29 years old and irregular
periods
I am 29 years old, haven't had a period in a year, before that time
had irregular periods. I did get pregnant almost three years ago
although my periods were irregular. I was sent to an endocrinologist,
who prescribed Provera, well, it didn't help me, still no periods! What
could be my problem, help me!
Lack of menses is usually due to anovulation. Assuming pregnancy
isn't the cause of the anovulation, the two most common causes are
polycystic ovarian disease and conditions that produce "hypothalamic
amenorrhea". There are also other things like premature ovarian
failure, thyroid disease etc. a list is available at:
skipping
periods
The fact that you did not have a withdrawal bleed from Provera
makes the category of hypothalamic amenorrhea more likely. Often this
turns out to be stress or medication induced. Might any of these
apply?
Your doctor probably drew or will draw some hormone tests to see if
there are any patterns that can help classify what's going on with
you.
Weight change and skipping
menses
I'm 21 and overweight. When I was 17 and just starting college
(and a huge weight gain), my periods stopped. My gynecologist gave me
progesterone and I was supposed to take one a day for the first twelve
days of the month. Well, I ended up taking only one a month for about
three months and my periods continued normally for several months and
then stopped again. I went back to the doctor and got more pills. (and a
shot) Anyway, my weight stabilized somewhat and I haven't gained or lost
any for a while. Also, I've been working with kids for several years.
Last semester, I thought my periods were coming back ok, like I would
spot once a day for 12-20 days, not even enough to wear protection. It
would stop and come back the next month. Sometimes the flow lasts
normally, light discharge for two days or so. But it comes at such
irregular intervals, like three days after I think it has stopped or
three weeks after, I don't know. Are my hormones just really messed up
and trying to stabilize themselves or should I ask my Dr. for more
extensive tests? p.s.: I'm a virgin, if that makes any difference.
I think its best to get diagnosed properly as to whether this is
something like polycystic ovarian disease, hypothalamic amenorrhea
(like stress-induced), thyroid problem or any of the other causes of
no menses or infrequent menses. Your doctor will probably order some
hormonal tests and possibly an ultrasound of the pelvis to look for
multiple cysts in the ovaries. The blood tests may include TSH,
prolactin, FSH, LH, and possibly DHEA and testosterone.
Missed two menses -
pregnancy test negative
I am 28 years old and have always had basically regular periods. I
am not on bc pills, but my husband and I do use condoms. My last
menstrual cycle ended on March 8th. (Today is May 4) I have taken two
pregnancy tests and both were negative. My lower back aches and my
abdomen is bloated. What could be causing this? I am very concerned
because I have not had any significant changes in my lifestyle, nor have
I been under any type of stress.
Sometimes skipping one or two periods can be as simple as having had
a cold or flu. If menses are delayed 3 months or more, you need to see
a physician about it. If you are just too uncomfortable now you may
see physician for medicine (a progesterone type medication to start
menses.
How long for menses after
taking ProveraŽ
I saw my Dr. 8 days ago and then took ProveraŽ to start a
period. How many days will it take before I get one? I took 5 pills, 1
each for 5 days. This is day 8 now.
The menses usually starts anywhere from 2-3 days after completing
the ProveraŽ (i.e., about now) up to 2 weeks. Occasionally it
doesn't induce a menses and then your doctor may need to give you some
estrogen followed by more ProveraŽ. When the ProveraŽ doesn't
work, that usually means there had not been enough estrogen around to
stimulate growth of the endometrium.
Delay of menses after long
term birth control pill use
I am 29 years old and have been on the pill for about 12 years. I
decided to take a break and my first period occurred on day 36. It has
been 50 days since the first day of my last period. Before I went on the
pill I used to have 35 day cycles. I am not pregnant - can anybody
explain. It seems this may be normal after going off the pill! Is it?
Birth control pills do not seem to change your body's ovulation
timing no matter how long you are on them. They mask what your normal
cycle would have done had you not been taking the pills. When you
discontinue the pills, your body goes back to whatever its cycle would
have been at this point in your life had you not taken the pills. This
may take up to three cycles to get back to that pattern however.
Amenorrhea and overweight
How serious is amenorrhea? I am 22 years old and have always had
very regular periods. I am definitely not pregnant and have not
menstruated for 2 months. Should I see my doctor right away? I am 50
pounds overweight. Could obesity be the cause and if so how?
Amenorrhea itself is not dangerous at all. It doesn't lead to cancer
or premature death, heart disease, diabetes or anything like that. The
only serious effect it has is its effect on fertility. If amenorrhea
isn't due to pregnancy, it generally prevents getting pregnant.
Rarely, a stopping of menses (secondary amenorrhea) can be due to
blockage of the genital tract but that's almost always due to the
consequences of scarring due to a procedure like conization, laser,
cryotherapy, or LEEP to the cervix as treatment for cervical
dysplasia, or D&C of the uterus usually as treatment for abnormal
uterine bleeding.
The most common cause of skipping menses is lack of ovulation on the
part of the ovaries. Anovulation is often due to stress reaction,
medications or sometimes various disorders. Weight doesn't usually
cause amenorrhea per se but is often associated with it. Usually it is
thought that the same stress that produces the overweight may cause
the lack of ovulation.
If the amenorrhea persists into a third month, seeing a physician
would be a good idea.
No menses after stopping
breast feeding
Help! I had a baby and breastfed for somewhere up to 2 1/2 months
and I had some periods not very regular then had one a few weeks later
even than the others, now I haven't had one in 2 months....you could
almost tell time by them before the baby and now I'm wondering if
something is really wrong. By the way, baby was born by emergency
c-section if that makes a difference.
A general rule-of thumb is that it takes about 3 months after
delivery or after discontinuance of breast feeding for menses to get
back to their normal pattern. That pattern can be different after a
delivery. Restoration of normal menses can be interfered with by
injectable contraceptives, stress/depression or sometimes even sleep
deprivation with a new baby. Make sure that you are not pregnant again
also.
Normally an emergency C-Section would not be a cause of something
like this unless there had been an excessive amount of bleeding
usually requiring blood transfusions.
Long term effect of not
having menses
I'm 31 and am trying to get pregnant (my second). The problem is
whenever I go off birth control (both the pill and depo- Provera) I
don't have any periods and don't ovulate (Before I went on the pill I
had a very irregular cycle). When I got pregnant the first time it was
exactly two weeks after I stopped taking the pill and I assumed my cycle
was regulated by the pill allowing me to get pregnant. Now, the
question, since I have this irregular cycle when I am not on birth
control how will this affect my body long term? Over the course of my
life I have frequently gone months, and even up to two years without a
period. Does this do long term damage of any kind?
The problem is lack of, or infrequent, ovarian ovulation. Ovulation
produces menstrual slough (if pregnancy doesn't occur each cycle) or
In the long term, absent or infrequent menses can have two effects:
If there is sufficient estrogen from the ovaries such as that seen
with polycystic ovarian disease, a woman has a higher incidence of
endometrial cancer usually at an earlier age. In this case the usual
treatment is to induce a menstrual period every 2-3 months at least so
that the endometrium lining the uterus is not under constant estrogen
stimulation.
If there is a lack of estrogen because the ovary is not being
stimulated to produce estrogen by pituitary hormones, then a woman may
be at risk for premature osteoporosis, heart disease, etc. just as if
she were menopausal. This usually only happens in severe cases such as
anorexia nervosa eating disorder, stress induced anovulation, severe
physical or athletic activity etc. The general category is a "hypothalamic
amenorrhea". If it goes on more than a year or so, most
physicians recommend some sort of estrogen replacement. That
replacement can be oral contraceptives, or, if you are trying to get
pregnant, sequential estrogen/progestin. However if trying to get
pregnant, often ovulation induction medicines are needed such as
ClomidŽ.
No menses since first
pregnancy
I would like help. This is an awesome web page I wish I would have
found it earlier. I have had three children in less then 4 years. None
the less, I have not had a period since my 1st pregnancy. We are trying
to conceive now, after being diagnosed with endometriosis last September.
I had a second opinion from another GYN and he agreed to my laparoscopy.
My Dr. removed the endometriosis with a laser. Since this time I have
still not received a period. Yesterday I saw him in hopes that I was
pregnant...not the case. He put me on ProveraŽ for 5 days and also
did blood work on my thyroid, and checked the hormonal levels. They will
be back in a few days. Until then I sit here wondering why it's such a
big deal not to have periods. He seemed quite upset that I was not
having them. I have nursed our babies, and upon completion, have become
pregnant. What a miracle with the endometriosis!!! Anyway what are your
thoughts?
When you were nursing and not having periods, that was expected.
Nursing suppresses ovulation and after you stopped nursing, you
probably got pregnant on the first ovulation before having even one
menstrual period. This time, however, things are different. You have
not been nursing for awhile. If there was nothing wrong, you should
have started your periods. Endometriosis does not cause you to stop
menses. Therefore something is causing a secondary amenorrhea
(anovulation). If you don't ovulate, you can't get pregnant.
I am done nursing this last baby now 14 months and still no
pregnancy, or period, what should I do?
It sounds as if you doctor is now doing some tests to see why you
don't ovulate (or menstruate).
Does thyroid disease
cause missed periods?
Does the thyroid have anything to do with a missed period?
Yes, either high or low (more commonly low) thyroid disease can
cause amenorrhea.
When I'm late for my
period I feel bloaty and crabby
I'm usually very regular but I've noticed in February and in March
that my periods get a little later. It's April and almost the end of the
month and still nothing. I feel cramping every now and then and that
reassures me but why would I be this late? I have considered stress a
factor and have been using reliable birth control. What's up? I've been
bloaty and crabby and all of the tell-tale signs are there of impending
menstruation. I can't put my finger on it and would like some input.
Its difficult to tell why sometimes ovulation is regular "like
clockwork" and other times it gets delayed. Many women feel like
you do when ovulation is late. It's similar to pregnancy feeling but
you are not pregnant (I assume). It may be that there is just blood
vessel congestion in the pelvis and that's what gives the feeling.
Postpartum 7 months, not
breast feeding, no menses
I am a 23 year old mother of two. My last child was born over 7
months ago and afterwards I had a tubal. I do not breast feed. I have
yet to start my period. Should I be worried?
In the absence of breast feeding, postpartum menses usually returns
by about 2 months. After 3 months we often give ProveraŽ,
medroxyprogesterone acetate in order to induce a menses in the hopes
of stimulating the ovulatory axis. I would say after six months is
definitely abnormal. The causes are many.
Of the three subgroups, low, normal or high gonadotrophins, post
part delay of menses is much more likely to be related to low or
normal gonadotropins. Of those many causes, I would say the following
would be the most common:
pregnancy (again), medications, postpartum (shot of Depoprovera,
anti- depressants, anti-anxiety etc.), stress-induced, thyroid disease
(high, low, inflammation), large weight change (loss or gain) and
reversion to ovulation problems that existed before pregnancy such as
polycystic ovarian disease, thyroid disease etc. The other causes are
less frequent.
Attention should be paid to any unusual events which happened or
medications received at the time of delivery and since. On physical
exam, estrogen effect of the vagina will be checked along with looking
for any abnormalities on the pelvic exam. The next likely study is an
in-office pregnancy test.
The doctor would then usually order gonadotropins (FSH, LH) thyroid
studies (TSH, free thyroxin/T4), prolactin and possibly some adrenal
or other hormones. While waiting for those results, a treatment of
medroxyprogesterone acetate to induce a menstrual bleed would tell
whether or not estrogens are being produced (if they are not, no or
little bleeding will occur).
All of these results would have to be put together and possibly more
studies if needed to determine the cause.
How can I intentionally
delay my menses for the holiday?
Going to a nude beach over holiday weekend!! My period will start
about 1 or 2 days into my vacation. I am not on the pill, is there any
safe way to postpone my start date with less than a month to go?
If you were to start a birth control pill cycle this month it might be possible
by extending the active pills (i.e., using the three week active pills
then taking another week of active pills and then discontinuing). If
you are much more than a week or so into this cycle, it probably would
not work.
|
