Sexuality and reproduction in bulimia nervosa patients over 10 years

The reproductive and sexual histories of women who bad recovered or were recovering from bulimia nervosa were examined. Of 48 consecutive female patients, 43 were studied 10-15 years after first presenting for treatment. At follow-up, 74% were considered recovered and 26% still had an eating disorder. Only 2 women fulfilled the criteria for bulimia nervosa. A history of amenorrhea was common (81% of women), 63% of women being without their menstrual periods for more than 12 months. Menstruation was present in women at a body mass index of 19 or more who were no longer using the weight loss practices of self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, and starvation. Bulimia nervosa women are more likely to be investigated for infertility when their eating disorder is active. Bulimia sufferers are sexually active, but have times of withdrawing from their partners and ceasing sexual behavior. They associate their sexual feeling with body weight, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and status of their relationships. Marital breakdown is also more common but only if the eating disorder was active at the time of marriage. Forty-five percent felt their relationship had a negative effect on their eating disorder. Short-term episodes of bulimic-free behavior are associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding in some pregnancies. Termination of pregnancy occurs more often. The prevalence of miscarriage, hyperemesis gravidarum, and post-natal depression was greater among women who had not recovered from their eating disorder at the time of their pregnancy, Recovery from eating disorder behavior before attempting conception reduces the prevalence of the gynecologic, obstetric, and psychiatric problems associated with eating disorder behavior. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.