Emily Roberts

Cohorts: Teens-20s

Condition: Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea

Snapshot

Name: Emily Roberts
Age range: 20
Life stage: University student, menstruating age but currently experiencing period loss
Location: Durham, UK
Occupation: Sports science undergraduate; part-time gym receptionist
Relationship and family context: Lives in shared student flat; long-distance relationship with school boyfriend; perfectionist tendencies, doesn’t talk about stress or food habits with family

Health Context

Relevant condition(s): Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea
Density of condition(s): Uncommon – more common amongst athletes and women with eating disorders
Key symptoms experienced: Absent periods for 7 months, fatigue, poor sleep, cold hands and feet, low libido, low mood, brittle nails, anxiety about eating more, obsessive exercise habits
Severity and duration: Moderate; initially dismissed as “training hard,” but symptoms now affecting wellbeing
Diagnosed or suspected: Self-suspected after researching “missed periods from exercise”; hasnʼt seen a doctor yet
Current treatments or management: High protein/low calorie diet, 5-6 gym sessions weekly; recently began considering therapy after friend expressed concern
Comorbidities or related factors: Perfectionism, orthorexic tendencies, body image concerns, stress from academic performance and self-comparison

Triggers and barriers

Main triggers that worsen symptoms: Intense exercise, caloric restriction, lack of rest days, academic stress, social comparison (fitness influencers)
Barriers to seeking care: Fear of weight gain, equating “health” with leanness, embarrassment about missing periods, belief doctors will “just tell her to eat more”
Information gaps and misconceptions: Thinks period loss is “normal for athletes”; unaware it means her hormones (especially oestrogen) have shut down; hasn’t considered link to bone and fertility health
Emotional drivers and concerns: Validation from fitness goals and discipline; fear of “losing control”; anxiety about eating more or resting; guilt when not training

Goals and needs

Primary health goals: Get her period back without “losing fitness”; understand hormonal health; prevent long-term consequences
Secondary lifestyle goals: Improve relationship with food and exercise; manage anxiety and perfectionism
What “better” looks like to them: Having a balanced lifestyle where health isnʼt defined by restriction; feeling calm, strong, and hormonally stable again

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