either.
Many women who actually do suffer have a history of disordered eating behaviors and the goal is to help them regain NORMAL eating behaviors, and stuffing your face with processed junk should not be that new normal. That's just stupid and stupid two times over.
I find a lot of Chinese recommendations for HA to be a lot more reasonable - eat balanced meals three times a day, snack on something nutritious (milk, nuts, fruit, jerky etc) when hungry, and eat until full and satisfied. Cutting back on exercise is generally recommended, but you don't have to be immobile - INTENSE exercise is associated with elevated cortisol levels which cause stress, but exercising at a low intensity for a shorter duration will not hurt.
Even my doctor has not recommended me to gorge myself but instead to listen to my body and what it wants. That means honoring my hunger signals and eating whenever I feel hungry even if it is at an odd time.
Yeah, you can gorge yourself on junk. You can gain 20 lbs and get your period back but end up with bad habits that aren't going to go away easily. It's much more beneficial long term to do it with lifestyle changes and not a "quick fix" that would work but cause more problems long term.
If you stop getting your period, that just means that what you are doing is not healthy for your body, but at no point in your life is gorging yourself on junk and not moving at all healthy. You need to move, but the key is to not stress your body with intense and extended exercise. Junk food? Forget it. The very definition of nutritional deficiency.
This book is very problematic because it just does not make any sense to eat 2500 calories when you are 5'2 and not particularly active anymore. You can still be in a surplus eating less and eating nutrient dense food that actually has what your body needs to repair itself after hypothalamic amenorrhea.
The recommendation of 2500 calories is equally wrong as recommending 1500 calories - you can't recommend caloric intake without considering an individual and not a group of people called "females with hypothalamic amenorrhea". Yes, amenorrhea is generally the result of underfueling, but eating trash and not moving is not going to help you later on either.
Many women who actually do suffer have a history of disordered eating behaviors and the goal is to help them regain NORMAL eating behaviors, and stuffing your face with processed junk should not be that new normal. That's just stupid and stupid two times over.
I find a lot of Chinese recommendations for HA to be a lot more reasonable - eat balanced meals three times a day, snack on something nutritious (milk, nuts, fruit, jerky etc) when hungry, and eat until full and satisfied. Cutting back on exercise is generally recommended, but you don't have to be immobile - INTENSE exercise is associated with elevated cortisol levels which cause stress, but exercising at a low intensity for a shorter duration will not hurt.
Even my doctor has not recommended me to gorge myself but instead to listen to my body and what it wants. That means honoring my hunger signals and eating whenever I feel hungry even if it is at an odd time.
Yeah, you can gorge yourself on junk. You can gain 20 lbs and get your period back but end up with bad habits that aren't going to go away easily. It's much more beneficial long term to do it with lifestyle changes and not a "quick fix" that would work but cause more problems long term.
If you stop getting your period, that just means that what you are doing is not healthy for your body, but at no point in your life is gorging yourself on junk and not moving at all healthy. You need to move, but the key is to not stress your body with intense and extended exercise. Junk food? Forget it. The very definition of nutritional deficiency.
This book is very problematic because it just does not make any sense to eat 2500 calories when you are 5'2 and not particularly active anymore. You can still be in a surplus eating less and eating nutrient dense food that actually has what your body needs to repair itself after hypothalamic amenorrhea.
February 21, 2020
Must-read if your missing your period! If you recognize yourself in the description of overexercising, tightly managing your food, always being go go go, not sleeping well and of course, not getting your period (of being very irregular); GET THIS BOOK! With most GPs and even gynecologists not being aware of hypothalamic amenorrhea being a thing, and not only in severely underweight people (!!), this book will be the biggest help in finding your way during your recovery journey. Even if you're not trying to conceive, read the whole book, there is so much in there that we as women don't even know about our own bodies. Everything is well researched, with tons of references, and so much lived experience in the book too. Had I not come across this book, I probably would still be breaking down my body and exacerbating all my physical & mental health issues. And remember; there is a lot more at stake than "just not getting your period"!!
October 17, 2021
I've had hypothalamic amenorrhea for nearly 15 years, and I've nearly recovered in just ONE MONTH after reading this book.
I'm a dietitian. Although I haven't been completely restrictive with my dietary habits, I've always been selective. I ate pretty low calorie and omitted anything I considered junk food. I was also very active and ran every day. My doctors thought I was the picture perfect representation of health- My blood pressure was perfect, blood sugar under control, and I had normal/lower than average body weight.
But just one thing was missing...my period.
I've been to numerous specialists and was informed that having no period was "normal", I would just have to take injections or do IVF in order to get pregnant. I ended up spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on injections...and of course they did not work. I had severe side effects from using them, and I now realize that my body did not respond for a very good reason...my body was just not ready. My body was underfueled.
Feeling broken and disheartened, I looked at every single resource pertaining to HA to get some answers. And let me tell you, THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED.
After reading this book and following Nicola's advice, I have seen MAJOR improvements in my body (I spotted for the first time in 15 years!!), my blood work (LH, estrogen, and FSH all have increased), and my fertility (first time noticing cervical mucus!!). I've even worked with Nicola directly and it's been the biggest blessing in my life. She's given me hope when I felt hopeless, and I am confident that I can make it through my recovery because of her expertise and mentorship.
For the first time in my life, I'm not pressuring myself to work out every day. I'm not probing about what I should eat for lunch or dinner, or reevaluating if what I just ate was healthy enough. I have a sense of freedom that I never thought I could have, or thought I deserved.
With this book, you won't just get your period back...you will get your LIFE back.
I'm a dietitian. Although I haven't been completely restrictive with my dietary habits, I've always been selective. I ate pretty low calorie and omitted anything I considered junk food. I was also very active and ran every day. My doctors thought I was the picture perfect representation of health- My blood pressure was perfect, blood sugar under control, and I had normal/lower than average body weight.
But just one thing was missing...my period.
I've been to numerous specialists and was informed that having no period was "normal", I would just have to take injections or do IVF in order to get pregnant. I ended up spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on injections...and of course they did not work. I had severe side effects from using them, and I now realize that my body did not respond for a very good reason...my body was just not ready. My body was underfueled.
Feeling broken and disheartened, I looked at every single resource pertaining to HA to get some answers. And let me tell you, THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED.
After reading this book and following Nicola's advice, I have seen MAJOR improvements in my body (I spotted for the first time in 15 years!!), my blood work (LH, estrogen, and FSH all have increased), and my fertility (first time noticing cervical mucus!!). I've even worked with Nicola directly and it's been the biggest blessing in my life. She's given me hope when I felt hopeless, and I am confident that I can make it through my recovery because of her expertise and mentorship.
For the first time in my life, I'm not pressuring myself to work out every day. I'm not probing about what I should eat for lunch or dinner, or reevaluating if what I just ate was healthy enough. I have a sense of freedom that I never thought I could have, or thought I deserved.
With this book, you won't just get your period back...you will get your LIFE back.
January 11, 2020
Alright Ladies (and gents...)
This is not an easy book and if you do not have HA then I totally understand you if you do not want to read it.
But it is a great one. The best on female hormones I have found so far....
Remember? I am that female athlete who always wondered why things got weird for her... and then I discovered Stacy Sims and her book ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life - which by the way is NOT A DIET BOOK!
And suddenly things made sense to me...
Not diving too deep into my history (ED recovery in my early twenties, returned to competitive sports - first recreational, but you know how it goes... some years later... and got stuck with it... no natural cycle for more than 15 years as I have been put on BCP right away... yack...)... well, I am determined to put in the work in to get my cycle back naturally in 2020 #newyearsresolutions
And this book is a great source of information (I suggest you skip the personal stories at the end though... they made me really sad, the more as the BOARD is no longer in existence...) Oh, and it contains a chapter for your partner, which I think is great...
Criticism? It is a bit repetitive... But I guess that is ok to "let it sink".
Will report how the HA recovery goes...
Lots of love...
Jay
This is not an easy book and if you do not have HA then I totally understand you if you do not want to read it.
But it is a great one. The best on female hormones I have found so far....
Remember? I am that female athlete who always wondered why things got weird for her... and then I discovered Stacy Sims and her book ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life - which by the way is NOT A DIET BOOK!
And suddenly things made sense to me...
Not diving too deep into my history (ED recovery in my early twenties, returned to competitive sports - first recreational, but you know how it goes... some years later... and got stuck with it... no natural cycle for more than 15 years as I have been put on BCP right away... yack...)... well, I am determined to put in the work in to get my cycle back naturally in 2020 #newyearsresolutions
And this book is a great source of information (I suggest you skip the personal stories at the end though... they made me really sad, the more as the BOARD is no longer in existence...) Oh, and it contains a chapter for your partner, which I think is great...
Criticism? It is a bit repetitive... But I guess that is ok to "let it sink".
Will report how the HA recovery goes...
Lots of love...
Jay
February 20, 2020
I’ve got to admit. I didn’t want to read it. I fought my eating disorder therapist up and down, not buying into the fact that this book held the key to my healing. So we met months go by as I watched the book sit on the table. Well let me tell you - what a waste of time those few months were because this book and protocol literally changed my life. I am a woman again. I healed myself. The body is a true machine. I also coached 1:1 with Nicola as well as leaned on the thousands of amazing women in the online support community. What a blessing to have the support of women across the world - all with the same questions, same thoughts, same journeys. If you are missing your period - get this book now. It will change your life as it did mine.
May 27, 2025
I didn’t finish this book yet but I flipped back and forth and read what I needed to and will continue to do so - needed to write a review.
If you’ve lost your period you NEED this book. Without this book I would’ve never known what to do to make a change. Doctors will push birth control but this book will show you that you can do it all on your own!!!!
After 161 days with HA, constant stress and worry about my health I FINALLY GOT MY PERIOD!! At the beginning of HA I was very controlling - continuing to be type A, hating myself, trying to lose more weight, stressing about food always, constantly hungry, really really struggled to let it all go. I had continued to exercise, HEAVILY while taking various different peoples advice on social but was stressing about what to do. This book explains HA, guides you on exercise, guides you on food, tells real life stories of people getting their period back and how.
After asking for signs and praying constantly I got this book, opened and flipped right to the chapter on exercise. Low and behold the page I flipped to showed another woman named Carly (my name) spelled exactly like me and her story about how she didn’t get her period / nothing was working until she stopped exercising completely. From that moment on I stopped. Stopped exercise for 2 weeks, started feeling insane and crawling out of my own skin, gained weight etc. decided to add in pilates and yoga for my own sanity and then BOOM 1 month after going all in - SHESSS BAAAACCCKKKK!!!
(I also got acupuncture 2 x per week, took herbs, seed cycled, took fish oil supplement and ate a ton of foods, healthy fats, pb, literally the minute I open my eyes I eat breakfast - and if you’re hungry right when u wake up this is a good sign that your hormones are happy!!)
I want to scream it from the rooftops. RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE!!! And if you’re struggling with your body image just know the moment you get your period back you will LOVE your body for the amazing things it’s able to do for you. YOUR HEALTH IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR WEIGHT 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I hope you know you are beautiful and you can do this!!! I am so greatful for this book!! Get it!!! 💃♥️🔴❣️🎈💥
If you’ve lost your period you NEED this book. Without this book I would’ve never known what to do to make a change. Doctors will push birth control but this book will show you that you can do it all on your own!!!!
After 161 days with HA, constant stress and worry about my health I FINALLY GOT MY PERIOD!! At the beginning of HA I was very controlling - continuing to be type A, hating myself, trying to lose more weight, stressing about food always, constantly hungry, really really struggled to let it all go. I had continued to exercise, HEAVILY while taking various different peoples advice on social but was stressing about what to do. This book explains HA, guides you on exercise, guides you on food, tells real life stories of people getting their period back and how.
After asking for signs and praying constantly I got this book, opened and flipped right to the chapter on exercise. Low and behold the page I flipped to showed another woman named Carly (my name) spelled exactly like me and her story about how she didn’t get her period / nothing was working until she stopped exercising completely. From that moment on I stopped. Stopped exercise for 2 weeks, started feeling insane and crawling out of my own skin, gained weight etc. decided to add in pilates and yoga for my own sanity and then BOOM 1 month after going all in - SHESSS BAAAACCCKKKK!!!
(I also got acupuncture 2 x per week, took herbs, seed cycled, took fish oil supplement and ate a ton of foods, healthy fats, pb, literally the minute I open my eyes I eat breakfast - and if you’re hungry right when u wake up this is a good sign that your hormones are happy!!)
I want to scream it from the rooftops. RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE!!! And if you’re struggling with your body image just know the moment you get your period back you will LOVE your body for the amazing things it’s able to do for you. YOUR HEALTH IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR WEIGHT 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I hope you know you are beautiful and you can do this!!! I am so greatful for this book!! Get it!!! 💃♥️🔴❣️🎈💥
September 24, 2024
Probably read about 70% and pick it up when I have questions about periods, inconsistent periods, pregnancy after HA, what Ha/hypothalamic amenorrhea is, and how cycles work. A very informative and helpful read for anyone who has a light, irregular, period secondary to habits of exercise and eating.
If you think it even COULD apply to you, it very well may and you should read the first 3 chapters.
If you think it even COULD apply to you, it very well may and you should read the first 3 chapters.
February 20, 2020
I am so blessed since getting my diagnosis that I have a guide to recovering my health with factual based information including testimonials from women recovering and sharing their unique stories. Unique testimonials come from different backgrounds some with eating disorders some not.
I am 30 years old and have never had a natural period ever! I stopped going through puberty at some point and it never started back up. Since reading this book and going all in on recovery I have picked back on where my body paused during recovery and have a healthy beautiful female body that I only dream and idolized in the past! I have finally stopped thinking negatively about my body and life. I no longer have anxiety or sleep issues, I’m not always cold, my hair stopped falling out, I’m not dizzy all the time, and the organs that had shut down due to my mental stress, food restrictions and under eating, sometimes over exercising. Since finding and reading this book I am so blessed to have answers and a guide to my health! A 1:1 video chat with the author also helped progress me even more. Best guide to recovering female health! Highly recommend!
I am 30 years old and have never had a natural period ever! I stopped going through puberty at some point and it never started back up. Since reading this book and going all in on recovery I have picked back on where my body paused during recovery and have a healthy beautiful female body that I only dream and idolized in the past! I have finally stopped thinking negatively about my body and life. I no longer have anxiety or sleep issues, I’m not always cold, my hair stopped falling out, I’m not dizzy all the time, and the organs that had shut down due to my mental stress, food restrictions and under eating, sometimes over exercising. Since finding and reading this book I am so blessed to have answers and a guide to my health! A 1:1 video chat with the author also helped progress me even more. Best guide to recovering female health! Highly recommend!
May 16, 2020
I was skeptical about self-care books in general. I also heard this book can be summarized to "eat 2500kcal+/day, butt on the sofa". However, after going through the book, it found it has much more.. information-wise, and emotional support wise. The wakeup calls by the detrimental effects of no period, the supporting arguments to bend back your twisted mind, the detailed supplement research survey, and suggestions for partner involvement, etc. You can find your doubt, struggle, anger, and despair are echoed by so many other people. Then you feel you are not alone and motivated to carry on the journey. I hope one day all of us can deeply love ourselves no matter what :)
July 14, 2020
-je nach Körper erst BMI von 22/23 gesund und darunter keine Periode
-Einige Körper fahren Systeme runter, nehmen jedoch nicht ab
-Verweis auf Hypnosetherapie als wirksam
-Underfueling, over-exercise / energy deficit, + stress
-amenorrhoe associated with thinning/loss of hair, brittle nails, skin problems
-exercise can also produce cortisol i.e. it's stress for the body even though no perceived stress mentally
-intense exercise will shorten the luteal phase or lenghten follicle phase
-difference between PCO + HA (e.g. LH low in HA whereas high in PCO)
-levels of body fat, food intake, exercise + stress don't need to reach extreme lows or highs in order to affect the communication between the hormones and the hypothalamus. Because each of us is unique and has different sensitivities, any marked changes for an individual can have an impact on menstrual cycles
-create a 5-star baby hotel with soft belly
-set point regulation model: each body has a natural weight range at which they prefer to operate
-your body desrves your trust: it knows what it needs and communicates that through hunger and fullness cues
-Weiblichkeit is about softness, not male cut + kantig
-fertile signs every 2 weeks: body is gearing up but not yet managing to fully ovulate
-maybe not gaining weight but eating less filling fruits + veggies and more starchy carbs + fats instead
-Einige Körper fahren Systeme runter, nehmen jedoch nicht ab
-Verweis auf Hypnosetherapie als wirksam
-Underfueling, over-exercise / energy deficit, + stress
-amenorrhoe associated with thinning/loss of hair, brittle nails, skin problems
-exercise can also produce cortisol i.e. it's stress for the body even though no perceived stress mentally
-intense exercise will shorten the luteal phase or lenghten follicle phase
-difference between PCO + HA (e.g. LH low in HA whereas high in PCO)
-levels of body fat, food intake, exercise + stress don't need to reach extreme lows or highs in order to affect the communication between the hormones and the hypothalamus. Because each of us is unique and has different sensitivities, any marked changes for an individual can have an impact on menstrual cycles
-create a 5-star baby hotel with soft belly
-set point regulation model: each body has a natural weight range at which they prefer to operate
-your body desrves your trust: it knows what it needs and communicates that through hunger and fullness cues
-Weiblichkeit is about softness, not male cut + kantig
-fertile signs every 2 weeks: body is gearing up but not yet managing to fully ovulate
-maybe not gaining weight but eating less filling fruits + veggies and more starchy carbs + fats instead
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2020
Wonderful book! I’m so thankful to have found dr Nicola Rinaldi back in 2013 when the book was being written. I found Nico on the original ha message board and she shared much of the intensive research that she was doing for this book while it was in its beginning stages . I lost my period at age 15 and hardly had one until age 23. Nico was able to guide me through her knowledge and research on hypothalamic amenorrhea (al of which is shared in detail in this book), and give answers and direction to my situation and recovery in a way that the countless doctors (some top doctors), I had visited during that time had not. Dr Nico is truly very experienced in the field of ha research and recovery if not the most experienced out there. I have been recovered from ha for several years now and have a beautiful daughter and a much more balanced lifestyle. I could not recommend this book more highly. It is very heavy in research, and I know dr Nicola has spent years researching scientific articles on this topic. It also includes personal experiences which gives it a more
Down to earth feel. The information in this book has been life changing for me. Definitely read if you at all suspect you might have ha
Down to earth feel. The information in this book has been life changing for me. Definitely read if you at all suspect you might have ha
February 23, 2020
As a result of Nicola Rinaldi, PhD., and her supportive community, I was able to recover from hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) after 10 years of not cycling, and at 39 years old after going "all in" for 5ish months! (I had been a competitive athlete, overtraining and under eating....now, by choice, I am simply a well fueled athlete.) This book provides not only hope through evidence based research (over 450 cited science journals), empirical evidence among a sample size of over 250 women (the current number of recovered women is far greater since this book debuted), but also from real life people sharing their personal experiences on the "discomforts", health gains and freedoms that coexist with recovery as a whole. Lastly, if you are a female who has lost her period and/or prescribed hormone replacement therapy for HA but are not interested in getting pregnant, this book is for you too. The information in this book supporting bone, brain, and heart health as well as behavior modification has been instrumental in regaining my menstrual cycles.
February 20, 2020
This book was instrumental in enabling me to understand why I wasn’t getting a period for decades. Decades. It was literally an answer to prayers. She explains the importance of the hypothalamus and it’s role in hormone health in readable layman’s term! Through this book and the support of others on a online support group, my endocrinologist confirmed that I had accurately self -diagnosed and helped facilitate the return of my period. It’s a book that addresses the wrong physical and also the mental behaviors that lead to all these issues. I want to thank her for her research and work. I am suffering from health problems related to my amenorrhea (they are real and scary), but really see how God has used this book to address my issues before they were completely irreversible.
February 20, 2020
I found this book after a few years struggling with HA. Long story short - I recovered, I have a baby and a healthy cycle again.
I suffered from under fueling and over training, not an ED per say but the obsession with fitness and clean eating is detrimental.
The book also discusses recovery and has numerous support groups. Nicola is also availabile for conultations which is amazing and I really recommend it.
An understudied subject for sure and its fantastic to find something to help women - no period has massive affects in life from heart problems, to sex to not 'feeling alive' due to repressed hormones.
Read the book and believe in the process it can take a few months.
I suffered from under fueling and over training, not an ED per say but the obsession with fitness and clean eating is detrimental.
The book also discusses recovery and has numerous support groups. Nicola is also availabile for conultations which is amazing and I really recommend it.
An understudied subject for sure and its fantastic to find something to help women - no period has massive affects in life from heart problems, to sex to not 'feeling alive' due to repressed hormones.
Read the book and believe in the process it can take a few months.
February 20, 2020
This book is life changing for anyone struggling with hypothalamic amenorrhea because of overexercising/underfueling/any type of eating disorder or disordered eating. It clearly explains the science behind HA and gives specific recovery guidelines. Nothing fancy...no miracolous expensive supplements, alternative treatments, just straightforward recovery advice based on science. The book also discusses what to do in order to increase one's chances of getting pregnant and how to go on to have a healthy pregnancy. It also challenges today's dangerous diet culture. It is hundreds of pages of precious information. Highly recommended it to those trying to regain their period and/or get pregnant.
September 11, 2020
This book helped me 100% regain my cycle and helped teach me why I haven't often had a regular cycle my whole life. I always thought HA only happened to people with full blown eating disorders or over exercisers. I learned that's it's actually a lot more common and people of any body shape can have it. Also, it is quite common that running can affect your cycle, even if your not training for a marathon or some big race. I didn't actually read the entire thing (some sections just aren't applicable to me at this point), but I will continue to reference it as needed. I really appreciated the studies she shared that demonstrate her points.
February 20, 2020
I found this book at a low point in my life. I had not had a period in 7 years. Doctors had me convinced they couldn't determine the cause of my amenorrhea because I had a "normal" BMI. I was desperate to get my period back and found this book and the corresponding Facebook group that had overwhelming amount of followers with success. I committed to the books recommendations by going "all in" and my period returned within less than two months. This book has helped a lot of women regain their cycles and I highly recommend it.
February 20, 2020
This book is life changing. I regained my period by following Dr Nicola’s guide after loosing my period for 6+ years. I had tried all kind of misleading treatments and medication from doctors and felt there was no hope until I read this book.
Not only did I get my period back - I got my life back and my relationship with food has never been better
This book is full of well researched information that is translated into chapters that are easy to understand. I can’t recommend this book more - it will seriously change your life.
Not only did I get my period back - I got my life back and my relationship with food has never been better
This book is full of well researched information that is translated into chapters that are easy to understand. I can’t recommend this book more - it will seriously change your life.
February 20, 2020
Now Period. Now What? is the single most comprehensive, well-researched (hello, over 500 references!) book out there on this topic. HA is a huge blind spot in the medical community, and this book is by far the most valuable/evidence-based resource to learn what’s happening in the body, why it matters, and how to heal. It unpacks recovery recommendations in-depth (with literature to back it up), and thousands of women have regained their monthly cycles using the protocol. Very worth the purchase and the read!
February 20, 2020
This book is incredibly informative based on extensive research, the only comprehensive research on this topic.
As an athlete, therapist and sufferer myself it's been a revelation to read and learn how the body reacts to dietary restriction, stress and over activity. I now understand more about female reproductive cycle, health and bone density effects than many in the health care field. This then gave me the motivation and support to recognise the importance of letting my body restart itself without imposing exogenous hormones. I didn't realise how ill I had been until I felt better.
As an athlete, therapist and sufferer myself it's been a revelation to read and learn how the body reacts to dietary restriction, stress and over activity. I now understand more about female reproductive cycle, health and bone density effects than many in the health care field. This then gave me the motivation and support to recognise the importance of letting my body restart itself without imposing exogenous hormones. I didn't realise how ill I had been until I felt better.
November 18, 2021
Excellent book and one of the best out there to help with getting your period back after losing if from restrictive eating and too much exercising!
Written in easy-to-understand language with relatable anecdotes from other HAers, this book provided everything I needed to know on what to do to get my period back. It supported me so much during my recovery journey. After following the recovery plan for 6 months, I restored my weight and finally got my first period in almost 6 months! Worth a read especially if you struggle with underfueling and overexercising.
Written in easy-to-understand language with relatable anecdotes from other HAers, this book provided everything I needed to know on what to do to get my period back. It supported me so much during my recovery journey. After following the recovery plan for 6 months, I restored my weight and finally got my first period in almost 6 months! Worth a read especially if you struggle with underfueling and overexercising.
January 5, 2024
If you lost your period unexpectedly (not pregnant) and are wondering why this book might just help you get it back.
This book is a god-send to almost everyone whom struggles with hypothalamic amenorrhea.
I recovered my period once I worked on recovering and re-feeding from my restrictive eating disorder. Reading this book helped immensely in taking my first steps towards recovery and understanding the science happening within my body.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped write it <3
This book is a god-send to almost everyone whom struggles with hypothalamic amenorrhea.
I recovered my period once I worked on recovering and re-feeding from my restrictive eating disorder. Reading this book helped immensely in taking my first steps towards recovery and understanding the science happening within my body.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped write it <3
February 20, 2020
Ahhhhh mazing
After seeing a million “specialists” who wanted to pump me full of synthetic hormones, lose weight(I was 54kg) and didn’t want to figure out the cause of my loss of periods, I found this book.
Once you buy the book you get membership to the support groups which have the legend herself Nicola Rinaldi on them.
Buy the book. It will change your life!!!!
After seeing a million “specialists” who wanted to pump me full of synthetic hormones, lose weight(I was 54kg) and didn’t want to figure out the cause of my loss of periods, I found this book.
Once you buy the book you get membership to the support groups which have the legend herself Nicola Rinaldi on them.
Buy the book. It will change your life!!!!
July 12, 2019
I felt skeptical, but I followed her advice and I got my period back in five weeks after almost ten months of no natural periods (just one withdrawal bleed after my doctor prescribed birth control--I stopped taking it when I realized it wasn't going to help).
February 20, 2020
This booked has changed my life and gived me so much resources and research about all my health problems that no doctor could ever have. I will be forever grateful for Nicola Rinaldi for all her work and dedication to help everyone suffering from HA.
February 20, 2020
Life changing book for anyone with hypothalamic amenorrhea! Nicola clearly lays out the science behind the issue as well as the route to healing. Absolutely recommend to anyone missing their period due to over exercise or under fueling!
February 20, 2020
This book is absolutely life changing and a must-read for anyone struggling with missing/irregular periods. Nicola’s research is brilliant! Again, I recommend this book 1000% over. It has helped me to regain my natural cycle. Thanks Nico!
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