Not Having My Period--Please help!!!

Ok so actually, I have NEVER had a normal period. First, I didn't start until I was frickin 17...the doctor said it wasn't that wierd b/c I was a runner. But after that once...that was it! I'm 19 and I have never had it again. My doctors ran all the usual tests and nothing. People tell me it could be b/c my weight is on the low side, 5'7 114 lbs...but I didnt weigh more than that when I started. Is it possible I need to gain weight to have it? I know I'm thin, but my friend is a/b my same size and she has always had a normal period. All I care a/b is health. I take calcium supplements to help the bones but if I just don't have a period does that affect my chances of until I decide to have children? Do I need to gain weight or could it be something else or is it really not that bad to not be having it if I take care of the bones haha....Please let me know!

This happened to my mother; she had her period once and then didn't get it again for a few years.  If you saw a doctor and they told you that you were okay then I wouldn't worry too much.  If you want to try to gain some weight, then go for it. It's really up to you.

Hey! I was in a similar situation, and I'll share what I know.  I never had a normal period either, and was a competitive athlete (soccer) and thin as well.  I lost my period for about 3 years (baaad) when I lost a bunch of weight and became anorexic.  When my period initially started I was probably 5'3" and 105 pounds, but then I lost and was about 89 (obviously getting my period wasn't going to happen then).  Now I am 110 and have grown to be a bit over 5'4" but I'm still irregular. 

Anyway, this is what I'm thinking vis a vis you.  I do think it is very likely that you need to gain weight- your bmi puts you in the underweight category, and not just barely.  I understand that your friend is the same size but each of our bodies are different and yours intends for you to be bigger to be at a healthy state.  Pretty much one's lowest healthy weight is dictated by where one regularly gets one's period.  Also, you said that you weighed this two years ago and got your period- this should be a red flag that you really need to gain.  Girls are supposed to naturally gain about 3 pounds every year as a teen and into the mid-20s, not including weight gain that corresponds to growing taller.  Thus, to correspond to your 114 weight at 17 you should probably be about 120 now.  That would be the comperable weight. 

If truly all you care about is health I would strongly urge you to gain about 6 pounds (and not really muscle- a certain body fat % is needed for women's reproductive systems to function) and stay there for about a month or so (thus giving yourself time to see if that weight works for you). 

If you aren't getting your period, I am sorry to tell you but all that supplemental calcium can't be absorbed by your bones. The hormones that come with having your period are needed to allow your bones to take in calcium.  This is why my doctors were SO adament that I gain until I regularly got my period.

Also, if you don't have your period you most certainly can't have children.  Sorry, and I hope this isn't too upsetting! Please try to gain a bit and I hope that solves your problem!

i havent gotten my period in 6 months but i know i don't have a low percent of body fat because i can squeeze some fat from my stomach.  I'm 15 and weigh around 102

justme, do you think that because you gained a bit of weight, you grew taller? if that's it then i'm going to gain a little more weight lolz. i need to get taller!

rubester- being able to "squeeze" a little fat doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a low % of body fat (even when I was really underweight I was bothered by being able to squeeze fat, though it was probably mainly skin). 

I was told by my doctor that my low weight definately stalled my growth height-wise.  If one's body doesn't have enough nourishment, it will devote all that it's given to accomplishing basic tasks (maintaining homeostasis, enabling concentration and thinking, keeping your body temperature up) instead of devoting it to growing taller, which your body knows would require even more energy.  When I upped my calories and gained weight, my growing restarted again, because luckily I'm still in my teens and young enough to have the ability to grow! However, she said that if I were in my 20s I probably would have just always stayed at 5'3" (not something I really want).  Looking at my growth charts my dip in weight was accompanied by a dip in height growth.  I can't guarantee that you'll necessarily grow, but I can from experience guarantee that you won't if your weight is too low or you aren't consuming proper nourishement.  And the lack of your period indicates that you aren't eating properly.  So if you want to maximize your chances at height, yes, try gaining some weight!

well no one answered my question  on the topic I posted so I'm going to ask here. What if you are not underweight and aren't getting your period? I am 5'10 and 148 lbs which is considered healthy. Even when I weighed 136 lbs I was still considered a healthy weight and that was before I started eating more to get my period back.

So what do I do? I include enough healthy fats into my diet. And my doctor told me to just wait it out but how much waiting do I have to do? Its been almost seven months now.

  

Everyone has a different size at which their body functions best.  Changes in body weight can disrupt the regularity of one's period, even if the changes keep you in the range considered healthy. Were you thin as a child, or were you larger? If your body is not accustomed to being thin, then that could account for it. 

However, I suspect that there could be something else non-weight related that is affecting your period.  Do you exercise a lot? Excessive activity at any weight can do it. Have you ever taken contraceptives? Are you stressed? Do you take any medications? These can all cause it.  As can a hormonal imbalance, thyroid malfunctioning, uterine scarring, or benign pituitary tumors can also cause secondary amenorrhea (ie. you've gotten your period in the past but don't now). 

Not trying to scare you, but maybe you should have some tests done.  Sorry!

I would also recommend taking some Iron Supplements.  I take mine with breakfast every day.

thanks so much you guys.  Yea, that's the most confusing part b/c I was VERY thin as a child.  Always abnormally tall and lanky and just plain awkward.  The thing is both my sisters (older and younger) are at healthy, still lean, but normal weights and both started their periods when they were 14.  This makes me think I may be underweight for what my body should be.  My mom is overweight while my dad is a stick haha so we always think I got his genes...but still is it possible I may just have to try harder to get my body where it needs to be even though I've always been thin?  It's def worth a try, it's just unfortunately an icky thought to think I have to try to gain weight since I've just recently finally broken my binge/restrict cycle.

Yeah... I  used to never have an irregular period, then this year, I started getting really active and stopped. I'm not even remotely underweight or anything, it's just cause I'm so active. Don't miss it at all :)

I have that same issue. I'm actually 5'7" and 115lb. However, they finally figured out what was wrong with me. My advice: DON'T get on birth control to get your period started/regular. That was done to me and it screwed up my hormones to the point that I lost an unhealthy amount of weight. My body was working overtime to try to support a "natural" function that was so unnatural for it. It turns out that my ovaries and uterus didn't fully develop, sadly. Yes, that means that I cannot have children besides trying in vitro fertilization. All tests were always normal until they did an ultrasound with an electrode......that is when they saw the physical defficiency.

yea, maybe you should tell ur doctor. i havent gotten mine in the longest time but my mom won't let me see the doc cause she thinks i'm getting taller?! lolz. yea rite.

Girls who start early end late (11 to 55) .those who start late end early. (17 to 35?40?) So it is a consideration if you plan to have children late in life.  those satistics were collected before the fad for women to be super skinny happened so if a girl has been starving to keep herself skinny and had no periods, it may not be a factor. I do not know it studies were ever done to determine if being skinney or very atletic when you start affects the years one stops. There are extremely rare conditions where a woman never gets a period, most are easy enough to check out by your doctor.

Along those lines, I am fifteen and I still have not gotten my period. I was anorexic for about 8-10 months ending in May 2007. Now I am up to 114 lbs (I'm 5' 2") and I get about 2500 cals a day and do not work out that much and I still have gotten my period. Is this NORMAL??? BTW, my doctor had originally estimated that I would get it about half way through eighth grade and now I am in tenth.

shorelover- i don't think you can worry about it that much because you're doing all you can to get it back.  however, you were anorexic until fairly recently, so i am not totally surprised that it hasn't come back yet.  if it doesn't in the next few months, then you should talk to your doctor.  you can always take the pill to get it, and sometimes that makes you begin to get it naturally.  just for context, the average age when girls begin menstruating is 12, but the window from 8 to 16 is considered fairly normal.  after 16 one is advised to seek medical help.  just try to keep healthy, doing what you are currently, and if it doesn't come after a few more months, talk to your doctor. 

Thanks justme, I hope I do get it soon enough though because I am afraid to talk to my doctor. I fear that she will say "Well, since you haven't gotten your period yet, maybe we should force you to gain even more weight and push you up to 130 lbs." I have not been to the doctor since my last weigh-in last June when she officially stopped the weigh-ins because I had reached an acceptable weight. Also, I thought the Pill made you stop getting your period. Do you mean the birth control pill or a different one? Sorry, I am so clueless about all of this.

I totally know what you mean about fearing doctors.  I no longer have regular weigh in (but did for MONTHS after I reached my target weight) and now whenever I'm actually sick I don't want to go! It sucks, so I feel you there.  I don't think they'll make you gain that much more, or any, but what weight you were at before the anorexia can play a big role.  If you were never thinish before, then it's less likely that you'll get your period until you get back up to the corresponding place on your growth chart (which would be plus a few pounds for the time you lost instead of naturally gaining, which is supposed to happen at your age). 

As for pills, oral contraceptives or periodic courses of progesterone medication (a female hormone), often called Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), can be taken.  Basically women who don't menstruate usually fail to do so because of a lack of a female hormone, estrogen (I looove biology- woot for AP bio).  "The pill" is a combination of estrogen and progesterone.  Many anorexics stop producting estrogen (also called oestrogen), which results in both no periods and osteoperosis (bones can't absorb calcium without these hormones- wow, isn't it confusing how all these body functions are connected?). 

So basically I would recommend DEFINITELY maintaining your weight (not losing at all- frequent and/or major changes in weight can also forestall periods) and just hanging tight for a couple months.  Good luck, hope this helped!

well i dont know what to tell you about you haveing to gain weight to get your period because for me i have to lose the wieght see for me i got mine when i was i think 13 or summin im over weight and all and my sister got it before me but yeah the last time i got it was august 17 2008 and its now dec 9 2008 i scared and dont know what to do please help or give advise on what i should do

 

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well..i had unprotected sex on 6th september 2011, the next day my periods got over. But my boyfriend didnot release inside me. For safety i also took an i-pill. After a few days i had bleeding for 2 n half days, may be as a side-effect of the pill. now my next period date 30th september has come and i am already 4 days late now and still havent got my periods...i also took a pregnancy test which shows a negative. i dnt knw wat 2 do and i m really worried and freaking out. plz help me !!

Have you discussed the possibility of PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) with your doctor?  Missed periods is one symptom.  I have had this for many years and once went 2 years without my cycle.  I thought it was great (no cramps, didn't have to buy feminine products, etc.) until I told my doctor and she sent me for a few tests and I was diagnosed.