What is Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and how does it affect Scoliosis?

Studies confirm prolonged onset of the menstrual cycle is a risk factor for scoliosis progression. Termed Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, abnormal menses or lack menses can be caused by a lack of adequate body fat. This may be due to genetic predisposition, or due to either excessive exercise or low caloric intake. It’s important to understand why this happens. To put it simply, if the brain (hypothalamus) does not detect enough fat storage (Leptin signaling), it won’t waste energy on preparing the body for pregnancy.  This can prolong the pubertal growth making these patients more susceptible to asymmetrical bone growth.   Dietary and lifestyle changes should be considered in these cases. Supplementation that supports proper hormone function may reduce physiological dysfunctions associated with this condition.