Is it okay not to have a period?

I got my period late to begin with (16 years old) and only had it once... I am 18 now and have not had it. I have recently gained weight to become more healthy and try to get my period. I have also tried to eat more fats.

Anyways, I haven't gotten it back! Am I supposed to just keep gaining weight until it comes? Is it okay for me not to have it at this point? Will it just come eventually? :/

Idk, I feel worried, and no one seems to have a solid answer:) I  will do what it takes.

im in sorta the same situation except i never had a period ever.  i am 17 (turning 18 this fall).  i've been trying to improve the way i eat lately because i have been dieting ever since i was chubby when i was about 12-every time i gain a little more than what i decide is a good weight, i freak out and try to lose it by eating less.  i was 5"1 1/2 and 96 lbs at my last "happy weight" but then i started to gain and i realized i shouldn't try to stop it.  i started eating a lot better recently and haven't gained any more (now i'm 104 but i look like less because im mostly muscle).  i'm not trying to gain- im just trying to eat good foods when hungry and make sure to get enough fat and protein and let my body get to whatever weight it needs to be healthy

and yes, there are bad effects of not having a period, like osteoporosis- so be sure to take a calcium supplement if you're not getting 1000-1300 mg of calcium every single day.

good luck!  hope u get it soon!

hi, i first had my period later than you did.. i had it when i was 17, actually almost 18y/o.. my period comes irregularly..the intervals are 2-4 months(in between each period).. but in your case. please visit an obstetrician-gynecologist...this will be for your own good..

take care

What are your stats?  It might be possible that you haven't gained enough weight yet.  Fats do help though.

Have you talked to your doctor?  It might be something unrelated to your weight.

110-111lbs, 5'7.5"? something like that. I don't know what's the right weight for me. My mom, who wanted me to gain in the first place, said I was okay now & that my period would come eventually. But I am not sure if she's right

Thanks for the help. :) I was worried it might be unrelated to my weight because it wasn't coming before I lost some weight.. :/

No wonder you don't get your period. You are dangerously underweight - your BMI is only 16.7. You should aim for a BMI of 20+ to try and restore your period. This means gaining until you are at least 130lbs, possibly more.

To do this you need to start eating 2500 calories every day, and if you don't gain weight on this, you need to bump up to 3,000+ per day. You can actually do this with relatively small portions of calorie-dense food if the thought of eating a lot of bulk puts you off.

But this is something you really need to do. Not getting your period for a long time can lead to osteoporosis and infertility.

Yea, you definitely don't weigh enough. I'm 5'5" and my doctor said my lowest healthy weight is 110. 

Awe, okay. I mean, I don't have a problem gaining weight (I love eating, and can easily get the calories in). It was easy for me to cope when I was even more underweight, because I KNEW I needed to gain. As I get heavier, and look more at a normal weight, I grow unsure that I need to gain more, or that I should just try to get some muscle weight. I don't feel I look underweight anymore. Make sense?

However, I do want my period back, so I will do what needs to be done. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. =]

Keeping eating and enjoy it! When I was gaining and trying to get my period back, I just made sure I ate lots of healthy fats. I too love eating and had no problems getting calories in, and sometimes I miss getting to eat to gain ;-). The day I got mine back I went out to a bar with some girl friends and celebrated. Sounds corny, but it was fun!

edit: Also, I'm the same height as you and got mine back around 115-116ish. But everyone is different.

Good luck! 

I'm the same height as you and I didn't get my period back until I was about 138lbs. But trust me, keep gaining and hang in there. Recovery is worth it in every way.

Thanks guys, it makes me feel better and more confident with the support. :)

I never really starved myself either (just kinda unknowingly lost the weight by running and not eating back the calories)... so when I see all these people recovering from ED, it makes me feel like I don't really need to gain as much. I feel like I am only telling myself to gain so I can eat more lol!

Anyways, I truly just want to be healthy. That's all I ever wanted =)

Personally, I think some people over estimate the amount people need to gain.

A small framed women does not need to be 130 lbs at 5 ‘ 7.

The OP may have a small body frame and gaining until a BMI of 20 or 130 pounds may be totally unnecessary.

However, 110 at 5 ‘7 is too low to function optimally - it is possible to eat enough and to naturally be that weight. However, even if the weight is natural, having the BMI of 16 still means it is an unhealthy weight for any one.

Almost EVERY WOMEN will lose their period at your weight! It is more unusual for a women too actually GET her period at such a low BMI! Virtually ALL women will lose it at your BMI.

you need to gain a little weight. You are at higher risks of many health problems at your current weight. The amount you need to gain depends on your genetics/body frame size.

It is not so hard - I am about 5 ‘ 5, and I was 103 - 110 until this year when I decided to gain, and now at about 112 - 115 it was not hard to gain this little, and I feel much better knowing that it is healthier for my body..

It barley makes a difference to how I look either! I strength train 1 - 2 times a week so if you just do some squats/lunges/push ups/abdominal work once or twice a week in front of the TV then you can gain weight AND also gain muscle so that you do not become much bigger in size

Please consider gaining weight; you will not get your period back at your current weight. You are too thin, I am almost 100% certain that is the reason you have lost your period.

Thanks for the advice. I will try to gain some weight... it's just hard because I don't look underweight anymore! Most of my pants don't even fit. =( & I don't want to just keep gaining and gaining and have my period not come back.

people here say stuff and sometimes it is not accurate. almost everyone tells the OP to GAIN weight. that is what I was told when I lost my period two years ago after a major weight loss. I thought the solution is to gain weight. I did gain weight and now I am struggling to lose weight. recently,  I went to an OBGYN and she said it is a hormone issue. yes, losing weight too fast contributes to the problem BUT gaining weight was NOT the solution either. 

To the OP, PLEASE go and see an OBGYN and get an ultra sound done. they need to look at your ovaries and ask you questions.  you need to know the real reason behind this. I just don't want anyone to suffer like I did. 

Original Post by safina1:

people here say stuff and sometimes it is not accurate. almost everyone tells the OP to GAIN weight. that is what I was told when I lost my period two years ago after a major weight loss. I thought the solution is to gain weight. I did gain weight and now I am struggling to lose weight. recently,  I went to an OBGYN and she said it is a hormone issue. yes, losing weight too fast contributes to the problem BUT gaining weight was NOT the solution either. 

To the OP, PLEASE go and see an OBGYN and get an ultra sound done. they need to look at your ovaries and ask you questions.  you need to know the real reason behind this. I just don't want anyone to suffer like I did. 

Totally not helpful. Look at the OP's stats; she is obviously underweight. That's a very common reason why women have lost their periods. Hormonal issues can also be caused by being underweight, and solved by gaining weight (if you have a low body weight to begin with). Don't enable someone's eating disorder to return simply because you are struggling.

merylwhite1, I have never been underweight. Being underweight is a common reason for losing period but how would you know this is the reason in her case??? if she has another underlying problem, she needs to treat  that as well. Like I said in my post, the OP needs to go to OBGYN. If the OP has an eating disorder, that is a separate issue. I am addressing her period problem only. 

and how am I enabling her eating disorder to return???????????? is that because I advised her to go and see an OBGYN????

Thanks for the concern guys! I have never been to an OBGYN ... so I could ask my mom to schedule something... I mean my normal doctor and my mom have not seem concerned (although my doctor didn't really say much when I was at 94 lbs... which is kinda weird...).

I haven't ever really had an eating disorder where I deliberately starved myself to lose weight & I never have urges to restrict or anything - so no worries there! =) The reason for being underweight was unintentional.

A lot of women become under weight unintentionally - you are not alone!

It can be a combination of things; simple having a small appetite and therefore not eating enough.

Having a small appetite and consequently not eating enough is made EVEN MORE when a women is also naturally a small build!

A small framed women who has a small appetite can very easily become under weight. Most women in this position assume that they are naturally that thin, and therefore do not need to gain weight.

That is the HUGE misconception; there are women with naturally small body frames who actually do eat enough calories and are still under weight. Even these women, who are naturally that thin, need to gain weight. Being under a certain BMI is unhealthy for any women’s body. It does not matter weather they are naturally that thin, or weather that are only that thin because they have small appetites.

No one on this website knows your body frame size, or your genetics so only you and a professional can know what how much weight you may need to gain

A genetically slim smaller framed women can look perfectly healthy at a BMI of 18 - 19. However, a women with a bigger build can look too thin at this BMI.

And periods are affected by many other things, other then weight and a lot of women do not get their periods back, no matter HOW much weight they gain

However, being slim is still a very common contributing factor.

A low weight can be the MAIN reason periods stop, but it can also be a contributing factor, so a low weight has caused hormonal imbalances/ problems so more then one factor comes into play.

Good luck - it will be okay if you just figure out your individual situation. If you look and feel healthy at a BMI of at least 18.5, than it is medically safe for some women to stop gaining. A BMI of 20 may not be necessary for your period to return; you may need medical intervention to get your period back ALONG with gaining some weight.

Your BMI is so low, that you need to gain a little weight JUST to be healthy. Even if you had your period you would still need to gain to a healthier BMI.

Original Post by safina1:

merylwhite1, I have never been underweight. Being underweight is a common reason for losing period but how would you know this is the reason in her case??? if she has another underlying problem, she needs to treat  that as well. Like I said in my post, the OP needs to go to OBGYN. If the OP has an eating disorder, that is a separate issue. I am addressing her period problem only.

 

I was not saying you were underweight, I was referring to the OP. If the OP had an eating disorder, you would be enabling it by saying she doesn't need to gain weight. Also, if she had an ED her loss of period would likely not be a separate issue but a related one. Regardless of her period or other issues, at a BMI of 16.7 she needs to gain weight just to be healthy.

I agree with personal trainer and that WAS the point of my post. some women need a medical intervention ALONG with gaining some healthy weight.

we are not capable to give the OP any advice since we don't know that much about her. only a professional can direct her.

 merylwhite1, I know you were referring to the OP. I just wanted to point out that I have never been underweight and I LOST my period. it is not just for people who are underweight. It could happen to any woman regardless of her weight. in my experience, I didn't go to the doctor right away and kept gaining as I thought this would solve the problem and I just missed the opportunity to treat another medical problem I was not aware of. so yes, gaining weight might help but it is not the only solution.

Original Post by askewing:

Idk, I feel worried, and no one seems to have a solid answer:) I  will do what it takes.

The person most likely to have a 'solid answer' is your doctor.  'What it takes' is to make an appointment and go along to get checked out.  Before you get there, keep a food diary perhaps so that the doctor can assess whether your diet is a factor.  Your weight will be discussed for general health reasons, not simply this specific problem.  Also whether you're under particular stress or if you do a lot of exercise.  You may or may not be prescribed medication and, if the doctor thinks you need further tests, you could be referred to a specialist...

Loss of period is serious in a young woman because it's a sign that something is not functioning normally.  If you ever have other medical concerns, don't sit worrying or, worse, asking internet boards, self-diagnosing or self-medicating... always consult your doctor.  It's what they do best.