Holly Dunn – Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea Nutritionist

Yes. I know what it is to feel exposed and dismissed in a healthcare setting, and I work hard to make sure my clients never feel that way. You'll always be taken seriously and treated as the individual you are. You'll never be reduced to your history, or to a number on a scale. 

No. I don't use generic protocols, calorie-counting, or rigid meal plans. Every recommendation is built entirely around you. You're the expert in your own life, so your programme always takes your preferences, your circumstances and your lifestyle into account. We work together to create something that feels manageable, sustainable and enjoyable, without adding the stress that recovery can sometimes bring. 

Yes. Your period is rarely the whole story, and it isn't the whole of my work. With over seven years of clinical experience in complex cases, I support the many health concerns that sit alongside and beyond FHA. This includes protecting and improving your bone health, supporting fertility and preparing your body for pregnancy, addressing digestive issues and looking after your cardiovascular health. Whatever you're carrying, you're treated as a whole person here, with nutrition and lifestyle support built around your entire health, not a single symptom. 

No. Many of the women I work with arrive without a clear diagnosis, or with an uncertain or mistaken one, often a PMOS (PCOS) label that doesn't quite fit. Others simply know something isn't right and haven't been given a real answer. You don't need a formal diagnosis to deserve support. If your period is missing or irregular and you want to understand why, you're welcome here. 

Ideally, no. My aim is to keep you moving and doing the things you love, and that sits at the heart of how I work. But I’ll always be honest with you if the volume or intensity of your exercise may be playing a part in your missing period. What matters is making sure your body has the resources it needs to support your activities, including your recovery from them too. For some women, that may mean continuing with gentle adjustments. For others, it might mean easing back for a while. We look at the whole picture together and work out what’s right for you. I don’t take an all-or-nothing approach, and stopping exercise is never a given.

You're never treated as a weight or a BMI here. I'll always be honest with you if a change in weight may have played a part in your amenorrhoea, and whether it may play a part in your recovery. But I strongly believe recovery is about far more than eating more and doing less. We look at the wider, multifactorial picture, the deeper nutritional detail and nuance, and consider every possible angle. 

Yes. Whether you're currently on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or discussing it with your doctor, nutrition and lifestyle support can, and should, work alongside your treatment to address the underlying causes of your amenorrhoea. Updated NICE guidance advises prescribing HRT, rather than the combined oral contraceptive pill, to protect bone health in women and girls with FHA whose oestrogen levels remain low, or whose periods have been missing for a year or more. 

I don't promise guaranteed timelines or quick fixes. Lasting period recovery is a delicate process, and the time it takes varies from person to person. Some symptoms and nutritional deficiencies can begin to improve within a matter of weeks. During your consultation, I may be able to give you a clearer sense of what recovery could look like for you, based on your individual situation and any test results. 

I don’t provide is the intensive, specialist-level treatment needed for acute or severe eating disorders. Where that’s what someone needs, I’ll help them find the right specialist support. However, I work with many women who have a history of disordered eating, or who are recovering from years of under-fuelling, even if they haven’t yet recognised that’s what’s been happening. Where someone is also under the care of other professionals, I’m glad to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, alongside your GP or counselling psychologist, for example, so your care is joined up and you’re properly supported.

No. Many clients do choose additional testing, so we can understand more about what's underlying your missing period and symptoms. But it's always your choice. I'll give you the options, and we'll work out together what's right for you. 

When this happens, we simply shift the rest of your programme to support you through it. Nutritional needs change significantly in pregnancy, and I'll provide tailored support to look after both your health and your baby's development. I can also help you manage pregnancy-related conditions and prepare your body for birth and recovery. 

Yes. I'm happy to communicate regularly with any professional involved in your care, always with your permission, to provide the wrap-around, multidisciplinary support you may need. 

Your personalised programme typically runs over around twelve weeks, though it's designed to flex around your life and move at a pace that feels right for you. To keep my support as high-quality and relevant as possible, all programme consultations must be taken within six months. 

All consultations are held online, so you can work with me wherever you are. Working this way gives you flexibility with scheduling and removes travel time, with the same quality of care and personal connection throughout. 

Yes. I offer the same personalised support to clients worldwide, wherever you're based. 

Whether your sessions are covered depends on your individual private medical insurance policy. I hold a unique dual registration spanning both clinical practice and public health nutrition science, which can strengthen your case when asking your provider about pre-authorisation or reimbursement. To find out whether you can claim back the cost of your sessions, please contact your insurer directly before booking, and give them my registration details: AfN (UKVRN) No. 48038; CNHC No. CNHC04413; BANT No. 45469. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give at least 48 hours' notice by phone or email, and there'll be no charge. With less notice, a fee may apply to cover any preparation, research and time already set aside for your appointment, and late changes or missed appointments aren't refundable. If you arrive late, we usually cannot extend the session to accommodate the time lost. Full details are set out in my terms and conditions.