girly question...

I have never had a normal period since I got my first period around 5 or 6 years ago.  Sometimes I go for months (and that could be 2 or it could be 5) without getting my period.  This worries me becasue it should be regular at my age (17).  There is no chance I could be pregnant but I have not gotten my period since late may... which is around the time I started to lose weight.  Do you think me not having my period has more to do with my weight loss or just the pure fact my period is so abnormal??

Oh, and every time I go to the Dr. my mom and I mention this... they say it isnt a huge deal- but it still bothers me.  They have mentioned birth control pills... but I heard they make you gain weight so I dont think that would be the best option for me right now.

It's not that I want my period... I just want reassurance everything is alright.

My 17 year old has the same problem.  Well let me elaborate, she has this problem when she is with her Dad in CT.  Then she returns to Calif and everything settles back to normal.  For her, we have determined it is stress related.  When she is stressed, knowing she is stressed or not, her cycle comes to a halt.  When things are safe and comfrotable for her she resumes her cycle.

Don't know if this happening to you, but I thought I would share our exerpience to give something to look into.  Our bodies are amazing and they know what we can handle and when.

I'm much like you.  I got my period when i was almost 15, and had very irregular periods for three years (although mine were usually more frequent rather than less often..).  I did go on the pill when I was 18 in order to regulate them and keep them a bit lighter, and I've been on it for the last 3 years.  As for the weight gain, I really don't know if that's a myth or not.  I did gain weight, yes, but I think it was due to the fact that I ate nothing but junk and cut my exercise in half rather than due to the pill.

That's the best I can do for reassurance, but it's based totally on my own experiences and may not apply to you.  I'd suggest you see a doctor and talk about it!

I've heard that changes in diet, exercise and stress can all have an effect on how regular your period is.  I started taking the pill when I was 17 just to ease the severe cramping I had every month.  I don't think I really started gaining weight until after my first year of college.  Some time after that I started the Depo Injections.  I never had a period with those.  I also started gaining weight around that time.  I never associated the weight gain with the injection until I had talked to several others who had the same thing occur.

I think the weight gain associated with the pill is probably caused by hormone changes (I am not a doctor, that's just my theory).  I wouldn't expect you to have a constant weight gain.  Maybe just a couple of pounds in the beginning until your body adjusts. 

You'll have to weigh the options and see what's right for you.  If your doctor isn't overly concerned then there's probably no medical cause for concern.  Is taking the pill to start a regular cycle worth the risk of maybe gaining a few pounds?  Next time your due for a checkup, you could see a different doctor and get another opinion?

Just my thoughts and suggestions.  I hope you find something that helps.

i'm pretty sure it's a myth that you gain weight when you're on the pill.  i asked my doctor and she said that it was completely untrue that it causes you to gain weight.  i've been on it for about 7 months now and i haven't gained any weight and none of my friends (some who have been on it for years) have either....

thanks for all the help- I too have heard different things about the pill, that it is just a myth about the weight gain, but I also know people who have had first hand experiences with the pill and swear it was the cause of their weight gain.... I think I'll just have to do some more research.  I think all together I'd rather not have to be on "birth control" just because I am so young and just want to stay natural.

I have trouble when I do go to the Dr. because they always ask me to write down the dates I get my period... but I never have enough inbetween doctor visits to show them any type of patter or anything.

Its weird that my periods tend to never come during the summer when I should be the least stressed out... but I do appreciate the responses to know its not just me with the really unusual cycle.

My doctor told me it's normal to gain a little water weight for the first month of taking the pill, but then it should go away. Just thought I'd throw that in.

I'm a huge fan of Seasonale. Only 4 periods a year, but entirely regular and planned, woohoo!

With very low doses, my doctor has told me there is little chance of weight gain. Some low doses even act as diuretics, and you could lose a couple of pounds.

The birth control pill can just mask the symptoms of irregular cycles.  I am like you in that I never was regular, never.  I was normal weight when I was younger too but have gained a lot over the years between infertility treatment and then 3 pregnancies.

I have PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.  I never knew it before I did infertility (one of it's symptoms.)  Another symptom is weight gain, surprise surprise.  There used to be no treatment, but now there is.  When I started on the medication I started having regular cycles.  Basically the problem is insulin resistence (but NOT diabetes, at least not yet for me.)  So I take diabetes medication, metformin/glucophage. 

Now, I don't know that you have it, but it sounds like there's a good chance.  And the glucophage can assist in weight loss.  Although I don't lose if I don't diet/exercise.  So I'd talk to your doctor about it.  There are other symptoms as well such as acne and facial hair.  I have the best skin now for the first time in my life. 

J

I never had a regular period for 16 years.  Doctors told me it might be endometriosis (that's a surgical diagnosis - no thank you!) or it might be that I simply never ovulated or it might just be my body.  I tried many different kinds of pills and none of them ever worked.  None of those pills ever made me gain weight - I did that all on my own due to stress, life changes, etc.  Two years ago I tried Nuvaring (not a pill - an insertable ring that stays in your body for 3 weeks and during the week where you take it out, you have a period - less hormones enter your bloodstream and therefore it's thought to be safer).  That's the only thing that ever fixed my crazy periods.  In my experience, my obgyns have not taken my problem seriously and although it's fixed now, I've been told I could have problems later on if I try to have children (endometriosis can interfere with getting/staying pregnant and not ovulating, well that can't be good) so I understand your frustration with your doctor telling you it's not a big deal.  The only thing I can think is to find a good obgyn and keep pressing them, make a log of your periods and show them the problem, and ask them for a real reason, not just a brush off.

I'd really like some help. I've been having periods regularly for the last few years. Three months ago I started having an eating disorder and I wasn't consuming enough food. I understand that now, and I'm back on track (eating err...way more than I should). I'm not overweight. I'm not pregnant. I'm still underweight, I think, but how long will it be until my periods come back? I'm pretty darn desperate because I really don't want to be infertile and come to think of it, I couldn't give a damn anymore about being thin. So please can somebody help me. I really need to know how long it will be, how I should be eating and so on, because I feel like crying and I can't tell anyone about this face to face. I'm worried and I'd really appreciate some help. Thank you.

My period has a habit of disappearing as well. I'm not under or overweight... I think it's just a stress thing. I find though that it's more likely to happen when I've been exercising more than I probably should.